The General Services Administration’s Office of Inspector General provided six recommendations addressing the agency’s management concerns for fiscal year 2019. OIG said in an audit report that GSA should create a control to validate upcoming termination rights for leases, implement a timely execution method and quantify potential losses in line to vacant spaces.

Additionally, the office recommended GSA establish a control to pass through recoveries, reimburse tenant agencies for overpayments and collaborate with the office of the chief financial officer to rectify accounting inaccuracies. OIG found that GSA is facing concerns in reporting contract modification metrics, meeting customer requirements, loss of veteran expertise and legislation that restricts money spending.

The findings also stated that GSA’s environment may face potential cyberattacks. On a separate audit, OIG recommends that the Federal Risk Authorization Management Program’s program management office needs to develop a reinforced mission structure to meet its mission objectives.

The Federal Aviation Administration is accepting public feedback on a proposal to revise policies on commercial launch operations through July 30, Space News reported Thursday.

Wayne Monteith, associate administrator of commercial space transportation at FAA, said that the agency extended the June 14 deadline after space industry entities expressed concerns over the sufficiency of a 60-day comment period during a Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee meeting in Washington, D.C. 

Monteith noted that while FAA is open to input on revised launch regulations, the agency follows “very direct rules” on establishing policies that restrict alternative suggestions.

“We will be reorganized before the end of the year with new staff that has the right skill sets so that we have some period, multiple months, to prepare for the new rule,” he added.

Dawn Meyerriecks, deputy director of science and technology at the CIA, said the agency aims to be an “early adopter” and partner to industry when it comes to new commercial technology platforms, FCW reported Thursday. She pointed to budget constraints and China’s increased focus on tech research and development as some of the factors that have altered the way the CIA explores new tech capabilities. 

“We don’t do a lot of applied science. I have to find those people and team with them because we have to be ahead,” Meyerriecks said Thursday at the Intelligence Analytics Summit in Alexandria, Va. “We have to find folks that are always operating in the margins of new businesses, because that’s where we make our bread and butter as an agency.”

Meyerriecks told conference attendees the need for the CIA and companies to “change the conversation” when it comes to the agency’s access to technology. He also cited the agency’s collaboration with technologists through In-Q-Tel.

David Norquist, acting deputy defense secretary and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient, said that Congress’ potential restrictions on the Department of Defense’s reprogramming authority for funding will pose “significant challenges” and obstruct efforts to address evolving needs, Defense News reported Thursday.

Norquist told audiences at the Center for a New American Security that the Pentagon seeks to expand the U.S. Navy’s fleet to 355 ships. He hopes the department will get a $750 million budget for fiscal 2020. He added that it’s vital the DoD gets essential missions done and allocates “the right funding in the highest priority areas.”

Previously, the House Appropriations Committee released its $690.2 million FY20 defense spending bill to reduce the amount of funds the military branches can reprogram from $9.2 billion to $1.5 billion.

The Department of Defense is requesting funds to increase the production of rare earth minerals in the U.S. to reduce the country’s reliance on China, Reuters reported Thursday.

Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Andrews, a spokesman for DoD, said the department’s request was included in a report submitted to the White House as part of a federal program seeking to offer economic incentives to boost domestic manufacturing capabilities. “The department continues to work closely with the president, Congress and U.S. industry to improve U.S. competitiveness in the mineral market,” Andrews told the publication.

Rare earth minerals are a set of 17 chemical elements used in lasers, satellites, jet engines and other military systems as well as in consumer products.