Congress

• DoD’s BRAC wish hitting brick wall on Capitol Hill

  The Pentagon insists it is paying to maintain much more military base infrastructure than it needs, and the problem will only get worse as the Defense Department shrinks due to budget reductions. Congress, however, remains unsympathetic.

  Congress

  May 06, 2013
• Obama signs legislation ending FAA furloughs

  President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill to end furloughs of air traffic controllers.

  Budget

  May 02, 2013
• Sequestration already biting Navy, Marines readiness

  Currently deployed units and those behind them are fully trained and equipped, the services say. But those next in line "aren't doing much." The fiscal 2013 budget also may be too little, too late in some ship repair and maintenance efforts.

  Budget

  May 02, 2013
• Sequestration: The ultimate organic snowman?

  When politicians created the sequestration monster, it may have seemed like a good idea at the time. But now that it's here, nobody wants to take credit for it, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. And politicians who insisted that the cuts be across-the-board are now demanding agencies exempt certain programs and people from furloughs.

  Mike Causey

  May 02, 2013
• Bill would ax FEHBP in favor of Affordable Care Act plan

  Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) introduced legislation to require federal employees, the president, vice president and members of Congress to use insurance under the Affordable Care Act instead of the current federal program.

  Congress

  May 01, 2013
• Lawmakers take on legislative process in fight against duplicative programs

  Two senators from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee want to change Senate rules in an attempt to make sure new federal programs or initiatives in proposed legislation don't overlap with existing efforts. Earlier this month, two House members introduced a measure that would require House committees of jurisdiction to hold oversight hearings on an annual report from the Government Accountability Office detailing government duplication.

  Budget

  April 29, 2013
• Inside the Reporter’s Notebook: Communication breakdown over FITARA? Lawmaker wants answers from DHS

  News and buzz in the acquisition and IT communities that you may have missed this week.

  Congress

  April 29, 2013
• Bill gives FAA authority to move funds, prevent furloughs

  The House is expected to quickly pass a bill the Senate approved last night that would end furloughs for air traffic controllers. The legislation gives the Federal Aviation Administration the authority to transfer up to $253 million from accounts flush with funds into other programs. This would would help to prevent reductions in operations and staffing through the end of fiscal year 2013.

  Budget

  April 26, 2013
• Chained CPI, TSP, and the 2014 budget

  Financial Planner Art Stein and Federal Times Senior Staff Writer Stephen Losey join host Mike Causey to talk about a number of issues affecting federal workers. April 24, 2013

  Mike Causey

  April 24, 2013
• Army could lose 100,000 soldiers due to sequestration

  Army leaders say the belated passage of a 2013 budget helped this year's fiscal picture, but the service still is more than $15 billion short of funds. If sequestration continues, the service will shrink by at least 100,000 soldiers.

  Budget

  April 24, 2013
• Does GS system need an update? Lawmakers ask GAO to review federal pay scale

  A trio of lawmakers from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee want the Government Accountability Office to examine whether the General Schedule system for federal employees needs an update. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), said the watchdog agency's review would aid the lawmakers in evaluating "the appropriateness of the General Schedule (GS) as a pay scale for today's workforce."

  Congress

  April 22, 2013
• Donahoe: Postal Service bailout looms if Congress doesn’t act quickly

  If Congress doesn't pass comprehensive postal reform legislation soon, it could find itself forced to bail out the financially troubled U.S. Postal Service to the tune of billions of dollars, said Postmaster General Pat Donahoe. The postmaster general said in a speech at the National Press Club he's optimistic Congress will pass postal reform legislation this year.

  Budget

  April 19, 2013
• Military groups fight to stop DoD budget proposal

  Advocacy organizations are criticizing the Pentagon's proposed fee increase for TRICARE as unfair and discriminatory.

  Budget

  April 19, 2013
• The 2014 budget and “Pay for Delay”

  On this week's Capital Impact show, Bloomberg Government analysts discuss President Obama's 2014 budget proposal, and patent litigation settlements involving pharmaceutical companies. April 18, 2013

  Budget

  April 18, 2013