Tag: Watchdog

A veteran who challenges an initial rating faces an average of more than three additional years to get a verdict from the Board of Veterans Appeals, according to agency reports.

Claims errors, long appeals still haunt disabled veterans

Mark Flatten · December 11, 2013 5:00 am

EXography: Obscure federal agencies operate out of sight, and sometimes out of line

EXography: Obscure federal agencies operate out of sight, and sometimes out of line

Luke Rosiak · December 10, 2013 5:00 am

The California Medical Association says it neither discourages nor endorses participation in Obamacare for the doctors it represents. (Thinkstock)

Professional groups aren’t spearheading California’s doctor rebellion against Obamacare

Richard Pollock · December 10, 2013 5:00 am

The Pentagon ended the program to support Italian-made G222 planes for the Afghan Air Force after it became clear they were being poorly managed, underused and racking up extra costs in spare parts.

National Security

$500m worth of U.S. military transport planes sit unused in Afghanistan; investigation launched

Michal Conger · December 10, 2013 5:00 am

After years of aggressively expanding into new markets, airlines now schedule fewer flights in smaller planes or purposely overbook flights on larger aircraft to ensure that as many seats in the cabin as possible are occupied on every flight. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Not-so-friendly skies: Tough to be a city left out of the large hubs

Neil McCabe · December 10, 2013 5:00 am

Unallowable cash withdrawals uncovered by an inspector general, that Postal Service managers had not detected themselves, totaled $25,430. (Thinkstock)

One-tenth of ATM withdrawals on USPS travel cards impermissible

Luke Rosiak · December 10, 2013 5:00 am

A report from Judicial Watch claims the FBI missed missed warning signs and failed to prevent a series of terrorist attacks, including the bombing at the Boston Marathon earlier this year and the Fort Hood massacre in 2009. (AP File)

National Security

Judicial Watch says FBI’s excessive concern about Muslim sensibilities endangers Americans

Mark Flatten · December 9, 2013 5:00 am

According to the 2013 edition of the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index survey, the commercial airline industry gets a D+ rating as only 69 percent of passengers interviewed said they were satisfied by the service they received. (AP/Nam Y. Huh)

Not-so-friendly Skies: Why air travel in America has become such a hassle

Neil McCabe · December 9, 2013 5:00 am

In this April 6, 2010 file photo, Sgt. Troy Bencke, right, points toward Afghan air force engineers as they work on an Mi-17 helicopter inside a hangar in Kabul, Afghanistan. To outfit Afghanistanâs security forces with new helicopters, the Pentagon bypassed U.S. companies and turned instead to Moscow for dozens of Russian Mi-17 rotorcraft at a cost of more than $1 billion. Senior Pentagon officials assured skeptical members of Congress theyâd made the right call, pointing repeatedly to a top-secret 2010 study they said named the Mi-17 as the superior choice. (AP File)

National Security

Accusations dog Russian helicopter deal

Washington Examiner · December 9, 2013 5:00 am

Fifth Third Bank's holding company is in hot water -- and now owes more than $6 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission. (Photo: PR Newswire/AP)

Fifth Third Bank charged with bad accounting during financial crisis

Kelly Cohen · December 9, 2013 5:00 am

A pile of guns, drugs, and money on a table.

Newspaper says ATF used botched storefront stings to net guns, criminals

Michal Conger · December 9, 2013 5:00 am

President Obama speaks about the Affordable Care Act on Tuesday in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington in front of 18 people who the White House has not named. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Advocacy group behind White House Obamacare event is funded by Blue Shield firm that will profit on program

Richard Pollock · December 8, 2013 5:00 am