FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM
1. OFCCP: meeting the mark. Editor Lindy Kyzer explains, “In 2013 the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) released new and somewhat controversial hiring benchmarks for veterans and disabled workers. . . . While the disability benchmark is set at 7 percent, the benchmark for veterans can be established two ways – based on the national percentage of veterans in the civilian workforce, or by developing a unique benchmark specific to the company and based on five separate factors. . . .”
2. Money talk. Also from Editor Lindy Kyzer, “If you really want a raise, make sure you never stop networking. Keeping in contact with recruiters and knowing your market value is one of the best ways to make sure you’re being paid what you’re worth. For women who feel that pay disparity is an issue, this is even more important. . . . Talking about money isn’t easy. But it is necessary. This could be the year you’ll start getting paid what you’re worth – but first you have to ask for it.”
THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT
1. Retaking Anbar. AP’s Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Paul Schemm report, “Iraqi forces are on a westward push to retake Anbar, a sprawling Sunni-dominated desert province captured by the Islamic State group in their offensive last year. But as the battles for Tikrit and Ramadi have shown, it will be a hard slog for a much-diminished Iraqi army – especially given Baghdad’s reticence to arm Sunni tribesmen and local fears of the Shiite militias backing government forces.”
2. Iran props Syria. Christian Science Monitor’s Nicholas Blanford reports, “Iran has proven critical in helping keep President Bashar al-Assad in power after four years of bloody war, dispatching thousands of soldiers and paramilitary fighters to bolster Syria’s flagging army and billions of dollars in loans to prop up its economy. . . . Iranian officials have declared that Syria is of supreme strategic importance, and appear unwilling to reconsider the military option in defeating the anti-Assad rebels.”
3. US-Japan defense coop. Defense Media Activity’s Jim Garamone reports, “American and Japanese national security leaders unveiled the new guidelines for U.S.-Japan defense cooperation today, saying the new rules will promote peace and stability not only in the region, but worldwide. . . . The guidelines lay out how the United States and Japan will work together, and come after the Japanese government reinterpreted their constitution to allow a greater international role, including greater military cooperation. Japanese leaders see the guidelines as strengthening the U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific.” See also, “Korea and the New Regional Paradigm.”
4. Taliban taking Konduz. AP reports, “An Afghan official says the military has sent reinforcements to a northern province to fight Taliban insurgents closing in on the provincial capital. Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi says a major operation is underway in Kunduz province, where fighting continued for the fourth day Tuesday.” See also from Afghan Zariza, “Fierce clashes between insurgents and security forces in Kunduz” and from Daily Times, “Taliban attack major Afghan city, Ghani delays India trip.”
CONTRACT WATCH
1. Pratt & Whitney under fire. Breaking Defense’s Colin Clark reports, “After years during which Lockheed Martin bore the brunt of barbs from various government watchdogs, the Government Accountability Office and the Pentagon’s Inspector General about the failures of the F-35 program. it is now Pratt & Whitney’s turn.”
2. Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) contracting delays and funding cuts. DoD Buzz’s Kris Osborn reports, “The Air Force would lose about $460 million from its development program to build the next generation long range, stealth bomber under the proposed changes to the 2016 defense budget by the House Armed Services Committee. Plans to begin a competition to select a contractor to build the new bomber, called the Long Range Strike Bomber or LRS-B, have been delayed . . . . The proposed cut to funding for the bomber program in 2016 would bring the developmental funding for the effort down to $786 million for the year.”
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
1. Surveillance: Freedom Act. US News’ Steven Nelson reports, “Three former National Security Agency officials who oppose U.S. mass surveillance programs say they also oppose the USA Freedom Act, a reform package about to be reintroduced in Congress. The bill’s final wording likely will be unveiled this week, kicking off an intense debate before the June 1 expiration of three surveillance provisions . . . . The Freedom Act would reauthorize the expiring provisions but prohibit bulk record collection under Section 215. Capitol Hill staffers working on the bill believe it would better protect privacy than a similar bill that failed last year.” See also, “Revamped USA Freedom Act Still Faces Congressional Hurdles” and “House Passes Blockbuster Cybersecurity Bill.”
2. Cyber vulnerable: Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. FierceGovernmentIT’s Stephanie Kanowitz reports, “Thrift Savings Plan accounts are vulnerable to hackers because of poor cybersecurity measures at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board . . . . At a monthly meeting, Ian Dingwall, chief accountant at the Labor Department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, told the board, which oversees the accounts, that it hasn’t moved quickly or aggressively enough to remedy known security issues . . . .”
3. The Silicon Road. Defense One contributor Aliya Sternstein reports, “The Department of Homeland Security is setting up shop in Google’s territory. DHS is close to opening a branch in Silicon Valley to help tighten the tech industry’s computer security — and conscript its top talent . . . . The move is part of a larger attempt to build a bridge between West Coast Web giants and the government, after 2013 revelations of online surveillance soured many in the industry on the concept of public-private partnerships.”
POTOMAC TWO-STEP
1. Hushed on spying. “President Obama has been taking a hands-off approach to overhauling government surveillance methods, a tactic designed to avoid a repeat of the political beating the White House took when the spying practices were exposed nearly two years ago. As lawmakers grapple with the June 1 expiration of the Patriot Act — and the authorization for the bulk collection of Americans’ information — Obama has remained on the sidelines, opting to let Congress wade through how best to balance protecting the homeland and privacy rights. The silence from the White House has angered privacy advocates looking to end what they view as an abuse of government power that is of little counterterrorism value.”
2. Patriot act. “One of the first fights of the Republican presidential primary season will be over U.S. spying. Congress’s upcoming debate over reforming government surveillance and extending portions of the Patriot Act will ensnare Republicans with their eyes on the White House — drawing a clear divide between the hawkish and libertarian-leaning contenders. Ahead of a critical June 1 deadline, GOP candidates have already begun to weigh in.”
OPINIONS EVERYONE HAS
1. “NSA activities key to terrorism fight.” Boston Herald contributor Ambassador John R. Bolton argues, “This is not the time to cripple our intelligence-gathering capabilities against the rising terrorist threat. Congress should unquestionably reauthorize the NSA programs, but only for three years. That would take us into a new presidency, hopefully one that inspires more confidence, where a calmer, more sensible debate can take place.”
2. “Allow full debate on NSA spying bill.” Lexington Herald-Leader Editorial Board argues, “Given the widespread doubts, the public is owed a full and open debate — free of procedural shortcuts — on whether the purported gains in security justify the loss of privacy and the threat to civil liberties.”
3. “How far is Japan willing to go to back the United States?” Reuters contributor Peter Van Buren argues, “Navigating these issues may force America to accept less than what it wants out of Japan. Doing so would avoid putting Abe in so many no-win situations that he loses domestic support, and thus becomes ineffectual. Obama would do well to understand this, and to carefully choose which issues to press.”
THE FUNNIES
1. Google map.
3. Rebooting.
