National Defense Authorization Act

Like the revolving door, Defense Department ethics questions keep coming ’round

A recent Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing raised questions of integrity and the so-called revolving door between industry and the Defense Department….

Defense

(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Pentagon wants authority to start work on new technologies without Congressional approval

Defense News

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, questions Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett during the second day of her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Alex Edelman/Pool via AP)

First Look

Sen. Ernst leads bills seeking higher standard for federal small business contracting goals

Contracting

This year’s list of high-risk programs shows, once again, what’s possible

Agency Oversight

(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The U.S. Capitol is seen in Washington, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. To enact President Joe Biden’s expansive domestic agenda this year, Democrats have mapped out a convoluted legislative maze. The party wants to push the new president's multitrillion-dollar plans for supercharging federal infrastructure, climate change and social programs through a Congress in which they have only paper-thin majorities. GOP opposition is certain to be solid. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Congress has a decidedly nuts-and-bolts week

Congress

State Dept cyber bureau plans to add tech experts to every embassy by next year

Cybersecurity

This tribal leader wants sovereignty restored that she says the government erased 50 years ago

People

United States Merit Systems Protection Board

You’ve got whistleblower protection even before you apply for a federal job

Workforce

FILE - This April 19, 2019 file photo shows a sign for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon in Washington. The Biden administration’s nominee for top Pentagon policy adviser was met with sharp criticism from Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday, including accusations that he has been too partisan to be confirmed for the job. Colin Kahl, who served as national security adviser to then-Vice President Joe Biden during the Obama administration, faced repeated questions on his previous support for the Iran nuclear deal and how he would approach that issue now. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Contractors assess the Defense Department’s latest small-business strategy

Contracting

‘OPM sent a signal’: Still no final regulations on 2017 administrative leave law

Agency Oversight

This bipartisan bill would give the GSA new cybersecurity responsibility

Cybersecurity

Maybe the Holman rule should be renamed the ‘No man rule’

A very old congressional procedure known as the Holman Rule has popped up lately. It allows a House member to amend an appropriations bill so eliminate…

Congress

Mountain Home Air Force Base, Air Force, pilot, jet, plane, aircraft, military base

The Defense Department is urged to get a better handle on its tactical aircraft investments

Fighter plans and attack planes are known as tactical aircraft. The armed services have a lot of them, mostly old. So old, most of them are past their…

Agency Oversight

Things seem settled in Washington, but federal contractors are still uneasy

Acquisition

Federal employees will be getting a nice raise now. But federal contractors are not totally certain they will be able to get inflation adjustments from their agency customers. That’s despite the fact that the defense authorization law specifically mentioned contract modification for inflation relief.