Federal Eye - June 13, 2010

Fired IG ponders options after suit dismissed

A U.S. District Court judge dismissed Gerald Walpin's suit, stating in a 15-page decision that the 2008 Inspector General Act did not give him the right to sue for wrongful termination from the Corporation for National and Community Service and that the law was generally vague.

By Multiplatform Editor | June 18, 2010; 4:35 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Oversight
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TSA nominee Pistole clears key Senate committee

On his third try, President Obama is a step closer to winning Senate approval of his nominee to head the Transportation Security Administration.

By Joe Davidson | June 18, 2010; 4:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Confirmation Hearings, Congress
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Obama to order federal agencies to compile 'do not pay list'

President Obama will order federal agencies Friday to establish a national "do not pay list" to prevent the government from paying benefits, contracts, grants and loans to ineligible people or organizations, according to senior administration officials.

By Ed O'Keefe | June 18, 2010; 5:50 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Eye Opener
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Rebranding at ICE meant to soften immigration enforcement agency's image

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will realign its duties to promote criminal investigations over immigrant deportation, officials have announced.

By Ed O'Keefe | June 17, 2010; 3:53 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Agencies and Departments, From The Pages of The Post
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Cases against Wall Street lag despite Holder's vows to target financial fraud

Since taking office at the height of the financial crisis, President Obama has promised to hold Wall Street accountable for the meltdown. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. reinforced that message in November when he vowed to prosecute Wall Street executives and others responsible for the crisis.

By Ed O'Keefe | June 17, 2010; 1:54 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Agencies and Departments
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Broken mail trucks cost the Postal Service millions

The wheels are literally falling off at the Postal Service and it's getting more expensive to fix them, according to a new report by the agency's auditors.

By Ed O'Keefe | June 17, 2010; 6:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (23)
Categories: Eye Opener
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Who is Kenneth Feinberg?

It's been a busy few days for Kenneth R. Feinberg: The Washington National Opera reappointed him last week as president of its board of trustees, granting him a third two-year term. And now President Obama wants him to oversee an escrow account funded by BP that will compensate the victims of the April 20 Gulf Coast oil spill.

By Ed O'Keefe | June 16, 2010; 1:52 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Administration
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BP reimburses government for $72.7 million

The federal government has billed BP for $72.7 million in costs associated with cleaning up the April 20 Gulf Coast oil spill and the company has reimbursed the government in full, according to documents obtained by a Senate subcommittee.

By Ed O'Keefe | June 16, 2010; 10:24 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Congress, Oversight
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The Air Force switches cellphone plans

The Obama administration is in hot pursuit of cost-cutting ideas, or at least a chance to make it seem like it's trying.

By Ed O'Keefe | June 16, 2010; 6:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budget, Eye Opener, Military
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Republicans pushing more spending cuts -- and federal property sales

Republicans have whipped out their cost-cutting scissors again this week by targeting federal salaries and property as they push to pay down the deficit. House Republicans are promoting a bill that would sell off $18 billion of excess federal property...

By Ed O'Keefe | June 15, 2010; 3:14 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Budget, Congress
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Petraeus spell: Five other political passouts

Your Browser DoesNot Support IFrames. We're very glad to hear that Gen. David Petraeus is feeling better after falling ill this morning (see above) during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. But the episode got us thinking about other political...

By Ed O'Keefe | June 15, 2010; 2:23 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Miscellaneous
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Authorities investigating thefts at federal buildings

Arlington County police and federal authorities are investigating a series of recent thefts from office buildings that they believe have been carried out by people who have been posing as legitimate workers with fake identity badges.

By Ed O'Keefe | June 15, 2010; 1:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Workplace Issues
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Envelopes containing white powder found at 8 federal buildings

Suspicious envelopes with white powder were discovered at eight federal buildings in Idaho, Utah and Washington State on Monday, according to FBI officials.

By Ed O'Keefe | June 15, 2010; 10:20 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Workplace Issues
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Census workers improperly asked about race, ethnicity

Federal watchdogs say dozens of Census workers last month incorrectly asked people about their race or ethnicity for the 2010 Census by making assumptions about a person's background or by asking leading questions.

By Ed O'Keefe | June 15, 2010; 6:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Census, Eye Opener
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Gay, straight federal workers benefit from new leave policy

Federal workers can take leave to attend to a sick or deceased domestic partner starting July 14, the Office of Personnel Management announced Monday.

By Ed O'Keefe | June 14, 2010; 1:21 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Workplace Issues
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Senate panel to probe oil spill's federal costs

How much has the BP oil spill cost taxpayers?

By Ed O'Keefe | June 14, 2010; 12:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Congress
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More from GSA and OMB on real estate cuts

By The Post's Jonathan O'Connell in our Capital Business Blog: We reported last week on a new memo from President Barack Obama requiring the federal government to cut $8 billion in real estate costs by the end of fiscal 2012....

By Ed O'Keefe | June 14, 2010; 12:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Administration, Agencies and Departments
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Baltimore Census worker killed while on duty

A Baltimore man who was working for the census has died after being shot while dropping off a co-worker, in the first killing of a U.S. Census Bureau worker on the job this year.

By Carol Morello | June 14, 2010; 10:11 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (29)
Categories: Census
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OMB's Zients cutting through red tape

Here's a quick read worth your time today on one of the most underappreciated members of the Obama administration: Office of Management and Budget Deputy Director Jeffrey Zients, also known as the government's first chief performance officer. OMB Deputy Director...

By Ed O'Keefe | June 14, 2010; 9:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Administration, Budget, FY-Eye
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Federal Eye: June 13, 2010 - June 19, 2010