CBP asking for proposals for border wall

Federal Newscast

In today's Top Federal Headlines, Customs and Border Protection lays out what it wants in its wall along the U.S. southern border.

Eric White@FEDERALNEWSCAST

March 20, 2017 8:02 am

3 min read

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

Customs and Border Protection is seeking proposals for the design and construction of a wall along the U.S. southern border. CBP issued two Requests for Proposals to implement President Donald Trump’s executive order. CBP is looking for multiple conceptual wall designs with the intent to construct multiple prototypes. Responses are due by March 29. (Customs and Border Protection)

The Veterans Affairs Department is looking for a different approach to agile software development. VA wants to move into the dev/ops or agile approach to software and system development, but it isn’t following the path several other agencies have gone down. VA issued a request for information seeking a vendor with an existing agile development center of which it can take advantage. The department wants the center to manage more than 500 new projects a year, which comes to about 10,000 sprints, under the Veteran-Focused Integration Process. Responses to this RFI are due March 29. (FedBizOpps)

President Donald Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence and Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin met with top officials from 10 of the biggest veterans groups for a listening session. The meeting helped smooth over concerns the groups had about major reforms at the Veterans Affairs Department. The discussion also included ideas to help vets beyond VA services. (White House)

If sequestration returns in fiscal 2018, protection of the Army’s aircraft would remain the branch’s top priority. Lt. Gen. John Murray, head of the Army G-8, said developing new technologies to protect its aviators would be his number one priority if the budget constraints returned next year. He also told the House Armed Services Committee how sequestration was hampering Army modernization and readiness. (Army)

President Donald Trump nominated Patrick Shanahan to serve as deputy defense secretary. Shanahan is currently the senior vice president of supply, chain, and operations at Boeing. If confirmed, Shanahan would replace Bob Work who is still performing the duties of deputy defense secretary. Others nominated include David Norquist as DoD Comptroller. Norquist is a partner at Kearney & Company accounting firm. Defense Secretary James Mattis is the only person confirmed by the Senate in the Defense Department right now. (White House)

Maryland’s two senators invited President Donald Trump to visit the National Institutes of Health. In their letter, Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) asked the president to tour the Bethesda-based research facility. They hoped this could help reverse Trump’s proposed $6 billion budget cut to NIH. (Sen. Ben Cardin)

Two former administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency are not pleased with the ideas President Donald Trump has proposed for that agency. Gina McCarthy and Carol Browner voiced their disapproval for Trump’s proposed 31 percent budget cut to the EPA. McCarthy said the cuts would hamper the agency’s ability to implement clean water and land programs. (Associated Press)

The Secret Service experienced a few rough days recently. First, the White House announced an intruder scaled one of its barriers and was able to roam the grounds for 17 minutes. Then the agency said one its agent had her issued laptop stolen out of her car in New York City. On top of that, Law 360 reported the New York Times is suing the Secret Service, for failing to produce documents which show how much campaigns charged it for rides on charter jets during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Gen. Michael Hayden, the former CIA director, said in 10 years the senior executive service will face the task of creating an environment for workers who admire Edward Snowden. Hayden joins other former senior executives who say the SES needs to be mobile open to taking risks and know how to inspire a new generation of employees. (Federal News Radio)