Former NASA employee pleads guilty to lying about relationship with contractor

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

In today’s Top Federal Headlines, the Justice Department says a former employee was working for a contractor while he was also working for NASA at its Goddard Space Flight Center

• A former NASA employee has pleasded guilty to lying about his dealings with a contractor. The Justice Department said Nathan Wright, while working full-time as an employee at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, was also working for a small contractor who did business with several agencies. He was also pressing other contractors to direct work to the company he was working for. (Department of Justice)

• Federal employees are a little happier with their senior leaders this year. The Office of Personnel Management released the remaining results of the 2016 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. At least 52 percent of the federal workforce said their senior leaders show honesty and integrity in the workplace. That’s a 2 percent bump over last year. They also said their leaders demonstrate more support for employee work-life programs like telework and flexible schedules. (Federal News Radio)

• Army service members will find out just what their problems are with child care by the end of the month. Secretary Eric Fanning ordered an examination of child care after hearing complaints from soldiers. The resulting report examines the totality of Army life. The Defense Department is already adding hours to childcare centers. (Federal News Radio)

• The Pentagon’s inspector general has substantiated several allegations of wrongdoing by a former top aide to Defense Secretary Ash Carter. Although Maj. Gen. Ronald Lewis disputes the allegations, the IG found he had used his government charge card at adult entertainment venues while he was traveling with the secretary in Korea and Italy, and made false statements on forms seeking to have the charges reversed. Investigators also concluded he had improper physical contact with an enlisted female soldier during a government trip to Hawaii. The IG found at least two alleged violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice — and urged the Army secretary to take appropriate action against Lewis. (Federal News Radio)

• The Office of Government Ethics has proposed easing financial reporting requirements on some federal employees. Comments are due Dec. 5 on OGE’s new rule. It would clarify how agencies carry out a 2012 law aimed at curbing stock trading based on knowledge gained in congressional investigations. The change would exempt GS-13 and lower employees in the executive branch from having to submit personal financial information. OGE could also exempt higher ranking feds who have no policy role. (Federal Register)

• A final piece in the foundation of category management is being laid. The Obama administration is making one last move to institutionalize changes to how the government buys $270 billion worth of products and services. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy is releasing a draft category management circular today for public comment. The proposed circular wants to expand upon the category management concepts and efforts over the last two years. The draft document will address six broad areas of category management, including establishing a governmentwide approach, strategies and governance processes. The draft circular is out for comment for 30 days. (Federal Register)

• Contractors with little or no experience have gotten some encouragement from the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency. DARPA microsystems technology office launched the Commercial Performer Program Announcement. It aims to give companies with less than $50 million in defense contracts over the past year new funding opportunities. (Defense Advance Research Projects Agency)

• The White House names the Commerce Department to lead the Opportunity Project President Barack Obama launched in March. The project enlists software developers to create digital ways for local governments to help people with problems like affordable housing and transportation. Obama says 29 such tools using federal and local data sets are now available. They were built by companies, non-profits and students. (The White House)

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