Management

• Is the budget deal the final word on contractor compensation?

  Tucked away inside the bipartisan budget deal announced with much fanfare this week is a proposal limiting the maximum level contractors can charge the government to pay the salaries of their top executives to nearly half of what it is currently. But it may not be the final word on the issue on the sticky issue of contractor compensation. the budget deal's proposed changes to taxpayer-funded contractor salaries are competing with another piece of bipartisan legislation currently before Congress. The annual Defense Authorization Act seeks to lower the compensation limit but by far less than the budget deal.

  Budget

  December 13, 2013
• Cause, effect of DHS morale problems tied to leadership vacancies

  Despite progress in confirming a new secretary and deputy secretary, DHS still features a large number of officials in acting roles. Former Secretary Tom Ridge told lawmakers the department cannot build nor sustain a mission-focused culture with so many non-permanent positions. NTEU says pay freezes, budget cuts and the government shutdown are more to blame for low morale across DHS and the entire government.

  Management

  December 13, 2013
• DHS issues first-ever clean financial audit, but IG says more work needed

  For the first time in its history, the Homeland Security Department turned in a clean financial audit. A new DHS inspector general report, however, says the department has "significant deficiencies" in its internal control over financial reporting.

  Congress

  December 12, 2013
• BGOV roundtable

  On this week's Capital Impact show, Bloomberg Government analysts participate in a roundtable discussion of the budget deal, the Volker Rule, and Bitcoin. December 12, 2013

  Budget

  December 12, 2013
• Conversations with Authors Series with Jen Bachner

  What is predictive policing? How does predictive policing complement traditional policing methods? What are the operational challenges of predictive policing? Join host Michael Keegan as he explores these questions with the Jen Bachner, author of Predictive Policing: Preventing Crime with Data and Analytics. Jen Bachner Coordinator for the M.A. in Government Johns Hopkins University

  Management

  December 12, 2013
• Report: Women still face ‘significant obstacles’ in advancing federal careers

  A new report from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission identified six signficant obstacles facing women in the federal workforce, including a disparity in pay and difficulty advancing into higher-level management positions.

  Management

  December 12, 2013
• Interior shifts CIO, IT consolidation initiatives into a new gear

  Bernie Mazer, the Interior Department's chief information officer, said among his top priorities are data center consolidation, cloud hosting, cybersecurity and strategic sourcing. He said the goal is to let the bureau level IT executives focus on mission and not worry about commodity IT. December 12, 2013

  Ask the CIO

  December 12, 2013
• Air Force to cut 900 civilian jobs, thousands of service members

  Air Force officials announced Wednesday the force plans to cut about 900 civilian positions in 2014. It will encourage eligible civilian employees to leave voluntarily. The force also plans to cut thousands of service members over the next five years.

  Budget

  December 12, 2013
• Air Force tells program managers: Don’t expect reprieve from sequestration

  Any relief the Air Force gets from a pending budget deal will be pushed into rebuilding lost military readiness, not bolstering investment programs, a top acquisition official said Wednesday.

  Budget

  December 12, 2013
• Budget deal: Feds dodge a bullet…

  Congress went after federal workers and retirees with a meat ax. But instead the new budget agreement is more of a kick in the shins for feds who have yet to be hired, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

  Mike Causey

  December 12, 2013
• VA puts reverse auctions on hiatus again to study value proposition

  The Veterans Affairs Department's decision comes as lawmakers are putting this acquisition concept under more scrutiny. House Veterans Affairs and Small Business Committee lawmakers question whether agencies are getting the best prices and whether they are sacrificing competition. GAO, other experts say OFPP needs to develop a governmentwide policy for reverse auctions.

  Congress

  December 11, 2013
• Lawmakers in fed-heavy districts signal support for budget deal

  Lawmakers in districts with large constituencies of federal employees are signaling their support for the bipartisan budget deal announced Tuesday even though it would require new federal workers to contribute a greater share of their paychecks to their retirement benefits. The alternatives -- another government shutdown or a second year of the steep across-the-board sequestration cuts -- would have been worse, they argue.

  Budget

  December 11, 2013
• Savings from reverse auctions not being maximized

  As the use of reverse auctions continues to rise, the Government Accountability Office says agencies need more clear cut guidance to realize a maximum amount of savings.

  Congress

  December 11, 2013
• Analyzing the budget deal

  On this week's Your Turn radio show, host Mike Causey examines what's in the most recent budget deal that will impact feds.

  Mike Causey

  December 11, 2013