FederalDaily - May 5, 2006

Contractor Security Clearances Halted by DoD

Citing funding constraints and an overwhelming number of priority requests, the Defense Security Service (DSS) announced on April 6 that it has discontinued processing new security clearance investigation requests from contractors until further notice. Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., wrote a letter to DSS on April 28, asking for a detailed explanation of why the agency would “stop, for the foreseeable future, accepting industry requests” for security clearances. Davis called the decision “baffling” and “disturbing.” Meanwhile, the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) issued a press release asking Congress to force the Department of Defense to resume processing clearances. ITAA stressed that numerous national security projects would not have enough cleared personnel to handle the current workload unless processing is resumed and new workers can be added.

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Investigation of Scientific Censorship Requested

On May 2, Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate allegations of manipulation and censorship among government scientists. Wu expressed concerns over an alleged “political litmus test” for politically-appointed scientists and “politically driven” censorship of information. Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey had been “chastised” for discussing their work, asked to remove references to global warming in reports and, in some cases, ordered not to talk with the media, Wu said. Wu also questioned how some Environmental Protection Agency documents were held in “draft” status for periods as long as 10 years. He asked that GAO submit a finalized report on the subject no later than Feb. 14, 2008.

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Improving Handling of Fallen Soldiers

The Senate on Monday approved an amendment aimed at improving the handling of fallen soldiers’ remains as well as the family notification process, according to a May 1 press release from Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. The amendment was introduced by Isakson and Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., as part of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. It would require the Defense Department secretary to provide Congress with a comprehensive review of mortuary affairs policies. The review would cover the use of refrigeration in combat areas, timeliness of remains transfers and the feasibility of conducting autopsies and embalming procedures locally rather than in the U.S. In addition, the amendment would require that highly-trained personnel brief surviving families and provide necessary, timely updates. Both senators, the statement said, were inspired by the story of Sgt. Paul Saylor, whose remains had decomposed too much for an open-casket funeral.

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TSP Monthly Returns for April 2006

Rates of Return were updated on May 1, 2006.

The monthly G, F, C, S, and I Fund returns represent the actual total rates of return used in the monthly allocation of earnings to participant accounts. The returns are shown after deduction of accrued TSP administrative expenses. The F, C, S, and I Fund returns also reflect the deduction of trading costs and accrued investment management fees. The most current G, F, C, S, and I Fund rates of return are shown above. Returns are updated after the monthly allocation of earnings, usually by the fourth business day of the month.

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