You will be redirected to the page you want to view in seconds.
The costs agencies ascribe to federal pensions, when they are comparing whether it is more efficient to perform commercial-like work in-house or to outsource it to a contractor, have been understated significantly for decades.
First, let me say these are my views only, not my employer's.
I entered public service under unorthodox circumstances, after a tragedy hit in my hometown of Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
More than 35 years ago, as a newly minted law school graduate, I moved from my hometown of New York City to Washington to take a job at the Justice Department.
No one can forget the image released a year ago of a government executive holding a champagne glass in toast while sitting in a Las Vegas hot tub — paid for with federal dollars. Congressional leaders were rightfully indignant and called for a halt to such events. However, taxpayer costs for government acquisition may now be increasing as a result of overreach policies implemented since then.
In the aftermath of sequestration, it’s clear that significant budget cuts are inevitable for agencies and programs throughout government. Already, procurements of complex equipment have been reduced or cut; support contracts have been negotiated more aggressively — and, in many cases, cut back or canceled.
The devastating impact on both America’s military preparedness and its national economy from the proposed furloughs of civilian Defense Department employees could not occur at a more dangerous moment. The move not only places a disproportionate burden on Defense personnel, it also jeopardizes the safety and the economy of the entire nation.
When Mark Twain used the phrase “lies, damned lies and statistics” he could have been discussing the federal pay gap.
On April 8, 2011, six workers employed under a federal contract were disposing of fireworks at a storage facility in Waipahu, Hawaii, when a large explosion occurred, killing five and injuring the sixth. These fireworks had been confiscated by U.S. customs agents because they were commercial grade but were mislabeled as less hazardous, consumer-grade fireworks.
A recent flurry of reports underscores the cyber threats facing our nation, ranging from malicious hacking to state-sponsored cyber economic espionage and worse. In response, the president recently issued an executive order designed to protect our critical cyber infrastructure — all those cyber-dependent things we take for granted, like our power grid, transportation system and water supply.
