Friday Morning Federal Newsstand

Written by Ruben Gomez and Tom Temin
Edited by Suzanne Kubota

This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED:

Federal civilians will get a pay raise next year, but just how much? We don’t know. A Senate panel has approved a 2.9 percent hike. A full Senate vote could happen next week. Last week a House committee approved a two percent raise.

The Defense Department’s high-tech mapping agency cuts the ribbon today on its new East Coast home. It’s a 2.4 million square-foot Virginia campus for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The new headquarters was built near Fort Belvior and will consolidate workers from six locations as part of the 2005 base realignment and closure process, or BRAC.

Another step closer to collective bargaining rights for workers at the Transportation Security Administration. A House committee has approved a bill to make that reality. The provision would also scrap TSA’s pay-for-performance system. The measure now moves to the full House for a vote.

The U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team identified what caused the recent cyber attacks that shut down several government web sites, including Homeland Security and Transportation Departments. Industry sources tell NextGov.com, it was a modified version of the “My Doom” virus, which hit a million computers pack in 2004 Now denial of service attack seems to have taken down the main Web site of U.S. Forces in Korea.

What does the word “unclassified” mean to you? A new report indicates that many federal employees really don’t know. The study from OMB Watch says labels like “Controled Unclassified” and “Sensitive But Unclassified” are just plain confusing and lead to problems with document handling. The report calls on the White House for written clarification on what the labels mean.

Help is on the way for anyone confused by all those stimulus reporting rules. It’s a series of webinars from the Office of Management and Budget and the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board. There will be seven. And they run from July 20th to the 23rd, focusing on the most recent guidance released late last month. You can register on Recovery.gov.

Is the United States’ top fighter jet, the Lockheed Martin F-22, a lemon? Washington Post reports confidential Pentagon tests show the pricey plane has required more than 30 hours of maintenance for every hour in the air. That translates to a cost of $44,000 an hour to fly. Problems stem from the high-tech skin on the plane, which deflects radar. The administration and some members of Congress have been arguing over whether to build more than the 187 already ordered.

Other Stories We’re Following

Chaffetz opposes giving benefits to gay federal workers’ partners (Salt Lake Tribune)

Report: Federal Employees Don’t Understand “Unclassified” Labels (FederalDaily)

Bob Peck to head GSA’s Public Building Service (WashingtonBusinessJournal)

HUD releases $1.2B in stimulus funds for homeless

Nominee for NASA chief wins wide praise (FederalTimes)

House Democrats likely to alter intel bill

Even Good Editors Need Editors
Oops, Justice press aide’s comment slips out
Providing “Today’s Phrase That Pays!”

And Finally

Happy Birthday Tai Shan!

The National Zoo’s giant panda Tai Shan is now 4 years old, making him a teenager in “bear years.” Tai Shan could be moving to China later this year as an agreement for his stay comes to an end.

Copyright © 2024 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.