FederalDaily - July 8, 2005
DoD Releases New Defense Strategy
The Pentagon has released a new report outlining the role of the country’s
military forces across the globe, space, cyberspace and even on how units could
be utilized within the United States. While there are some constitutional provisions
barring the use of the military under certain circumstances within the United
States, the document states the military is prepared for such a role if so
ordered by the president or the secretary of the Department of Defense. Top
objectives spelled out in the plan include: achieving maximum awareness of
threats; deterring, intercepting and defeating threats at a safe distance from
the United States; and ensuring that defense components are protected and can
perform their duties.
:: Back to Top ::
GSA Names New Top Administrator
The General Services Administration (GSA) announced the appointment of Alan
Robert Swendiman as the agency’s associate administrator for the Office
of General Counsel. Swendiman’s appointment is effective immediately.
Swendiman most recently handled a broad range of commercial transactions for
the law firm of Jackson & Campbell in Washington, D.C. A principal with
that firm since 1993, he represented clients on contract lease, real estate
and employment matters. Swendiman’s career also covers work on regulatory
compliance, labor relations and administrative law in both the public and private
sector. Swendiman will assume daily management of GSA’s legal department
and oversee the legal affairs of the agency.
:: Back to Top ::
Should TSP Invest in Real Estate Fund?
Several key members of the House Government Reform Committee have asked the
chairman of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) to look
into the possibility of adding a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) index
fund to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Congressman Thomas M. Davis, R-Va.,
John Porter, R-Nev., Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Danny Davis, D-Ill., have
called on FRTIB Chairman Andrew Saul to retain a professional investment consultant
as soon as possible to look at adding the fund. Under the legislation creating
TSP, only Congress has the power to add funds. The congressmen have asked that
the consultant look into not only REITs, but also Treasury inflation-protected
securities, emerging market equities, growth and value indexes, commodities
and high-yield debt.
:: Back to Top ::
Union Charges Short Staffing Puts Flyers In Danger
According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, what should
have been a relatively routine computer failure turned into a 17-hour problem
that could have ended in tragedy due to poor staffing levels at a Syracuse,
New York, Federal Aviation Administration facility. The computer that assists
controllers with the transfer of aircraft data between control facilities failed
last Friday afternoon. According to local NATCA representative Bob DAddario,
there were no technicians available to service the system due to staffing cutbacks.
While the loss of the computer system is not in itself a safety issue, DAddario
said it increased the workload of controllers on duty, which in turn can reduce
the margin of safety available.
:: Back to Top ::
|
