GOP lawmakers eye federal-retiree benefits

(Melina Mara / The Washington Post)

FEDERAL EYE | GOP leaders and the White House have proposed increased contributions from federal employees, but many Democrats in both chambers of Congress oppose the plans.

Federal Diary

Government has history of computer problems

Government computer ailments have made life difficult for federal workers, but there are lessons in the misery.

Worker morale still recovering from shutdown

Shutdown damages Republicans, with plenty of pain to go around

The government shutdown is over, but it opened a slow-healing wound that eroded trust and hurt morale.

OMB head says more employee furloughs possible

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04:  Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the President of the Walmart Foundation, listens as U.S. President Barack Obama announces her nomination budget director during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House March 4, 2013 in Washington, DC. The nominations will be key appointments for Obama's second term while focusing on the issues of the national budget as well as energy and climate issues.  (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

OMB director discusses trust in government, employee morale and more furloughs following shutdown.

In the Loop

Al Kamen

Issa slams VA; VA slams The Loop

A new House oversight committee report finds a “culture of mismanagement and reckless spending” at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In the Loop

Emily Heil

Trouble for Mel Watt’s nomination?

Conservative Club for Growth reminding them that it’s closely watching the vote on the nominee to head the Federal Housing Financing Agency.

In the Loop

Emily Heil

Reid to push White House nominees

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sets in motion a series of votes on a handful of key White House picks.

The High Court

At Supreme Court, tradition trumps technology

People crowd the Appeals Court Chamber to watch on a television as the New Mexico Supreme Court hears arguments for and against same-sex marriage, in Santa Fe, N.M.,  Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013.  The Supreme Court did not issue an immediate ruling in the case.  (AP Photo/The Albuquerque Journal, Eddie Moore)  THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN OUT

A panel last week looked at how the justices’ stubbornness goes beyond barring cameras in the courtroom.

Supreme Court continues to scrutinize affirmative action

University of Michigan students hold signs as they participate in a Freeze Out rally to promote diversity at the Diag on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Oct.  9, 2013.  After the Supreme Court ruled 10 years ago that race could be a factor in college admissions in a case from Michigan, opponents of affirmative action persuaded the state's voters to outlaw any consideration of race.  Now, the high court is weighing whether the voter-approved change to Michigan's constitution in 2006 is itself discriminatory.  (AP Photo/The Ann Arbor News, Melanie Maxwell)

Case asks justices whether Michigan’s ban on preferences can violate guarantee of equal protection.

Supreme Court’s Baby Veronica ruling only the beginning

The Supreme Court building stands in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011. U.S. Supreme Court justices questioned today whether police officers should have unbridled freedom to place GPS devices on cars to track criminal suspects. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

THE HIGH COURT | The little girl’s future is still in doubt, despite the ruling that an Indian adoption law doesn’t apply.

Fine Print

Fine Print: Retired Marine general discusses U.S. resolve

How does the United States provide global leadership without both a carrot and a stick?

Fine Print: HealthCare.gov’s tech troubles aren’t unique

Pentagon, for example, has struggled for a while and at quite a cost.

Fine Print: A question of uncertainty and chaos

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks during a briefing on the Defense Department's FY2014 budget at the Pentagon in Washington in this file photo taken April 10, 2013. The Pentagon said on Saturday it will recall most of the roughly 400,000 civilian Defense Department employees sent home during the government shutdown, in a move that could greatly lessen the impact of feuding in Washington on U.S. armed forces.  REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/Files   (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS MILITARY)

Can past sins be overcome for Congress and the Pentagon?

Latest Federal News

Okla. abortion-law case ready for Supreme Court review

Okla. abortion-law case ready for Supreme Court review

That state’s high court says a new law would ban medication abortions, setting up a Supreme Court review.

Column

In the Loop: The watchdogs are with us

In the Loop: The watchdogs are with us

VA bristled at Loop criticism of its spending. Now it can bristle at the House oversight panel.

Issa slams VA; VA slams The Loop

Issa slams VA; VA slams The Loop

A new House oversight committee report finds a “culture of mismanagement and reckless spending” at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Trouble for Mel Watt’s nomination?

Trouble for Mel Watt’s nomination?

Conservative Club for Growth reminding them that it’s closely watching the vote on the nominee to head the Federal Housing Financing Agency.

Chiraag Bains: Protecting the rights of defenseless victims

<b id='U720830519284WRF' style=''>Chiraag Bains: Protecting the rights of defenseless victims</b>

Bains crisscrosses the country interviewing witnesses and trying cases to help protect the rights of some of the country’s most defenseless populations—victims of cross burnings, arrestees beaten by police officers and prisoners abused by guards.

Column

Government has history of computer problems

Government computer ailments have made life difficult for federal workers, but there are lessons in the misery.

Column

Meet Penny Pritzker

Meet Penny Pritzker

In this week’s Background Check, the commerce secretary talks about motherhood and triathlons.

Column

Fine Print: Retired Marine general discusses U.S. resolve

How does the United States provide global leadership without both a carrot and a stick?

Reid to push White House nominees

Reid to push White House nominees

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sets in motion a series of votes on a handful of key White House picks.

Federal Faces: Chiraag Bains

Federal Faces: Chiraag Bains

At Department of Justice, he protects rights of hate crime victims and others who may be on wrong side of the law.

Labor Dept.: No double dipping for furloughed feds

Labor Dept.: No double dipping for furloughed feds

The Labor Department said all states must recoup unemployment payments that went to federal workers during the shutdown, since they are receiving back pay.

Former GSA chief still passionate about leadership in government; pens a new book

Former GSA chief still passionate about leadership in government; pens a new book

Former GSA chief Martha Johnson writes a book about leadership in government.

Another hurdle for nominees

Another hurdle for nominees

Sen. Lindsey Graham announces he’ll block all nominees. Turns out that’s a long list.

Feds allowed more time for charitable giving

Feds allowed more time for charitable giving

The Office of Personnel Management has extended the deadlineto Jan. 15 as a result of the recent shutdown.

How to overcome workplace misunderstandings

How to overcome workplace misunderstandings

Employees can interpret messages from managers quite differently than intended.

Meet Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker

Meet Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker

An interview with the commerce secretary.

Column

At Supreme Court, tradition trumps technology

At Supreme Court, tradition trumps technology

A panel last week looked at how the justices’ stubbornness goes beyond barring cameras in the courtroom.

Disclosure could mean new challenge to surveillance law

Uzbek terror suspect informed that U.S. will use evidence gathered without warrant in case against him.

Shutdown tales of the unexpected

Shutdown tales of the unexpected

The Federal Eye this week offered readers an opportunity to share their experiences with unexpected effects.

Sen. Warner requests study of shutdown impacts

Sen. Warner requests study of shutdown impacts

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) has called on the Government Accountability Office to take a comprehensive look at the costs.

Column

President Obama’s bench press

President Obama’s bench press

Here come the judges? Well, maybe. Obama nominees may face a mixed fate.

The burning of the White House, in the eyes of the Irish and British

Gen. Robert Ross, who burned the White House, is a nearly forgotten figure in his own hometown.

Who is the guy fixing HealthCare.gov?

Who is the guy fixing HealthCare.gov?

A little background on the man President Obama tapped to oversee the fixing of Obamacare’s glitchy online exchange.

Bush Iraq aide pens ‘Ideal Qualities of a Successful Diplomat’

Bush Iraq aide pens ‘Ideal Qualities of a Successful Diplomat’

Bob Blackwill, a career diplomat who was criticized for his abrasive management style, explains how to be a successful diplomat.

Obama judicial nominees getting to crunch time

Obama judicial nominees getting to crunch time

Time’s running out for President Obama’s judicial nominees to be confirmed by the Senate

Is GSA ready to make moves with property?

Is GSA ready to make moves with property?

Congress’s nonpartisan Government Accountability says the agency needs more transparency first.

The capture of Washington, through British eyes

The capture of Washington, through British eyes

The memory of the general who captured and burned the capital is rehabilitated in Northern Ireland.

Column

Mastering media spin, the good and the bad

Mastering media spin, the good and the bad

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara could be called Schumeresque. But to one judge, he sounds like Mighty Mouse.