Budget

• Citing sequestration, OPM pushes back retirement processing goal

  The Office of Personnel Management now estimates it will not be able to clear a longstanding backlog of retirement claims until next summer. OPM Associate Director for Retirement Services Ken Zawodny told Federal News Radio the suspension of overtime in late April has left the agency essentially treading water when it comes to processing retirement applications.

  Budget

  August 05, 2013
• Those were the days…

  Here's a horrible thought to start off your week, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. You've had your pay frozen and maybe you have been furloughed with more mandatory time-outs to come. But what if these are the good old days right now? That it can't get any better than this...

  Mike Causey

  August 02, 2013
• Navy pushes for total server virtualization to cut costs

  The Department of the Navy will begin to virtualize its services and hopes to achieve total server virtualization by 2017, in an effort to cut costs. The service has been active in cutting IT costs in the wake of Defense budget cuts.

  Budget

  August 01, 2013
• Hagel lays out options for dealing with sequestration beyond 2014

  Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says service members will have to share in the pain of sequestration if the automatic budget cuts continue into next year. In a Pentagon press briefing Wednesday, Hagel laid out a "menu of options" for dealing with sequestration in 2014 and beyond, including changes to military pay and benefits, consolidating headquarters staff and a potential modest reduction in military force structure.

  Budget

  July 31, 2013
• Government market ground zero

  Bill Gormley, president of the Gormley Group and Cameron Leuthy, senior budget analyst at Bloomberg Government, will discuss sequestration and its impact on the government and contracting. July 30, 2013

  Off the Shelf

  July 30, 2013
• Contractor hiring, morale take sequestration hit

  With fewer new federal contracts on the horizon, vendors are trimming staff, changing direction and hedging their bets as sequestration plays out, according to the results of an exclusive Federal News Radio survey. Contractors are also blaming sequestration for low morale in their offices.

  Budget

  July 30, 2013
• The state of government contracting

  Deltek's Kevin Plexico and Scott Lewis of PS Partnerships, will talk about the challenges facing contractors in this tough budget environment. July 29, 2013

  Amtower Off-Center

  July 29, 2013
• OMB defines next steps for ‘refreshed’ management agenda

  The White House wants agencies to justify why they want to invest in programs in fiscal 2015 using new data. The administration also is holding workshops to help agencies improve the use of evidence data to make decisions.

  Budget

  July 29, 2013
• Federal 4th quarter spending spree offers contractors hope for return to normalcy

  Many federal vendors are wary about what 2014 and beyond will bring when it comes to acquisitions. Vendors say they have to get creative internally and externally to survive further budget cuts.

  Budget

  July 29, 2013
• Contractors confronted with new type of waiting game due to sequestration

  A new Federal News Radio online survey shows downward trends in the contracting market this year, and vendors have rising concerns in the out years about what this new normal means. The survey found 57 percent of the respondents have been negatively impacted by sequestration by fewer contract opportunities, and more than 55 percent of the respondents said when it comes to making contract awards over the last six months, the government has been in a state of paralysis.

  Budget

  July 29, 2013
• Dodd-Frank turns 3, housing and congress

  On this week's Capital Impact show, Bloomberg Government analysts will discuss what's ahead for Congress, the implementation of Dodd-Frank, and possible changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. July 25, 2013

  Budget

  July 25, 2013
• DoE restructures management offices to cut waste, improve security

  The Department of Energy detailed to House lawmakers Wednesday its plans to create a new undersecretary for management and performance and expand its undersecretary of science office.

  Budget

  July 25, 2013
• House passes DoD spending bill, prohibits furloughs in 2014

  DoD officials briefed House Armed Services members about 2013 furloughs and are figuring out whether they can reduce the number of days employees have to take without pay.

  Budget

  July 25, 2013
• DoD furloughs could cause FEEA loans to swell to record levels

  The Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund is receiving more requests for loans than ever before as weekly furloughs hit the Defense Department. Director Steve Bauer said the non-profit organization is doing everything it can to keep up. July 24 & 30, 2013

  Mike Causey

  July 24, 2013