Posts Tagged ‘Obama administration’
Gates: No to direct military involvement in Syria
Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he thinks direct U.S. intervention in Syria’s civil war — particularly direct military involvement — would be a mistake. But with Obama, anything is possible, as we’ve already seen how he bypasses congress to achieve his agenda.
Gates, who served both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama, says he oversaw wars that began with quick regime change “and we all know what happened after that.”
Empty Bank Accounts Costing Government $890,000 a Year
A new report shows that the federal government is spending $890,000 a year in service fees on empty bank accounts because the Obama administration has had limited success in closing them. The government has 13,712 empty accounts, which were set up to handle everything from temporary grant projects to emergency programs, are left over from years past, but they haven’t been closed yet.
So what this means is that the government pays $65 per year, per account, to keep all of them active. Oklahoma GOP Sen. Tom Coburn and Delaware Democratic Sen. Thomas A. Carper have been pushing the administration to close out the empty accounts faster. In addition, the Office of Management and Budget last year urged agencies to close out empty accounts, and this year, sought a wider-scale push to solve the problem.
Experts urge tighter transit security
Counterterrorism experts are once again calling for tighter security on American transit lines following two would-be terrorists’ foiled plot to blow up a Toronto passenger train. Since the alleged attack which was thwarted on Canada’s transit system has shed light on the vulnerabilities that still exist in America’s commuter system and the challenges involved in keeping it safe for travelers.
“The millions of Americans who take public transportation need to be assured that everything possible is being done to ensure their security and safety,” American Public Transportation Association President and CEO Michael Melaniphy told FoxNews.com on Monday, adding that federal funding should be increased.
Companies and agencies pressure lawmakers for sequestration exemptions
Many companies, agencies, and special interest groups are pressuring lawmakers seeking protective earmarks to avoid being affected by sequestration cuts ordered in March. Already the Obama Administration has granted its own exemptions, to across the board cuts. For example, the Pentagon has decided to reduce its previously announced number of furlough days for civilians from 22 to 14, and the Navy has said it may be able to skip furloughs for its civilian altogether.
Any money that is cut from one program has to be made up for in other areas, meaning some programs will face even deeper cuts as the pressure builds on lawmakers and administration officials to earmark more exceptions to the sequester.
Obama administration divides over whistleblowers Pt 1
Obama is also at war with whistleblower advocates, against some of the largest federal employee unions, and against a bipartisan contingent in Congress. This fight about the rights of thousands maybe even hundreds of thousands of federal workers has divided his Administration.
Ever since 2009,. when Obama first came into office he promised transparency, and to embrace whistleblowers — has sided with the Pentagon and the intelligence community, but agencies charged with protecting whistleblowers and officials who investigate discrimination complaints have loudly dissented.
