Obama addresses long-term unemployment

FEDERAL EYE| Obama issued a directive to federal agencies last week, and the White House announced pledges from more than 300 companies.

Federal Eye

Union opposes Homeland Security’s overtime suspension

The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association said the suspension came without a comprehensive review.

Veterans group issues recommendations for claims backlog

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America released a report on the long-standing backlog.

NOAA lifts hold on hiring and training

The hiring and training freeze has been in effect since last March as a result of the sequester.

House panel asks to hear from Obama donor

The inquiry would be the latest from Republicans searching for evidence of intentional wrongdoing in connection with the IRS targeting controversy.

New site allows veterans to report abuses by colleges

The site would help track colleges that try try to exploit veterans and their educational benefits.

Federal Diary

Federal unions want Obama to act on their wish list

Labor groups urge president to use his executive power to improve conditions for the federal workforce.

DHS suspends overtime program under fire for abuse

Entrenched DHS culture encouraged employees to abuse overtime program that is now suspended.

Feds have high hopes, low expectations for Obama’s speech

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12:
President Barack Obama addresses a joint session of Congress as he gives his State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 12, 2013.
(Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

Feds would like a “thank you” in Obama’s State of the Union speech, but he’s not likely to address them.

In the Loop

Baucus: ‘I’m no real China expert.’

Obama’s ambassadorial nominees have had a tough time this month during their confirmation hearings.

Obama close to picking new White House counsel

The two top contenders for the job, we had heard, were Tom Perrelli and Neil Eggleston.

Convicted CIA impersonator John Beale heads to Cape Cod for weekend

A federal judge is allowing convicted CIA impersonator John Beale, who has been sentenced to 32 months in prison, to talk to contractors at his Cape Cod home this weekend before he reports to the slammer.

Fine Print

Fine Print: Gates writes about Bush, too

President George W. Bush sports a few more gray hairs as he prepares to speak to an audience during his visit to the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference March 5, 2008.

Based on media coverage of his book, the criticism of the Bush White House is a well-kept secret.

Fine Print: Congress manipulates defense dollars

Lawmakers have their own agenda when handling Pentagon funding, regardless of department’s requests.

Fine Print: Missing a moment of fiscal, nuclear courage

The Cold War is over, but the expense of that fight is still with us.

The High Court

Is law at stake in contraceptive cases unconstitutional?

12/04/00 - People walk up the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court building Monday, December 4, 2000, in Washington. The court set aside a Florida high court ruling that allowed selective manual recounts in Florida's contested presidential election between Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Al Gore and  Republican candidate Texas Gov. George W. Bush. - Photo By Pat Benic/AP

A twist: Religious Restoration Reform Act first supported by Democrats is now being used to battle health care.

High Court: Unions circling wagons on court case

Labor is at the center of a court case about how to classify employees.

Did Scalia nail the court’s opinion on same-sex marriage?

The Supreme Court justice’s dissent is being quoted by judges striking down same-sex-marriage bans.

The Influence Industry

Influence Industry: K Street’s spinning door

WASHINGTON,DC-MARCH 17: Street signs on K St. NW, Washington DC on March 17, 2011 ( Photo by Jeffrey MacMillan/For Washington Post)

Sunlight puts hard numbers on D.C. reality: Government experience is what matters most in lobbying world.

Federal Player of the Week

Andrew Scott: Managing the design and building of U.S. embassies

Andrew Scott serves as an architectural watchdog for the construction of U.S. embassies in Africa and Southeast Asia

The Federal Coach

Do your employees think you play favorites?

Here are three questions to ask yourself.

How to take charge of your career

An interview with author and executive coach Jesse Sostrin.

Managing a bigger workload with fewer employees

Advice for federal leaders on how to minimize the fallout from heavy workloads, given the many staff reductions in agencies.

Latest Federal News

Agencies are ill-prepared for cyberattacks, report finds

Agencies are ill-prepared for cyberattacks, report finds

A study by GOP Senate staffers finds that federal officials repeatedly fail to take basic preventive actions.

Race on same-sex marriage cases runs through Virginia

Race on same-sex marriage cases runs through Virginia

Lawyers are hopeful commonwealth cases will emerge as favored vehicles for a decision by the Supreme Court.

Union opposes Homeland Security’s overtime suspension

Union opposes Homeland Security’s overtime suspension

The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association said the suspension came without a comprehensive review.

Veterans group issues recommendations for claims backlog

Veterans group issues recommendations for claims backlog

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America released a report on the long-standing backlog.

Column

Is law at stake in contraceptive cases unconstitutional?

Is law at stake in contraceptive cases unconstitutional?

A twist: Religious Restoration Reform Act first supported by Democrats is now being used to battle health care.

NOAA lifts hold on hiring and training

NOAA lifts hold on hiring and training

The hiring and training freeze has been in effect since last March as a result of the sequester.

Baucus: ‘I’m no real China expert.’

Baucus: ‘I’m no real China expert.’

Obama’s ambassadorial nominees have had a tough time this month during their confirmation hearings.

House panel asks to hear from Obama donor

House panel asks to hear from Obama donor

The inquiry would be the latest from Republicans searching for evidence of intentional wrongdoing in connection with the IRS targeting controversy.

Federal unions want Obama to act on their wish list

Labor groups urge president to use his executive power to improve conditions for the federal workforce.

Column

A question or two for potential ambassadors

A question or two for potential ambassadors

These Obama picks can raise money, but they’re a little fuzzy about the countries they should know.

New site allows veterans to report abuses by colleges

New site allows veterans to report abuses by colleges

The site would help track colleges that try try to exploit veterans and their educational benefits.

Obama close to picking new White House counsel

Obama close to picking new White House counsel

The two top contenders for the job, we had heard, were Tom Perrelli and Neil Eggleston.

Convicted CIA impersonator John Beale heads to Cape Cod for weekend

Convicted CIA impersonator John Beale heads to Cape Cod for weekend

A federal judge is allowing convicted CIA impersonator John Beale, who has been sentenced to 32 months in prison, to talk to contractors at his Cape Cod home this weekend before he reports to the slammer.

Do your employees think you play favorites?

Do your employees think you play favorites?

Here are three questions to ask yourself.

Labor secretary echoes Obama’s minimum-wage message

Labor secretary echoes Obama’s minimum-wage message

Thomas Perez visited a locally-owned hardware store in D.C. to press the president’s agenda.

Commercial mail business throws wrench in postal bill

Senate committee waits to vote on wide-ranging legislation that would stop the agency from bleeding red.

Obama’s wage promise answers calls of growing movement

Obama’s wage promise answers calls of growing movement

A coalition of labor and civil rights groups have called for the executive order since May.

How to take charge of your career

How to take charge of your career

An interview with author and executive coach Jesse Sostrin.

Key federal-employee policies have changed during Obama administration

Key developments for the federal workforce during President Obama’s tenure in the White House.

GSA’s head of public buildings steps down

GSA’s head of public buildings steps down

Dorothy Robyn led the search for a new FBI headquarters and helped secure a deal with Donald Trump.

Kerry has some of the best perks around

Kerry has some of the best perks around

Some government officials rate home to office airplanes, including stops on the way

In the Loop: The DNI’s office gets ‘SHARP’

In the Loop: The DNI’s office gets ‘SHARP’

An effort is underway to hone the intelligence community’s, uh, intelligence.

Column

DHS suspends overtime program under fire for abuse

Entrenched DHS culture encouraged employees to abuse overtime program that is now suspended.

NSA has a new, first time ever, privacy officer

NSA has a new, first time ever, privacy officer

The NSA, reeling from Eric Snowden’s revelations of the agency’s international snooping, has named a new privacy officer.

Intelligence director James Clapper wants to make his analysts smarter

The intelligence community has a plan to improve analysts’ abilities to deal with tough issues.

Senate panel to examine military pension cut

Senate panel to examine military pension cut

Will Congress repeal the pension cut for younger military retirees? Plus other notable hearings scheduled for Tuesday.

Andrew Scott: Managing the design and building of U.S. embassies

Andrew Scott: Managing the design and building of U.S. embassies

Andrew Scott serves as an architectural watchdog for the construction of U.S. embassies in Africa and Southeast Asia

Column

Fine Print: Gates writes about Bush, too

Fine Print: Gates writes about Bush, too

Based on media coverage of his book, the criticism of the Bush White House is a well-kept secret.

Ruling sides with airlines in reporting possible threats

Ruling sides with airlines in reporting possible threats

The Supreme Court overturns defamation ruling in case against Air Wisconsin brought by one of its pilots.