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Category Archives: Defense

New GAO Reports – IRS Internal Controls, Medicaid, Navy Force Structure

Management Report: Improvements Are Needed to Enhance the Internal Revenue Service’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting, GAO-15-480R: Published: May 29, 2015. Publicly Released: May 29, 2015. Medicaid: Additional Actions Needed to Help Improve Provider and Beneficiary Fraud Controls, GAO-15-313: Published: May 14, 2015. Publicly Released: May 29, 2015. Navy Force Structure: Sustainable Plan and Comprehensive… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports – International Space Station, Sequestration

International Space Station: Measurable Performance Targets and Documentation Needed to Better Assess Management of National Laboratory, GAO-15-397: Published: Apr 27, 2015. Publicly Released: May 27, 2015: “The U.S. has spent almost $43 billion to develop, assemble, and operate the ISS over the past two decades. The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 required NASA to enter… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports – Defense Transportation, Federal Veterinarians, U.S. Postal Service

Defense Transportation: Air Force’s Airlift Study Met Mandate Requirements, GAO-15-457R: Published: May 26, 2015. Publicly Released: May 26, 2015. Federal Veterinarians: Efforts Needed to Improve Workforce Planning, GAO-15-495: Published: May 26, 2015. Publicly Released: May 26, 2015. U.S. Postal Service: Improved Management Procedures Needed for Parcel Select Contracts, GAO-15-408: Published: Apr 23, 2015. Publicly Released:… Continue Reading

Report – $36M Command Control Facility in Afghanistan: Unwanted, Unneeded, and Unused

SIGAR – Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction May 2015 SIGAR-15-57-SP $36 Million Command and Control Facility at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan: Unwanted, Unneeded, and Unused “SIGAR found that DoD requested funds for this facility on the basis that it was necessary to address an immediate operational need associated with the military surge in Afghanistan in… Continue Reading

SIGAR Quarterly Report to Congress on Afghanistan Reconstruction

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction Quarterly Report to Congress, April 30, 2015 “As a result of a SIGAR investigation that uncovered corruption in the award of a nearly $1 billion, multi-year Afghan Ministry of Defense (MOD) fuel contract, SIGAR has developed a relationship with the new Afghan national-unity government that promises to create unique… Continue Reading

US DOJ IG Report – Review of the FBI’s Use of Section 215 Orders

FBI’s Use of Section 215 Orders: Assessment of Progress in Implementing Recommendations and Examination of Use in 2007 through 2009, Oversight and Review Division Report 15-05. May 2015. Redacted. “The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) announced today the release of a public version of its most recent report examining the… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports – Federal Vehicle Fleets, Medicare Physician Payment Rates, Nuclear Weapons Council, Telecommunications, Unemployment Insurance

Federal Vehicle Fleets: Leading Practices for Managing Fleet Operations, GAO-15-644T: Published: May 21, 2015. Publicly Released: May 21, 2015. Medicare Physician Payment Rates: Better Data and Greater Transparency Could Improve Accuracy, GAO-15-434: Published: May 21, 2015. Publicly Released: May 21, 2015. Nuclear Weapons Council: Enhancing Interagency Collaboration Could Help with Implementation of Expanded Responsibilities, GAO-15-446:… Continue Reading

Bin Ladin’s Bookshelf

Office of the Director on National Intelligence – “On May 20, 2015, the ODNI released a sizeable tranche of documents recovered during the raid on the compound used to hide Usama bin Ladin. The release, which followed a rigorous interagency review, aligns with the President’s call for increased transparency–consistent with national security prerogatives–and the 2014… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports – Airport Finance, Domestic Food Assistance, Federal Employees Compensation, Older Adults, Surface Ships

Airport Finance: Information on Funding Sources and Planned Capital Development, GAO-15-306: Published: Apr 28, 2015. Publicly Released: May 20, 2015. Army Force Structure: Observations about Aviation Restructuring and Other Relevant Force Structure Challenges, D10389: May 20, 2015 Contingent Workforce: Size, Characteristics, Earnings, and Benefits, GAO-15-168R: Published: Apr 20, 2015. Publicly Released: May 20, 2015. Domestic… Continue Reading

Tech giants communicate opposition to decrypted data for law enforcement

Washington Post, Ellen Nakashima: “Tech behemoths including Apple and Google and leading cryptologists are urging President Obama to reject any government proposal that alters the security of smartphones and other communications devices so that law enforcement can view decrypted data. In a letter to be sent Tuesday and obtained by The Washington Post, a coalition… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports – Afghanistan, Nutrition Assistance, Rural Housing, School Meals, Aviation Safety, Defense Contracting, Regulatory Guidance Process

Afghanistan: Embassy Construction Cost and Schedule Have Increased, and Further Facilities Planning Is Needed, GAO-15-410: Published: May 19, 2015. Publicly Released: May 19, 2015. Nutrition Assistance: Actions Needed to Address Potential Online Sales of Infant Formula, GAO-15-605T: Published: May 19, 2015. Publicly Released: May 19, 2015. Rural Housing Service: Progress on GAO Recommendations and Preliminary… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports – Coast Guard Acquisitions, Information Management, International Education Assistance, Military Personnel, UN, Unmanned Aerial Systems

Coast Guard Acquisitions: As Major Assets are Fielded, Overall Portfolio Remains Unaffordable, GAO-15-620T: Published: May 14, 2015. Publicly Released: May 14, 2015. Information Management: Additional Actions Are Needed to Meet Requirements of the Managing Government Records Directive, GAO-15-339: Published: May 14, 2015. Publicly Released: May 14, 2015. International Education Assistance: USAID Has Implemented Primary Grade… Continue Reading