Two lawmakers have asked the Health and Human Services Department to explain financial management problems flagged in a recent audit, including violations of the Anti-Deficiency Act, which bars agencies from obligating funds without a congressional authorization or appropriation.

Three Democratic senators want the Office of Management and Budget to step in to fix the government's longstanding pension delays. (5)

Allegations that the Food and Drug Administration monitored employees' personal emails have sparked a debate among legal experts and advocacy groups about electronic monitoring practices governmentwide. (6)

A handful of Republican senators introduced a plan Thursday that would delay Defense Department spending cuts required under sequestration by extending the current pay freeze for civilian employees through June 2014 and cutting the federal workforce by 5 percent. (41)

Efforts by several lawmakers to avert drastic downsizing at a federal inspector general's office appear to have failed. (3)