Nextgov
When Congress and Cloud Collided
A lawmaker came up with a new meaning for the term “cloud.” But DOD’s chief information officer isn’t smiling.
Defense
Samantha Power: U.S.-Israel Partnership 'Transcends Politics and It Always Will'
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations unsurprisingly affirms U.S. commitment to Israel.
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers Seek to Reverse Cuts to Some Travel Allowances
Bill would repeal Pentagon policy that reduced per diem rates for military and civilian employees on long-term travel.
Management
VA Watchdog Finds Data Manipulation of Disability Claims at Arkansas Facility
Employees -- complying with headquarters guidance -- changed the dates in dozens of cases so that older claims appeared newer.
Nextgov
What 'Cloud' Really Stands For? House Mulls Over Pentagon IT Programs
Acting Defense Department Terry Halvorsen urged lawmakers to prioritize efforts to update military IT, such the Joint Information Environment, a concept for a militarywide data sharing system.
Defense
DHS Has Begun Notifying Employees of Their Furlough Status
Congress is working on a deal to avoid a DHS shutdown, but the department says it must prepare for the worst.
Management
Watchdog Dings Coast Guard for Lax Travel Spending Oversight
The agency spent nearly $4.5 million over four years for medical care travel for certain service members – and some of it might have been unnecessary.
Defense
8 Ways a Shutdown Would Damage Homeland Security
Most employees would still work, but operations would be disrupted significantly.
Defense
VA Secretary Says He Never Misrepresented Military Service In Bio
Bob McDonald says misstatement about serving in the Special Forces resulted from trying to connect with homeless vet.
Defense
Watchdog Launches Review on Future Size of Afghan Forces
Move comes on heels of Carter visit and rethinking of U.S. troop strength.
Nextgov
Megan Smith Wants to ‘Debug’ Tech’s Diversity Problem
The U.S. chief technology officer said she remains hopeful about the prospects for change -- especially in Silicon Valley.
Nextgov
Multiple Companies Protest $1.6 Billion Pentagon Contract
The bid protestors contend the contract re-up is an improper sole-source request for cloud services that would give VMware an unfair advantage competing for DOD’s growing cloud demand.
Oversight
Congress Returns With No Plan to Avoid Shutdown
Both chambers likely will spend the week refusing to budge on DHS funding.
Defense
The Homeland Security Department Is Starting Shutdown Prep
More than 85 percent of the department’s employees would have to report to work without pay, based on 2013 plans.
Defense
Who Would Be Forced to Work During a DHS Shutdown?
A look at which parts of the department would have the most employees still on the job, based on 2013 plans.
Pay & Benefits
Many Service Members' Feb. 27 Paychecks Will Be Smaller
A processing error at the Defense payroll agency affected retirement deductions related to Roth accounts.
Management
Scaled-Back DHS Headquarters Plan Would Squeeze 3,000 More People Into the Same Space
Flexible workplace strategies would help accommodate 17,000 employees in an area originally planned for 14,000.
Defense
Most Americans Now Back Ground Troops Against ISIS
The Islamic State's brutality has dramatically shifted public opinion in the United States.
Management
Watchdog: Pentagon Could Learn from HHS on Curbing Medical Claims Fraud
Health and Human Services has a better system than Defense does for identifying improper payments, GAO says.
Defense