Congress

• David Hawkings, Senior Editor, Roll Call

  No more shutdowns is a promise both Speaker John Boehner (R-Nev.) and incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have made. So why are people whispering about another shutdown on Capitol Hill? David Hawkings is Senior Editor at Roll Call -- on In Depth with Francis Rose, he explained the chances for another repeat.

  All News

  November 17, 2014
• David Wise, Director of Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO

  The three biggest landlords in the federal government don't know how much federal agencies are actually using their own property. The Government Accountability Office reports one thinks almost all of its warehouses are in use, when in reality some of them are sitting empty and forgotten. David Wise is Director of Physical Infrastructure Issues at the GAO. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he shared the latest results in the ongoing effort to rightsize the federal real property portfolio.

  All News

  November 17, 2014
• GAO: Some agencies hit harder than others during sequestration

  A new report from the Government Accountability Office says that some agencies, including the Departments of Energy, Transportation and Health and Human Services, experienced stalled grants and contract activity during the government shutdown of 2013.

  Budget

  November 17, 2014
• Postal Service remains financially ‘at-risk,’ says GAO report

  The USPS' ability to carry our its duties and remain financially self-sustaining continues to be at risk, according to a recently released GAO performance audit. Conducted over the past year, GAO's report found that the agency is projecting "unsustainable" losses through 2020.

  Budget

  November 14, 2014
• GAO: Agencies not using performance data to decide policy, budget changes

  In its new report, the Government Accountability Office found that agency managers aren't using performance data to objectively determine the success of programs before making changes to their policies or budget.

  Budget

  November 14, 2014
• OMB, GSA winning over those skeptical of measuring back-office functions

  The administration is establishing cost and quality benchmarks for administrative operations, such as human resources, finance, acquisition, and IT. After initial doubts, agencies see benefits from understanding how much they are paying for specific functions and how much others are paying for comparable jobs.

  Congress

  November 14, 2014
• VA fires Pittsburgh hospital network’s director

  PITTSBURGH (AP) — The director of the Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs Healthcare System has been fired. The move comes a month after officials determined that she had committed “conduct unbecoming a senior executive,” along with wasteful…

  Congress

  November 13, 2014
• GAO: Not too early to track DATA Act progress

  The Government Accountability Office is taking an early interest in how the White House and Treasury Department draft government-wide financial data standards, due out next summer. A lot is riding on those standards, says Comptroller General Gene Dodaro.

  Congress

  November 13, 2014
• Congress passes bills to reduce duplicative reports, improve access to public records

  Wednesday was a productive day for Congress as the House sent two bills to President Barack Obama and a pair of critical DHS nominees head to the Senate floor.

  Congress

  November 13, 2014
• SBA proposed size standard change riles small IT resellers

  The Small Business Administration received more than 200 comments about a proposed rule to eliminate the exception to how IT value-added resellers are classified as small contractors. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the Small Business Committee, wrote a letter to SBA asking for the rule to be retracted and improved.

  Congress

  November 13, 2014
• Eileen Larence, Government Accountability Office

  Fighting domestic terrorism, natural disasters and cyber attacks is a multi-agency effort. The Homeland Security Department's fusion centers foster information sharing among all levels of government and in the private sector. But auditors at the Government Accountability Office find problems with how DHS accounts for funding to the centers. Eileen Larence, director of Homeland Security and Justice Issues at GAO, joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive with details.

  Federal Drive

  November 12, 2014
• Threat to discipline 1,000 VA employees draws cheers and jeers

  The biggest reorganization effort in VA history is underway, says Secretary Bob McDonald. His reform plan includes hiring a Chief Customer Service Officer and imposing disciplinary action on more than 1,000 employees. And while some praise McDonald's quick and decisive actions, others are urging a different approach that gives the accused an opportunity to respond.

  Congress

  November 12, 2014
• Emily Kopp, Reporter, Federal News Radio

  Speculation about how Republicans will run Capitol Hill in the next Congress is fairly consuming Washington these days. But the lame-duck Congress returning to Washington today has got to tackle big challenges of its own. So what is on Congress' to-do list? Federal News Radio's Emily Kopp joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive with some answers.

  Federal Drive

  November 12, 2014
• Government funding tops list for lame-duck Congress

  While there's much speculation about how Republicans will run Capitol Hill in the next Congress, the lame-duck one that returns to Washington today must tackle big challenges of its own. With a continuing resolution set to expire in mid-December, agency budgets hang in the balance.

  Congress

  November 12, 2014