Federal Drive Show Blog – January 17, 2014

President Barack Obama outlines changes to national security surveillance programs at the Justice Department this morning. Early reports say those changes will be modest, and the President is likely to leave the details up to Congress.

Michael Allen has a preview of the changes and battles ahead. He was, until recently, the staff director for the House Intelligence Committee. He also worked for President George W. Bush’s National Security Council.

The Treasury Department has made greater financial data transparency one of its open government goals for 2014. The job of making sure data is timely, secure and accurate falls to Christina Ho. She’s the executive director for data transparency at the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

The Veterans Affairs Department wants to streamline the way vets apply for disability benefits. It wants them to use a standard form. Veterans groups don’t like the plan. The American Legion even says it would poison the process.

Paul Sullivan, managing director of public affairs and veterans outreach at Bergmann & Moore, LLC, explains why. His law firm specializes in veterans’ compensation claims.

The Office of Personnel Management is close to releasing a new plan for fixing long-standing technology problems with the federal retirement system. Agency Director Katherine Archuleta says it’s one of her top initiatives. In part 2 of her interview with Federal News Radio Executive Editor Jason Miller, Archuleta explains her priorities.

Listen to part 1 of the interview here.

Military recruiters have had a good run over the past few years. A sour economy has made it easier for the services to meet recruiting goals and keep standards high. But as Federal News Radio’s Jared Serbu reports, they’re now watching for signs of trouble.

President Obama will sign a $1.1 trillion spending bill into law, funding government through the end of fiscal year 2014. How did agencies fare? Federal News Radio’s Web Manager Julia Ziegler tells what feds are saying about the bill.