David Berteau, left, and Ryan Crotty

House and Senate negotiators met today to try to move closer to a deal on a budget for the rest of fiscal 2014. The sides are far apart on numbers and they have very little time to reach a deal that prevents sequestration Jan. 15. David Berteau and Ryan Crotty of the Center for Strategic and International Studies are looking at how a conference committee deal might impact the Department of Defense for the remainder of FY 2014 and the out years. They joined host Francis Rose in studio for Pentagon Solutions Berteau says that Jan. 15 deadline is really a double deadline.

In his confirmation hearing, President Barack Obama’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security garnered almost universal praise from senators for his qualifications and intellect. But at least two senators say they can’t support his confirmation right now.

Open season is under way for you and your colleagues in the Federal government. Mike Causey says when open season comes every year, it makes his job pretty easy.

The Office of Personnel Management’s annual Employee Viewpoint Survey says older federal employees are the most satisfied and engaged workers. Compared to last year, the survey also shows a big downturn in overall employee satisfaction.

Not one of the top federal technology officials testifying today before House lawmakers accepts the blame for the failings of the HealthCare.gov portal. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) says technology failures are like orphans — no one takes responsibility.