Federal Drive

Friday Morning Federal Newscast

OPM lifts the curtain on snow-closing procedures, security clearances may be about to go governmentwide, Earl DeVaney plans to embarass stimulus recipients who ...

Federal News Network Staff

December 4, 2009 8:35 am

3 min read

Written by Tom Temin & Ruben Gomez
Edited by Suzanne Kubota

This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED:

OPM Director John Berry renews his committment to make quicker decisions on when to close government during severe weather. Berry told reporters Thursday that he’ll make the call on the government’s status by 4 a.m. If he’s out of town, he’ll delegate the authority. (FederalNewsRadio’s Max Cacas got a “behind the scenes” look at how the decision will be made. Click here for details.)

A bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate directs agencies to accept security clearances for federal employees and contractors that were approved by other agencies. It would ensure clearance are governmentwide. The bill, sponsored by Senators Daniel Akaka and George Voinivitch, also mandates formation of a performance accountability council to monitor th government’s security clearance backlog. The bill mirrors a June 2008 executive order from President George W. Bush that aimed to streamline the background checks on federal employees and contractors who need to access classified information.

Recovery Board Chairman Earl DeVaney plans to embarass stimulus recipients who don’t report how they’re using stimulus money. DeVaney says he will post the names of those recipients online. He says the goal is to drive accountability and better compliance. He estimates about 10 percent of prime recipients haven’t submitted information to FederalReporting.gov, even thought the first deadline passed more than two months ago. Devaney is also working with members Congress on stiffer penalties for recipients who don’t report.

Senate Democrats continue to search for compromise on potential show-stopping issues as they press ahead with a health-care overhaul. They came together yesterday to keep Medicare cuts central to paying for the plan in the bill. The big internal debate is over government insurance, the so-called public option.

Government healthcare Web sites beat the private sector in public satisfaction. The ForeSee Results survey gives government sites a score of 79 on a scale of 0 to 100. Private sites received scores ranging from 64 to 78.

The Secret Service has suspended three of its agents, following the security breach at last week’s White House dinner. Secret Service director Mark Sullivan told the House Homeland Security Committee Thursday that it was his agency’s fault that Tareq and Michaele Salahi made it into the dinner uninvited. But President Obama says he hasn’t lost confidence in his protectors; And the White House Social Office says it wants to help. It’ll post employees at security checkpoints to help the Secret Service with problems arising from the guest list for exclusive events.

More news links

DHS still struggling with management (GovExec)

New dashboard tracks cybersecurity programs (FCW)

VA launches massive contract to buy IT equipment and services (NextGov)

Mashups of stimulus spending data leads to two fraud investigations (NextGov)

Agencies spending stimulus bucks through no-bid contracts, GAO finds (FCW)

GAO ruling draws line on small-biz set-asides (FCW)

Border agents seize $1.6M in counterfeit toys

Report: No fault with forest workers in fatal fire

Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Eid stamps available

Obama family lights National Christmas Tree

Oprah visits White House for Christmas special