The National Security Agency’s surveillance programs have disrupted more than 50 terrorist plots. That’s what NSA head Gen. Keith Alexander told Congress yesterday. But some lawmakers say the spying still goes too far. They want to limit agencies’ abilities to collect mass electronic records. Pete Kasperowicz has written about this for The Hill newspaper.

If confirmed by the Senate, Dan Tangherlini would be the eighth administrator of the General Services Administration in eight years. Members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee say he would bring stability to the agency.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is trying to dig out of a large backlog of disability claims. In recent months, it has mandated overtime for employees and deployed a new strategy to tackle the oldest claims first. But some on Capitol Hill say this effort comes at a price, other parts of the department’s work are taking a back seat.

Park rangers, wildlife refuge workers and U.S. Park Police may be watching their backs a little closer these days. The number of incidents involving threats or violence against these workers increased by 38 percent from 2011 to 2012 according to agency reports.

If you want to understand an issue, you have to see it for yourself. The next best thing? Bring the front-line people to you. The Education Department hopes to capitalize on school principals’ experiences. In a new year-long program, department officials will share their insights about the federal process. In turn, the principals will help shape education policy that works in the classroom.