Search Tags:  House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

USDA seeks authority to transfer funds to offset sequestration cuts

Agriculture Department Secretary Tom Vilsack can move money in-between accounts within the same bureau, but not across the agency under a special provision called Interchange Authority. Vilsack has officially asked Congress for use of that authority in an effort to stunt the negative effects of sequestration at his agency. At at recent House hearing, Republican lawmakers questioned why more agencies haven't movasked Congress for similar permission.

Tags: management , budget , sequestration , Michael Young , USDA , Hari Sastry , Commerce , FCC , David Robbins , Paul Gosar , Blake Farenthold , Darrell Issa , Elijah Cummings , Matt Cartwright , reprogramming authorities

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Farenthold bill offers way to stop sequestration-related furloughs

The Protecting America's Civilian Employees Act would require the Office of Management and Budget to submit a plan to Congress on how they would cut spending without harming the federal workforce.

Tags: Blake Farenthold , Congress , sequestration , furloughs , Jason Miller , workforce

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As sequestration cuts loom, unimplemented IG recommendations could save billions

Over the past few years, unimplemented agency inspector general recommendations that could potentially save the government billions of dollars have piled up. Now, with $85 billion in automatic budget cuts kicking in, lawmakers on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are telling agencies there's no excuse for them to further delay implementing the cost-saving measures and best practices identified by their IGs.

Tags: House , Congress , oversight , sequestration , Darrell Issa , Kathleen Tighe , Education , IG vacancies

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IT reform bill needs to 'beef up' people section, experts say

Rep. Darrell Issa plans to formally introduce the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act before the end of March. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held its second hearing on the draft bill. Current and former federal officials say the bill should place a stronger emphasis on project management and workforce issues.

Tags: technology , management , Richard Spires , DHS , Darrell Issa , John Mica , Gerry Connolly , Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act , program management , workforce , training , Stan Soloway , PSC , Dan Gordon , George Washington University , Jason Miller

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DHS, DoD among agencies making slow, steady progress to get off High Risk list

GAO adds two new areas to the list, NOAA's satellite programs and the federal government's financial risk because of climate change. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro said nearly every initiative on the list made progress in fixing their problems over the last two years.

Tags: management , GAO , DHS , DoD , Gene Dodaro , Darrell Issa , NOAA , OFPP , Joe Jordan , High Risk list , Congress , David Powner , Jason Miller

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IRS program, interagency contracting finally removed from High-Risk list

A total of 30 programs, once again, are considered troubled, including two new areas. But, the Government Accountability Office removed the IRS' Business Systems Modernization program after 18 years on the list, and interagency contracting after 8 years.

Tags: management , GAO , High-Risk List , IRS , Business Systems Modernization , OFPP , GSA , Interagency contracting , NOAA , Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , Gene Dodaro , DoD , Jason Miller

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Federal Drive Interviews -- Feb. 11, 2013

Ron Ross of the National Institute of Standards and Technology wants feedback on the agency's IT security and privacy controls. Deputy Commissioner Wanda Rogers of the Treasury Department's Financial Management Service talks about the final transition to E-Payments. Philip Lohaus is a research fellow with the American Enterprise Institute and former Defense Department analyst who has studied and blogged about how the CIA is two organizations in one.

Tags: Ron Ross , Wanda Rodgers , Tom Davis , Philip Lohaus , Sen. Ben Cardin , NIST , Treasury Department , Deloitte & Touche , CIA , Federal Drive , Deloitte & Touche

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Justice: Progress in Fast and Furious negotiations

Tags: Darrell Issa , Justice Department , Fast and Furious , Eric Holder

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VanRoekel dismisses need for IT reform, calls for more flexibility

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held its first hearing on the steps needed to reform IT management across government. But federal CIO Steven VanRoekel said he has the authority needed to improve how agencies spend money on technology programs. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the committee's chairman, is developing legislation to update laws governing the management of IT.

Tags: technology , Steven VanRoekel , OMB , Darrell Issa , CIO authorities , IT reform , Tom Davis , Deloitte , David Powner , GAO , John Mica , Jason Miller , House , Congress

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House bill blocks pay increase for feds

Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) introduced a bill that would block a 0.5 percent pay raise for federal workers slated to go into effect March 27. In an executive order issued late last month, President Barack Obama mandated a 0.5 percent pay increase.

Tags: House , Congress , pay raise , Ron DeSantis , Darrell Issa

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