The Defense Department is scrubbing its financial books again to see if it can reduce the number of furlough days for its civilian employees. But officials have warned a House Armed Services Subcommittee that furloughs could turn into layoffs if sequestration continues into fiscal 2014. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness. He tells Federal News Radio Executive Editor Jason Miller what civilian employees should expect.

The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, is going to have a big impact on government contractors. Key portions of Obamacare, now delayed until 2015, still bring with them many unanswered questions. As luck would have it, the Professional Services Council hosts a panel discussion with attorneys later this afternoon to discuss how government contractors will evaluate, bid and perform on federal contracts. Alan Chvotkin is the executive vice president and counsel for the Professional Services Council.

The uproar over the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs has thrust a little-known advisory panel into the spotlight. President Barack Obama has told the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board to review the NSA’s programs and lead a national conversation about them. David Medine is the chairman of the board.

Sharing is caring. That’s the new slogan in federal data security circles. With leaks of classified information in the headlines, more people are starting to care. As Federal News Radio’s Lauren Larson reports, agencies are working more closely together and industry partners are bringing more to the table. She has this report from yesterday’s Meritalk Brainstorm in Washington.