Wednesday federal headlines – June 25, 2014

The Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp discuss throughout the show each day. The Newsc...

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp discuss throughout the show each day. The Newscast is designed to give FederalNewsRadio.com users more information about the stories you hear on the air.

  • A Senator charges VA misconduct may have caused the death of 1,000 veterans over the past 10 years and cost nearly $1 billion in payments to vets and their families for medical malpractice. A detailed study of the VA was commissioned by Sen. Tom Coburn (R- Okla.). He says the long appointment wait times and manipulated lists are only the beginning of bad VA practices. Coburn claims he’s uncovered a culture of manipulation, poor management and criminality. VA says its workers are honest and caring. (Federal News Radio)
  • The head of the Senate Judiciary Committee introduces a bill to strengthen the government’s open records law. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) teams up with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) to introduce new Freedom of Information Act reforms. Their legislation would codify and add heft to President Barack Obama’s orders to agencies on transparency and openness. For example, it directs agencies to post more information online. It would make it harder for agencies to cite exemptions in refusing to release documents, and it would give the Office of Government Information Services, which mediates disputes, a direct line to the President. The House already has passed a bill to strengthen FOIA. (Senate)
  • A Senate bill would give agency chief information officers expanded authority over IT budgets and contracts. Sponsors plan to offer the measure as an amendment to the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) already passed by the House. That markup takes place today. The Senate version would direct the White House to require CIOs to take full IT budget and project authority. The House version also stops short of giving CIOs final say over projects. Under the House version, a department could have only one position called CIO. The Senate bill is silent on that subject. (Federal News Radio)
  • The Archivist of the United States says the IRS didn’t follow the law when it failed to report loss of records belonging to a senior executive. David Ferriero wouldn’t say IRS broke the law — only that officials didn’t follow it. Ferriero was being questioned in a House hearing about emails of Lois Lerner, the former tax exempt division head. Her PC crashed in 2011, but the agency didn’t tell anyone until this month. (Associated Press)
  • The Pentagon launches a new award program for Excellence in Contingency Contracting. It’s named after former procurement policy chief Richard Ginman. Trouble is, Ginman hasn’t retired yet. A Pentagon spokeswoman wasn’t able to say exactly when he’ll leave. Award nominations are due Aug. 25. Sometime after that, Ginman himself will present the first annual award. Ginman, a retired Navy admiral, has had a career spanning 40 years. He’s been DoD’s director of procurement for the last three years. The new award recognizes a contracting officer who has done inspirational work. (Federal News Radio)
  • President Barack Obama is nominating three senior military officers for key positions. If confirmed, the vice chief of the Army, Gen. John Campbell, would take over the U.S. command in Afghanistan. He would oversee the withdrawal of all but about 10,000 troops. Navy Adm. Bill Gortney would lead Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in Colorado Springs. Gortney now heads Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk. Finally, the President has asked Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Votel to lead Special Operations Command, replacing Adm. Bill McRaven, who is retiring. (Associated Press)
  • A White House spokesman says the Obama Administration has made “a historic commitment of resources” to control the surge of migrants illegally crossing the Southwest border. But he says the government will not deploy National Guard troops, as some members of Congress have suggested. Homeland Security officials tell a House panel the border crossers have strained resources in South Texas. They do not pose a security problem, and many of them surrender quickly upon arrival. Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner has appointed a working group of lawmakers to focus on the crisis. (Speaker of the House)
  • A federal judge slams the Homeland Security Department’s administration of its no-fly list. District Court Judge Anna Brown of Oregon rules the department must give people a clearer way to challenge their placement on the list. Thirteen people, including four military veterans, sued the government for violating their Constitutional right to travel. Brown says the government must tell people what unclassified information was used to place them on the list. It should also reveal the nature and extent of classified information used. (Associated Press)

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