Congress

  • The total price for professional services contracts at the Agriculture Department is about $2 billion over the last four years. The Office of Management and Budget says those types of contracts can be very risky for you to use. Anne-Marie Fennell is Director of Natural Resources and Environment Issues at the Government Accountability Office. On In Depth with Francis Rose, she said with risk factors in mind, USDA needs to strengthen its oversight of professional services contracts.

    November 03, 2014
  • The Government Accountability Office recommends that the Office of Management and Budget revise its guidance to agencies in order to collect better data for its governmentwide program inventory, which is meant to cut down on overlaps in program services.

    November 03, 2014
  • When Congress resumes, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton is set to introduce a bill that directs federal agencies to give preferential points to federal government vendors based on their labor practices. Norton's is the latest in a series of bills and orders designed to improve working conditions for federal contracting employees.

    October 30, 2014
  • Maryland Congressman Frank Wolf and Janet Kopenhaver with Federally Employed Women join host Mike Causey to talk about what's ahead for Congress and feds. October 29, 2014

    October 29, 2014
  • Citing cybersecurity concerns, House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) is compelling Park to testify about his role in the development of the health insurance exchange portal.

    October 29, 2014
  • The list of business grievances against the contracting company USIS is growing. The Government Accountability Offices says a five-year, nearly $200 million contract it has with the Homeland Security Department wasn't properly awarded. GAO cites in its decision a recent service history of contracting turbulence as grounds for further review, which includes thousands of incomplete background checks and a massive data breach that affected the Office of Personnel Management. Rob Burton is a partner at Venable law firm. He's also former administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. On In Depth with guest host Jared Serbu, he weighed the chances that debarment is in USIS's future.

    October 28, 2014
  • Five out of five federal agencies fall short in meeting the customer service improvements Congress said it wanted to see four years ago. The Government Accountability Office looked at selected quintet of agencies to see if they have all the key elements necessary for high-quality customer service. GAO says all five are missing at least one critical piece of that puzzle. Chris Mihm is Managing Director for Strategic Issues at GAO. On In Depth with guest host Jared Serbu, he broke down what each agency needs to improve their customer service scores.

    October 27, 2014
  • In a study destined to produce big headlines, the Government Accountability Office finds thousands of federal employees are taking prolonged periods of administrative leave. In the past three years, more than 50,000 employees were on paid leave for up to three months. But for most federal employees, paid time off amounts to about a day per year. Chris Mihm, managing director for Strategic Issues at GAO, joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive to discuss what they found.

    October 24, 2014
  • ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A maverick Republican senator criticized faulty missile defenses, unneeded airports and golf course repairs among the projects completed on the taxpayers’ tab in his annual collection of billions…

    October 22, 2014
  • The Government Accountability Office says the Citizenship and Immigration Services directorate should reevaluate USIS to determine if it's indeed a responsible contractor in light of allegations of defrauding the government and an investigation by the Justice Department on those charges.

    October 21, 2014
  • The Government Accountability Office says the Citizenship and Immigration Services directorate should reevaluate USIS to determine if it's indeed a responsible contractor in light of allegations of defrauding the government and an investigation by the Justice Department on those charges.

    October 20, 2014
  • Customs and Border Protection is up to about $2.5 billion in spending on equipment to provide a firewall against materials terrorists could use to make weapons of mass destruction. They spend a lot less than that to make sure the equipment -- and the operators -- are doing the job. David Maurer is Director of Homeland Security and Justice Issues at the Government Accountability Office. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he explained how CBP can make the most out of its covert operations budget.

    October 20, 2014
  • The Government Printing Office became the first legislative branch agency to put its email in the cloud. CIO Chuck Riddle said once that effort is completed, GPO will move other functions into the cloud.

    October 20, 2014
  • Jenny Mattingley hosts a wide-ranging roundtable discussion of congressional ethics. October 17, 2014

    October 17, 2014