Congress defuses funding attacks

Congress has given two of the administration's top management priorities -- competitive sourcing and e-government -- a shot in the arm.

Lawmakers removed all four provisions in three separate bills that would limit or prohibit agencies from competing federal jobs with the private sector.

They also removed a provision that would have prohibited the Energy and Interior departments, and the Forest Service from spending $13.3 million on four e-government projects.

A nine-agency omnibus appropriations bill provides $3 million for the e-government fund. The administration had requested $5 million.