The Labor Department has decided to halt the collection of data on import and export prices. The Bureau of Labor Statistics received a small funding increase this year, but not enough to save this particular data collection. Several other data collection programs were already cut last year. The Conference Board, a private research group in New York, took over some of the most important reports. Carol Corrado, senior adviser and research director at the Conference Board, has more.

The White House’s 2015 budget receives decidedly mixed reviews from federal labor unions. It includes $56 billion for the new “Opportunity, Growth and Security” Initiative. There’s 4,000 new Customs and Border Patrol officers, but also workforce reductions at the Transportation Security Administration. J. David Cox is president of the American Federation of Government Employees.

A second set of Olympic style competition is getting underway in Sochi, Russia. The United States military and veterans are well represented at the Paralympics. In fact, the U.S. team flagbearer is a disabled Marine combat veteran who was injured in Iraq. Ski racer Jon Lujan says international tension involving Russia isn’t really on the minds of the athletes.

Importers and exporters must deal with as many as 47 federal agencies. President Obama wants to streamline that. A new executive order vows to finish work on a project known as the International Trade Data System. It would provide a so called single window to all the rules, regulations and agencies. Brenda Smith, executive director of the project at CBP, gives a status report. She tells us the system will be completed by 2016.

The General Services Administration wrongly fired a top employee connected to the infamous Las Vegas conference a few years ago. The Merit Systems Protection Board clears James Weller of wrongdoing. Federal News Radio Executive Editor Jason Miller has exclusive details of the MSPB’s ruling.

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In the Pentagon’s budget request, officials said they need more money to adequately perform their missions. They requested $26 billion in 2015 and $115 billion more in the four years after that. But the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee says that’s not going to happen. More from Federal News Radio’s DoD reporter, Jared Serbu.

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