People
Does Congress have time to change contingency contracting?
As agencies choose to disregard recommendations, members of Congress consider ways to enact the changes anyway.
Digital Government
VA's 'Patton' parody finds defenders
Not everyone agrees that VA's $52K training film was bad use of taxpayer funds.
Digital Government
VA spent $52,000 for 'Patton'-inspired training film
A House panel begins to detail excessive spending connected to VA training conferences, including production of a video in which an actor parodied a scene from the cinema classic.
People
Obama proposes to extend federal pay freeze until April 2013
The president's plan would grant feds a modest pay raise -- but only under one condition, which might be hard to meet.
Digital Government
Army general accused of wasteful spending in IG probe
First GSA, then the VA, now an Army officer allegedly involved in frivolous spending. Who's next?
People
Senator not done questioning VA on conference costs
Follow-up questions on VA's conference costs include a basic one: Just how much did VA spend?
People
Obama delays financial disclosure deadline
Congress and the president adjust some deadlines in the STOCK Act, but opponents still object to public disclosure.
Digital Government
Obama signs Sequestration Transparency Act
A new measure requires the Obama administration to provide to Congress detailed plans for the forced budget cuts that sequestration will bring.
People
DOD, State, USAID say 'enough' to wartime contracting reforms
Three agencies have implemented some of the recommendations of the Wartime Contracting Commission, but now say they don't want to do more. Some senators are considering making it mandatory.
Acquisition
House passes government charge card rules
House lawmakers made some changes to a Senate bill that puts more controls on the use of government charge cards.
Cybersecurity
Bipartisan cybersecurity bill fails on the Senate floor
A Republican filibuster prevented the Senate from voting on the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 -- which might have also included data center consolidation measures -- greatly dimming hopes for legislation this year.
Acquisition
Should VA's company database go governmentwide?
VA has a database of verified companies owned by veterans. Other agencies could take advantage of that resource, GAO says.
Digital Government
Sequestration hearing unravels into partisan 'food fight'
As a hearing intended to help prepare for the effects of sequestration degenerates into a partisan shouting match, one embarrassed congressman calls the event a 'spectacle.'
People
Congressman: GSA officials absent from hearing 'have ducked'
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee expects to have GSA testifying about its spending choices, but the invited officials are not saying no.
Digital Government
House passes 'red tape' bill
A bill would bar agencies from all significant regulatory action until unemployment falls below 6 percent. But no one can say how long that will take.
Digital Government
Legislator hopes for productive lame-duck session
After the upcoming election, when the citizenry has chosen its new leaders, current lawmakers may finally inch toward compromise on key issues, says Virginia Congressman.
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers to consider new compromise cybersecurity bill before defense budget
A new version of the bipartisan Cybersecurity Act of 2012 is expected to be considered ahead of the Senate defense authorization bill, drawing the ire of one powerful senator.
People
GSA spends $270k for music, food and picture frames at awards ceremony
GSA's event spending has once again put the agency in Congressional crosshairs -- this time over a $270,000 award ceremony, complete with a violinist and 4,000 elaborate picture frames. This time, however, the agency's leadership may be ahead of the lawmakers.
Cybersecurity
Obama presses Congress on cybersecurity bill
President Obama took to the Wall Street Journal to urge the Senate to pass a cybersecurity bill.
Modernization
Data center consolidation success not guaranteed, Sen. Tom Carper warns
Agencies must submit critical aspects of their data center consolidation plans as OMB requires, or the effort could largely be a bust, senator says.
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