Federal Eye - February 21, 2010

Chile quake: The U.S. government response

U.S. federal agencies have once again mobilized following the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Chile early Saturday morning.

By Ed O'Keefe | February 27, 2010; 11:10 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Agencies and Departments
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Postmaster general addresses postal misconceptions

Postmaster General John E. Potter defends the U.S. Postal Service against some of its biggest misconceptions in Sunday's Washington Post, just days before the nation's mail service is expected to outline significant changes in its business plan.

By Ed O'Keefe | February 26, 2010; 4:17 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Agencies and Departments
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Sources: Rahm hires OMB official as senior adviser

By The Post's Al Kamen and Philip Rucker in our 44 blog: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has hired a top budget official to be his senior adviser, setting off a round of musical chairs in the Obama...

By Ed O'Keefe | February 26, 2010; 2:04 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Administration, Revolving Door
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Friday Feedback: the IRS crash; 'don't ask' debated; DHS contractors

Some of the best reader comments from some of the week's most popular items. Comments posted do not reflect the opinions of The Federal Eye or The Washington Post: Regarding Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's visit to the IRS offices in...

By Ed O'Keefe | February 26, 2010; 12:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: About the Blog
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Arne Duncan in focus

Education Secretary Arne Duncan makes his case for the federal direct student loan program in writing today, arguing the government should end $9 billion in subsidies to banks to guarantee student loans.

By Ed O'Keefe | February 26, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Administration, Video Report
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Hundreds of stimulus recipients haven't reported on money's whereabouts

An anti-hunger nonprofit based in the District, Queen Anne's County in Maryland and a Virginia dredging company are among 389 recipients of federal stimulus dollars that have failed to report on the whereabouts of more than $55 million in economic stimulus funding, federal watchdogs said Thursday.

By Ed O'Keefe | February 26, 2010; 9:42 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Tracking the Stimulus
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Eye Opener: Fortune cookies promoting the Census

Happy Friday! Some Chinese food lovers in the Pacific Northwest enjoying a fortune cookie may soon get a fortune message that says, "You are an incredibly smart, beautiful person who will enjoy great success," on one side and "Put...

By Ed O'Keefe | February 26, 2010; 5:59 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Census, Eye Opener
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Marine commandant clarifies opposition to 'don't ask' repeal

The head of the Marine Corps more clearly expressed his opposition to a repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy Thursday, telling senators he believes the current policy works.

By Ed O'Keefe | February 25, 2010; 1:33 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Congress, Workplace Issues
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Congressional staffers sound alert about lack of diversity on the Hill

To highlight a lack of racial and ethnic diversity among congressional staffers, a coalition of Capitol Hill employee organizations is sponsoring the first "State of Diversity on the Hill Address" on Thursday in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center.

By Joe Davidson | February 25, 2010; 10:52 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Workplace Issues
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Eye Opener: Nearly all stimulus reports received

Happy Thursday! More than 98 percent of the companies, educational institutions and other groups that have received economic stimulus money submitted spending reports last quarter, the White House announced on Tuesday.

By Ed O'Keefe | February 25, 2010; 6:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Eye Opener, Tracking the Stimulus
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Dulles security officials to get excused absences after TSA reconsiders

The Transportation Security Administration has reversed itself and decided not to mark as AWOL any Dulles International Airport security screeners who did not work when District area federal offices were closed during the recent snow emergency, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) announced Wednesday.

By Post Editor | February 24, 2010; 7:14 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Agencies and Departments, Workplace Issues
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Marine, Navy commanders weigh in on 'don't ask'

The head of the Marine Corps said Tuesday that he opposes any moratorium on the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and said the armed forces should stay focused on readiness and the ability to fight wars.

By Ed O'Keefe | February 24, 2010; 3:02 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Congress, Workplace Issues
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Exhibit honors federal workers

Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) met briefly with The Federal Eye on Tuesday evening to show off an exhibit his office has set up in the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building dedicated to federal workers.

By Ed O'Keefe | February 24, 2010; 2:57 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Congress, Video Report, Workplace Issues
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Petraeus on being 'brutally honest' with the public

Gen. David Petraeus discusses "surge" leadership, empowering subordinate leaders, and staying "brutally honest" with the public in the second part of his recent On Leadership video interview. The Post's David Ignatius empowering his subordinates and giving them "the freedom...

By Ed O'Keefe | February 24, 2010; 10:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Administration, Video Report
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Question of the week: Federal health care

As part of our new Federal Worker Page, we've been asking readers a different question related to federal personnel issues. This week's question is one that's already prompted great responses. But add your voice to the mix: As a federal...

By Ed O'Keefe | February 24, 2010; 9:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Workplace Issues
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Eye Opener: Homeland Security has more contractors than feds

Happy Wednesday! Officials at the Department of Homeland Security have told lawmakers in recent weeks that it employs more private contractors than government employees, a revelation that shouldn't surprise close observers of the department's seven-year history. The department estimates...

By Ed O'Keefe | February 24, 2010; 6:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Eye Opener
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Rally held for collective bargaining for security officers

A few hundred demonstrators rallied within sight of the White House Tuesday to support collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers.

By Joe Davidson | February 23, 2010; 4:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Administration, Workplace Issues
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Tammy Duckworth passes on Illinois lieutenant governor race

Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth asked Tuesday that she not be considered as a potential candidate for lieutenant governor of Illinois.

By Ed O'Keefe | February 23, 2010; 3:39 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Revolving Door
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Did Transportation Dept. interfere with Toyota investigation?

The ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee alleges that top officials at the Department of Transportation attempted to influence the testimony of State Farm Insurance regarding the ongoing Toyota safety investigations.

By Ed O'Keefe | February 23, 2010; 1:09 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Agencies and Departments, Oversight
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More military leaders asked about 'don't ask, don't tell'

Top leaders of the Air Force and Army weighed in on Tuesday about the possible repeal of the military's ban on gays in the military, saying they want to hear more from an ongoing Pentagon review.

By Ed O'Keefe | February 23, 2010; 12:36 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: Congress, Workplace Issues
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KieranTimberlake to design new U.S. Embassy in London

By The Post's architecture critic and correspondent Philip Kennicott: The State Department has announced that a Philadelphia-based architecture firm has won the closely watched competition to design the new U.S. Embassy in London. KieranTimberlake, which also designed an innovative and...

By Ed O'Keefe | February 23, 2010; 11:50 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Agencies and Departments
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Eye Opener: How foreign militaries lifted gay bans

As the U.S. military begins a major review of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy banning gay people from openly serving in the military, leaders may want to consult an updated study set for release today that reviews how 25 nations lifted similar bans with relative success.

By Ed O'Keefe | February 23, 2010; 6:05 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Eye Opener, Workplace Issues
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Federal Eye: February 21, 2010 - February 27, 2010