Oversight

Stimulus package contains billions of dollars for federal agencies

Most investment would go to improve facilities and other infrastructure.

Oversight

IG: Energy should reevaluate plans to bury depleted uranium oxide

Severe budget cuts in Office of Environmental Management led department to drop promising research.

Oversight

Obama pledges to overhaul federal facilities

President-elect wants to modernize buildings and cut energy consumption.

Oversight

Environmentalists want EPA to regulate coal waste

Tennessee spill highlights vulnerabilities at dozens of other coal-fired power plants, activists say.

Defense

Panel finds erosion of nuclear deterrence mission widespread at Defense

Problems go well beyond recent Air Force failures, but report says Navy has maintained credible stewardship.

Defense

Energy Department faces broad management challenges, IG reports

Contract administration, cybersecurity and environmental cleanup are among problems requiring long-term attention.

Defense

Border security will loom large for Obama administration

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, the likely chief of Homeland Security, has been a vocal critic of federal efforts.

Defense

Air Force names one-star general to lead provisional nuclear command

Service officials are undecided on final location and leader for Global Strike Command when it becomes permanent in late 2009.

Defense

Cadet survey on sexual harassment and violence shows mixed results

Students at the military academies continue to underreport incidents to authorities.

Defense

Budget analyst: Recent funding approach masks true costs of war

Use of supplemental budget requests makes congressional oversight more difficult, report says.

Defense

Army creates organization to oversee civilian training

The Army Civilian University seeks to improve and expand employee development.

Oversight

Energy Department could gain clout under Obama presidency

New administration could meet many renewable energy goals by funding existing department initiatives, observers say.

Oversight

Bush administration is poised to publish new environment rules

Democrats seek to thwart regulatory changes affecting fuel economy standards, endangered species and energy production.

Defense

Gates outlines commitment to military reform

Strategy and risk assessments should drive procurement and not the other way around, Defense secretary asserts.

Pay & Benefits

Improving language skills of military personnel is easier said than done

Congress finds the challenge is exacerbated by a public education system that fails to value foreign languages.

Features

On Thin Ice

The Endangered Species Act was created to protect vanishing wildlife, but the law itself faces an uncertain future.

Defense

Homeland Security criticized for lax oversight of programs worth billions

Senior managers failed to find time for review board meetings, allowing large projects to run behind schedule and over budget, auditors say.

Oversight

Obama administration faces daunting energy challenges

Outgoing Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman cites growing demand and urgent need to reduce emissions.

Defense

Obama administration faces hard choices in managing ground troops

Organization and equipment challenges bedevil Army, Marine Corps and special operations forces, new reports say.

Defense

VA clears most facilities in prostate cancer treatment probe

Radiation underdosing problems prompt agency to develop new metrics at medical centers.