Friday Morning Federal Newscast

Snow. Open, unscheduled leave, closing 4 hours early. Snow.

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear open this the morning operating under an unscheduled leave policy with a planned 4 hour early dismissal. OPM is encouraging agencies to permit employees to telework today and to allow employees on alternative work schedules to schedule their day off or use their credit hours. Emergency employees are expected to report to or remain at work unless otherwise directed by their agencies. OPM will continue to monitor the storm’s progress and will update the Government’s operating status on their website as necessary. (You can track the progress of the storm on our sister-station’s WTOP’s website.)

  • The wait is over for GSA: The Senate has confirmed Martha Johnson to lead the agency as administrator. Johnson will be the agency’s first permanent head since Lurita Doan left in 2008. 94 Senators voted in favor. Two voted against.
  • The Senate has confirmed Patricia Smith for the top legal post at the Department of Labor. Smith becomes the solicitor. Her office provides legal services for the department. Her nomination was on hold for months, because Republicans claimed Smith misled lawmakers.
  • Congress has approved that $1.9 trillion dollar hike to the nation’s debt ceiling. Thursday’s House vote allows the government to spend more than $14 trillion dollars in red ink. It’s the second time in two months: In late December, Congress approved a $290 billion dollar increase. The House also approved new pay-go budget rules. That means government must offset future spending increases or tax cuts with cuts to other programs or equivilant tax increases.
  • Northrop Grumman posted a $1.7 billion profit in 2009. An improvement over the $1.3 Billion loss posted last year due to a decline in value of some previously acquired companies. The contractor says the revenue was generated from contracts to build spy satellites, fighter jets and electronic systems to protect planes from missiles. Northrop is preparing to relocate to the Washington region next year. The Washington Post reports the company has begun reviewing sites in Northern Virginia.

  • More news links

    Mid-Atlantic region preps for heavy snow storm

    Airlines waive some change fees as snow approaches

    NASA and GM partner to create cutting-edge robotic technology (Military & Aerospace Electronics Online)

    Defense Dept. probes Marine mental health care

    Pentagon to offer emergency contraception abroad

    THIS AFTERNOON ON FEDERAL NEWS RADIO

    Coming up today on The Daily Debrief:

    ** All week, we’ve been telling you about the Obama administration’s fiscal 2011 budget. Today, the chief performance officer will tell us what the budget means for government management. We’ll have a report.

    ** And Federal News Radio’s Max Cacas will tell you how your TSP performed in the first month of the new year.

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