DorobekINSIDER: 7 stories you need to know: A cure for the Postal Services woes?

The SEVEN stories that impact your life for Thursday the 10th of May, 2012

1. The Pentagon is changing its definition of an insider threats in hopes of rooting out threats earlier and easier. Secrecy News reports, the new definition calls an insider a someone who engages in unauthorized disclosures of information or other activities deemed harmful to national security. The new Instruction comes in the wake of WikiLeaks and complies with a congressional mandate in the 2012 defense authorization act.
2. The Postal Service has a new strategy that could keep small office open for business. The plan would keep the existing Post Office in place, but with modified retail window hours. The plan would also keep access to retail lobbies and to PO Boxes unchanged. Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahoe says the new strategy would be implemented over a two-year multi-phased approach. Once implementation is completed, the Postal Service estimates they could save half a billion dollars annually.
3. The White House could be in hot water after a special counsel report found the Federal Aviation Administration was slow to respond to problems that could put airline passengers at risk. The Washington Post says Air traffic controllers in New York sleeping, playing video games and going home early we among seven main safety concerns Special Counsel Carolyn N. Lerner cited in her letter. Lerner says the Transportation Department needs more oversight of air safety. The Washington Posts says the criticism comes during the safest period in U.S. aviation history.
4. The large number of inspector general vacancies could be filling up. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman Darrell Issa has scheduled a hearing to fill the 10 vacancies. The Washington Posts says in the wake of an inspector general report that exposed wasteful spending in the General Services Administration, lawmakers are pressing the Obama administration about similar positions being vacant in several other agencies.
5. A new bill is calling for the end of duplicate spending. Federal News Radio says Congressman James Lankford has introduced a new bill that would require the Congressional Research Service to provide a “duplication score” for every piece of legislation. The score is similar to the cost scores that the Congressional Budget Office already gives each bill.
6. The missile defense agency is looking for new ways to weed out fake electronic parts in the supply chain. And they want your help. NextGov reports, the incidence of counterfeit parts appearing in military supply chains has risen in recent years. It happens when authorized dealers or original makers run out of parts to replace the military’s aging equipment and turn to unaccredited middlemen for supplies. The Pentagon is looking for solicitations through the end of May.
7. And over on GovLoop, we asking are the best employees overworked? GovLoop’s Steve Ressler says sometimes the best and most creative/ innovative people often get overburdened with too much to do (day jobs plus all the special projects). Do you agree? Sound off on GovLoop right now. You can join the conversation on our homepage.

On Today’s Program

• Navigating the winding road of political appointees can be a difficult challenge. In his new book Paul Lawrence chronicles that road for 24 political appointees.
• Big data — it’s the latest buzz word floating around government. But how do you harness its powers. We’ve got your how to guide.
• How does your city rank when it comes to social media? Results from a new study out of the University of Illinois.