Friday federal headlines – October 17, 2014

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on the Federal Drive and In Depth radio shows each day. Our headlines are updated twice per day — once in the morning and once in the afternoon — with the latest news affecting federal employees and contractors.

• Lawmakers grill a top government health official on the nation’s response to Ebola. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Tom Frieden appeared before the House Committee for Energy and Commerce. The hearing came after a second nurse in Dallas was diagnosed with the virus. Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who chairs the committee, called the response to Ebola “unacceptable.” Some House lawmakers are calling for Frieden to resign. Others are pressing for a travel ban from West Africa to the U. S. They don’t want anyone from Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea coming into the U.S. President Barack Obama isn’t opposed to a travel ban, but he says it could be counterproductive. Instead, Obama says he may appoint a so-called Ebola czar, who would head the administration’s efforts against the virus. (Federal News Radio/White House)
• President Barack Obama tells reserve and National Guard troops to be ready. He said they might need to help respond to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Obama signed an executive order yesterday that allows the Pentagon to call up more forces. But the Pentagon says it doesn’t have any immediate plans to send reservists to West Africa. As many as 4,000 troops could be sent to the region. The military personnel will provide humanitarian assistance and will build treatment units. (White House)
• Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole says he’ll retire at the end of the year. He’s lead TSA for more than four years. An announcement by Anderson University said a search committee will recommend to the trustees that they hire Pistole as the Indiana school’s next president. Pistol instituted the trusted traveler and pre-check programs at TSA, which let pre-approved passengers avoid some of the security procedures at airports. He also presided over the first labor agreement between TSA and the American Federation of Government Employees. Pistole joined TSA after a 26-year career with the FBI. (Federal News Radio)
• FBI director James Comey forcefully repeated his warning against tech companies’ plans to automatically encrypt smart phone data. In a speech, Comey said murder cases could be stalled or criminals could go free if law enforcement can’t get at cell phone contents. Comey said the FBI already has the legal authority to search phones, but added that it doesn’t always have the technology to unlock encrypted data. Privacy advocates have said law enforcement fears of encryption are exaggerated. The debate gained momentum after Apple and Google announced that future versions of their phone operating systems would encrypt all data by default. (Federal News Radio)
• Send in the drones,Turkish officials say. The Air Force got the OK to launch unmanned aircraft from Incirlik Air Base. The base is located 100 miles from the Syrian border. The drones will help in the fight against Islamic State militants. But the Daily Beast reports that Turkey won’t allow any U.S. manned planes at the base. White House Press Secretary John Earnest said the U.S. and Turkey are still discussing the issue. Pentagon Spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby says the talks are “positive,” but the Pentagon hasn’t made an official statement yet. (Daily Beast)
• The Navy says it will move two advanced-technology ships to the fleet at Yokosuka, Japan. Officials said the move supports Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s April promise of beefing up security for Japan. Two destroyers equipped with ballistic missile defenses, based on guided missiles, will head there. The USS Benfold will leave its current home port of San Diego next summer. The USS Milius will move in the summer of 2017. Both ships will have mid-life upgrades, giving them the latest Aegis missile technology. The Navy said it also plans to send one forward deployed destroyer back to Norfolk, Virginia and replace it with an upgraded ship, the USS Barry. That swap is scheduled for the summer of 2016. ( Navy)
• Interior Secretary Sally Jewell asks Congress to get going on stalled conservation measures. She said the Obama administration will use its authority until Congress takes action. Critics have harped on the administration for designating monuments under the Antiquities Act. They accused the White House of land and water grabs. Since taking office, President Obama has created or expanded 13 national monuments. But Jewell said he only acted when local communities spoke up. Her speech comes around the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. (Federal News Radio)
• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission released a long awaited report on the safety of the Yucca Mountain, Nevada, nuclear waste storage site. Engineers found the eventual closure plans would meet the safety objectives outlined in the original Energy Department application for the Yucca site. The findings, however, might be moot. The report was required by a federal judge ruling in a lawsuit launched by interests in favor of the Yucca Mountain storage site. The lawsuit came after the Obama administration withdrew the application in 2010. Congress subsequently cut off funding for the project. The government spent years and billions of dollars preparing Yucca Mountain before Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), convinced the administration to reverse course. (Federal News Radio)
• NASA once again gets high marks for its employee morale and satisfaction. The space agency released results from the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. Nearly 90 percent of employees said the work they do is important. Employees gave their supervisors positive ratings as well. More than 80 percent said their supervisors do a good job, and that their supervisors support employee development. NASA said the survey scores represent a good news story for the agency. In 2013 and 2012, NASA earned the highest composite score among all agencies. The Office of Personnel Management will release governmentwide results later this year. (NASA)

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