Defense

DEA: Mexican drug violence is a sign of progress, not failure

Federal agencies are ramping up support for fighting drug cartels south of the border.

Oversight

Interior seeks public input on new offshore energy plan

Oil and gas development could be expanded, but department wants to boost wind and wave power as well.

Oversight

Interior announces first stimulus projects

Initial investments will boost U.S. Geological Survey research on climate and energy challenges.

Defense

Pentagon to hire thousands of employees, cut contractors

‘Reform’ budget seeks to kill major weapons programs.

Oversight

Energy staffing hasn’t kept pace with acquisition workload, IG says

The volume and complexity of procurement requirements threaten to overwhelm nascent workforce gains.

Defense

GAO: Staggering cost overruns dwarf modest improvements in Defense acquisition

A shortage of government engineers and contract managers contributes to problems, says report.

News

Lawmakers urge Defense to halt competitive sourcing

Job competitions create an unfair strain on federal employees and the military services, House committee leaders say.

Defense

DHS watchdog recommends steps to improve immigration benefits processing

Homeland Security and State Department have joint responsibility for timeliness of immigration benefits.

Oversight

Energy IG raises concern about stimulus spending oversight

Staffing shortages and a history of poor contract management at department portend problems in administering Recovery Act funds.

Oversight

Stimulus creates major challenges for agency money managers

Oversight of Recovery Act spending adds to a workload that already is overwhelming.

Oversight

Interior makes renewable energy production a top priority

New task force will promote large-scale energy development and transmission on public land.

Defense

Coast Guard modernization stalls due to congressional inaction

Without legal authorization, the service is unable to complete critical organizational changes.

Defense

White House taps experienced emergency manager to lead FEMA

Craig Fugate, director of the Florida division of emergency management, is well-known in the disaster response community.

Defense

GAO: Pentagon needs to better manage battlefield fuel consumption

Curbing the military’s massive appetite for energy could save lives and reduce operational risks.

Oversight

Energy scrutinizes Los Alamos bookkeeping problems

Personnel cuts, the complex nature of the work and the department’s operation under a continuing resolution contributed to errors.

Oversight

Agencies seek path to smarter energy use

The Navy is leading the way with an ambitious program aimed at real-time tracking of consumption.

Features

Overload

President Obama’s push to modernize the electricity grid will require agencies to get a lot smarter about how they track energy use.

Oversight

Memo questions Los Alamos lab’s control of plutonium

Despite critical deficiencies, Energy gave the contractor that runs the lab a $1.4 million performance award last year.

Defense

Funding for Defense, Veterans Affairs scheduled for increase in 2010

Proposal offers few program details, but spending on troops and veterans’ health care would grow.

Oversight

Intergovernmental partnership aims to limit risks in stimulus spending

Organization offers tools to assess vulnerabilities and identify weakness in financial management that could lead to waste.