Mike O'Connell Reports 
Top News
- Congress pressures agencies to consolidate office space
- Katherine Archuleta chosen as next OPM director
- Data breach puts DHS workers at risk of identity theft
- DoD chooses interoperability over integration for new e-health system
- House GOP panel moves on deep budget cuts
- OMB fuels synergy between mobile, open data
- IRS official Lerner: 'I did nothing wrong'
- Accountability breakdown leading factor in DoD sexual assaults
- OMB reworking financial system requirements
- Federal retirement funds temporarily tapped
- VanRoekel to lead OMB management team
- Meet the 2013 Service to America Medal finalists
- Thursday federal headlines - May 23, 2013
Mike O'Connell is a web editor and general assignment reporter for Federal News Radio.
CBP, Labor team up for disabilities hiring initiative
Customs and Board Protection recently signed an agreement to adopt a program developed by the Labor Department that facilities the hiring of individuals with disabilities.
Federal Mobility Strategy begins with public dialogue
Members of the public have until Jan. 20 to submit ideas for the National Dialogue on Federal Mobility Strategy.
Cummings: Fight ahead for federal pay raise
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the ranking member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, anticipates strong opposition to President Obama's promised 0.5 percent pay increase for federal employees.
Obama praises EPA staff for pursuit of 'vital mission'
President Barack Obama spoke to employees of the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday, challenging them to continue pursuing their "vital mission" of protecting the American people.
New SES evaluation process 'important step forward,' expert says
John Palguta, vice president for policy, at the Partnership for Public Service, says the new appraisal process for senior executives is weighted toward obtaining results.
Newly signed bill adds requirements for intelligence community
President Obama recently signed the 2012 intelligence authorization bill, which requires status reports on released Guantanamo Bay detainees.
NASA listens as Voyager One nears edge of interstellar space
Launched in 1977, the Voyager One space probe is approaching the heliosphere, the large bubble created by the sun, on a journey to a faraway constellation. Ed Stone has been the chief scientist of the Voyager program since its inception in 1972. He and other NASA scientists have been tracking Voyager for 34 years, listening to his transmissions and analyzing its scientific discoveries.
Warfighters provide input in quest to improve MREs
The Defense Department's Combat Feeding Directorate oversees the nutritional requirements and changing tastes of America's fighting force when designing its MREs, or meals ready-to-eat.
Michael O'Connell
moconnell@FederalNewsRadio.com
202-895-5339
On Twitter: @moconnellWFED
Three-sided equipping strategy may mean savings for Army
In a break from the Cold War mass-mobilization model, the Army is considering the Army Force Generation, or ARFOGEN, model as a way to find efficiency and savings in the equipping process.
Federal financial report is in, but GAO offers no opinion
Robert Dacey, the Government Accountability Office's chief accountant, breaks down the reasons why GAO was unable to render an opinion on the federal government's consolidated financial report.
USDA saves $800 million in improper payments from being made
USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon says that his department has cut improper payments from 10 percent to less than 4 percent from its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Tighe follows Devaney as Recovery Board chair
Kathleen S. Tighe, the inspector general of the Department of education, will succeed Earl Devaney as chairman of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board. She will oversee the board's final 21 months, as Recovery process winds down.
Managers still find barriers to interagency collaboration
Managers who responded to a recent survey worry that too many barriers, such as politics and ineffective communication, threaten the ability of interagency collaboration to help their agencies achieve mission success. But there are signs that agencies are trying to overcome the challenges in the face of increased budget pressure.
Sunlight reviews open government directive
John Wonderlich of the Sunlight Foundation talks about his organization's review of the Open Government Directive. How well have agencies complied with mandate?
Sen. Cardin hopeful omnibus will pass by deadline
Maryland Senator Ben Cardin said most of the issues have been resolved between Democrats and Republicans concerning the omnibus bill that will fund agencies through the 2012 fiscal year. However, policy riders introduced by the House GOP may still derail the legislation.
Open Season creates opportunities for tax savings
Ed Zurndorfer, a registered employees benefits consultant, recommends that feds consider possible tax deductions when choosing a health insurance plan. But hurry, open season ends Dec. 12.
Cyber information-sharing bill passes House intel committee
A bill to let spy agencies share intelligence on cyber threats with private companies was backed by a House of Representatives intelligence panel.
OPM rolls out changes to snow policy
Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry announced a new set of dismissal and closure notifications for federal employees. The meat of the changes allow for staggered early departure with a final departure time, immediate departure and shelter-in-place.
Omnibus lumbers forward despite potential political pitfalls
Alexander Bolton of The Hill newspaper calls Senate Majority Leader Reid's omnibus package as "only way to get these appropriations bills passed."
