Here's a bit more:

Democrats and labor unions see the Bush administration changes as union-busting and political favoritism, and they pointed to problems at NASA as a red flag.

The procurement rules are among many revisions the administration is undertaking that do not require congressional approval. Officials are rewriting rules that determine which workers are entitled to overtime pay. They also are acting to allow religious groups that receive government funds to discriminate in hiring based on religion.

Nearly half of the 1.8 million civilian government work force performs tasks that duplicate work in the private sector, the administration says. President Bush wants to let companies bid to provide that work, with at least 15 percent opened to competition by Oct. 31.

The regulations issued Thursday "will open much wider the doors to those businesses and their workers who can seek to provide to the American taxpayer a better value at a better price," said Mitch Daniels, outgoing director of the Office of Management and Budget.