Tuesday Morning Federal Newscast – October 26th

Travel tracking website launched, Webb places hold on Defense promotions

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Amy Morris discuss throughout the show each day. The Newscast is designed to give FederalNewsRadio.com users more information about the stories you hear on the air.

  • The creators of BailoutSleuth.com have launched a new site that tracks your government travel. JunketSleuth.com uses the Freedom of Information Act to get a hold of and post agency travel records. The site is funded by Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban. Its sister site, BailoutSleuth.com was launched in 2008 to keep tabs on spending under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
  • Defense Secretary Gates has appointed a new chief information officer. Teri Takai has officialy taken the post. Takai is the former CIO of California. The news from DoD comes as the Pentagon works to eliminate the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration while creating a new CIO position. That’s all part of a plan to save money on overhead. Takai will assume her new duties effective Nov. 7.
  • Virginia Senator Jim Webb is placing a hold on all DoD nominations for civilian and flag or general officers. He’s says he’s doing it because the Pentagon hasn’t given him information that would help Congress evaluate the Pentagon’s proposal to close Joint Forces Command. Webb says he asked DoD for information on staff levels, but so far he’s received only a superficial response. He tells Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a letter that his hold on the nominations will last until the request for information has been satisfied.
  • Lockheed Martin is buying back its stock.The Washington Business Journal reports that Lockheed’s board of directors has approved a new $3 billion share repurchase program.Lockheed says the shares must be purchased in the open market, or through privately negotiated transactions.The defense contractor says the buyback shows their commitment to enhancing stockholder value through cash deployment. Lockheed Martin says it will end its existing program on November first.
  • The home of a missile systems expert who worked for the U.S. defense contractor Raytheon has been searched by federal agents who removed materials from the residence. Officials aren’t revealing the reason for the search or what was removed. A source says the man was stopped at New York’s Kennedy airport with a laptop containing information he shouldn’t have had.
  • Experts from industry and academia are recommending a new action plan for improving federal IT contracting. The Commission on Government Technology Opportunity has proposed 33 recommendations, including improved public-private sector communication and molding stronger program managers. The panel also calls on government to establish an independent risk review role for major acquisitions. The Commission was launched in July by the TechAmerica Foundation. The recommendations come as the Office of Management and Budget considers revamping or ending 30 major federal IT projects.
  • Postmaster General John Potter says he will retire in December. Patrick Donahoe, currently deputy postmaster general, will succeed Potter. Potter has served in the Postal Service for 32 years and took over the top job at the agency almost 10 years ago. He has served during a time that has seen the postal service struggle to deal with rising costs and a declining mail volume as people switch over to the Internet. The post office continues to face losses despite cuts in spending and staff.
  • Dunkin Donuts and CareerBuilder conducted a survey to figure out who needs their coffee the most. Younger workers are more likely to indulge in an extra cup or two during the day. Thirty-two percent of workers stated they need coffee to get through the workday. Forty-three percent of coffee drinkers reported they are less productive if they don’t drink coffee while on the job. The survey was conducted from August 17 to September 2, 2010, and included more than 3,600 workers nationwide. Number one – nurses. Number two – physicians. Federal workers come in at number 12.

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