The number of federal employees retiring in 2013 was up slightly over the previous year. Federal News Radio dug through the end of the year statistics.

Congressional appropriators are nearly done with a spending bill for 2014. That means the Pentagon will become a much clearer market. Kevin Brancato is senior defense analyst at Bloomberg Government. He joins us with the outlook for 2014 defense contracting.

The head of the National Guard says the services have no trouble recruiting and retaining members. But that could change quickly after military operations in Afghanistan end.

Agencies are wasting hundreds of billions of dollars each year because Congress isn’t doing its job. So says Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). He says change must start at home if the government is going to control its spending. Federal News Radio’s executive editor Jason Miller has the details on the latest attempt by lawmakers to take on government waste.

The government buys, and contractors sell. It’s a simple model, except when it isn’t. Sometimes the government competes with industry. The Business Coalition for Fair Competition says the government does some things itself that it ought to buy from companies.

The U.S. Mint is looking for fresh designs to print. Today is the deadline for artists to apply for a program aimed at diversifying the backs of coins and other currency. April Stafford manages the design selection and approval process for new coins and medals.