Written by Ruben Gomez
Edited by Suzanne Kubota

This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED:

Vivek Kundra is back in his job as federal chief information officer. Kundra had been put on administrative leave after the FBI arrested two former co-workers in the Washington DC chief technology office. The two were charged with corruption. But The White House says Kundra is not a subject of investigation.

The House has passed a bill that would change how federal agencies handle non-classified information. The goal is to make documents more accessible to the public. The bill would also provide training programs and random compliance audits. It now heads to the Senate for a vote.

A union lawyer will become the top attorney for the Office of Personnel Management. Elaine Kaplan has been appointed general counsel at OPM. Kaplan currently works for the National Treasury Employees Union where she’s the senior deputy general counsel. She also comes with government experience: She led the office of special counsel under former president Bill Clinton.

A move to boost hiring under the stimulus bill: Federal agencies can now use excepted service appointments to hire staffers. That news coming from the Office of Personnel Management. It lets agencies hire for any grade anywhere in the country. The appointments last for one year, but they can be renewed without a waiver from OPM.

Other Stories We’re Watching:

GSA encourages agencies to use its contracts for stimulus projects (GovExec)

Obama proposes terminating system that backs up GPS (NextGov)

Health care overhaul cost may reach $1.5 trillion

Air Force nurse charged in 3 patients’ drug deaths

Former Bush aide faces sentencing in theft case

More feds headed to border to quell drug violence

US orders diplomats to leave Madagascar

Smithsonian worker files whistleblower complaint

WSJ: IBM in talks to buy Sun (ZDNet)

IRS giving relief to some Madoff investors

Bat Hung onto Shuttle During Liftoff (NASA)

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