Federal Eye: December 19, 2010 - December 25, 2010

2010 Year in Review: Top Federal Eye posts

A freeze on federal worker pay, a record four consecutive snow days in Washington, the Shirley Sherrod scandal and the pornography habits of SEC workers topped the traffic charts for The Federal Eye in 2010. Check out the blog's ten most-popular stories below, and thanks for your continued loyalty to The Federal Eye!

By Ed O'Keefe  | December 22, 2010; 11:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (6)
Categories:  About the Blog  
Save & Share:                   

With 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal bill signed, what do you think will happen next?

President Obama is scheduled on Wednesday to sign the bill repealing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" law. The stroke of Obama's pens will not immediately end the law, but instead begins the process of ending the ban on gays in the military -- a process that could take several months of years.

By Ed O'Keefe  | December 22, 2010; 7:19 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (34)
Categories:  Military  
Save & Share:                   

What can you give the mailman for the holidays?

Looking to give a gift or tip to your neighborhood letter carrier or postal clerk this holiday season? Keep in mind that the U.S. Postal Service places restrictions on the types of presents they can accept.

By Ed O'Keefe  | December 22, 2010; 6:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (17)
Categories:  Eye Opener, Postal Service  
Save & Share:                   

Government funding measure clears Senate

The Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a bill that would continue to fund the government through March 4, sending the measure to the House ahead of a midnight deadline.

By Felicia Sonmez  | December 21, 2010; 3:09 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (4)
Categories:  Agencies and Departments, Congress  
Save & Share:                   

Census data realigns congressional districts in key political states

Republican-leaning states in the South and West that experienced a population boom over the past decade will gain political clout, while some historically Democratic states in the Rust Belt will lose it, according to Census Bureau figures released Tuesday aimed at ensuring proportional representation in the House.

By Sandhya Somashekhar and Aaron Blake  | December 21, 2010; 2:50 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)
Categories:  Census, Congress  
Save & Share:                   

Social Security, other benefits checks to go paperless in May

New recipients of Social Security and other federal benefits will have to accept paperless payments starting May, the Treasury Department announced Tuesday.

By Ed O'Keefe  | December 21, 2010; 10:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (5)
Categories:  Agencies and Departments  
Save & Share:                   

Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly on government workers under political fire

More and more, when politicians talk about government employees -- whether they are federal, state or local -- it is with the kind of umbrage ordinarily aimed at Wall Street financiers and convenience store bandits.

By Ed O'Keefe  | December 21, 2010; 9:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (4)
Categories:  Congress, From The Pages of The Post, Workplace Issues  
Save & Share:                   

Government workers under political fire

Here are two words you don't hear much lately: public servant.

By Karen Tumulty and Ed O'Keefe  | December 21, 2010; 8:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Administration, Workplace Issues  
Save & Share:                   

Obama orders new federal breastfeeding policy

President Obama is asking federal personnel officials to draft "appropriate workplace accommodations" for federal employees who are nursing mothers.

By Ed O'Keefe  | December 21, 2010; 6:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (72)
Categories:  Eye Opener, Health Care, Workplace Issues  
Save & Share:                   

A Census reapportionment primer

The U.S. Census Bureau is making a big announcement Tuesday, when it announces which states are going to gain and lose seats in the next Congress. (And, yes, we are genuinely excited.)

By Aaron Blake  | December 20, 2010; 9:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Census  
Save & Share:                   

Make your own White House holiday decor (Video)

The Washington Post's Jura Koncius speaks with the the White House chief floral designer about two holiday decorations that can be made at home.

By Ed O'Keefe  | December 20, 2010; 11:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Administration, Video Report  
Save & Share:                   

'Don't ask, don't tell' repealed: What's next?

Military leaders won't say how long it will take to end enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" law, but they're drawing on the detailed conclusions of a Pentagon study as they prepare for the full integration of gay and lesbian troops and the tricky scenarios expected to come with it.

By Ed O'Keefe and Craig Whitlock  | December 20, 2010; 10:45 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (47)
Categories:  Military  
Save & Share:                   

Which federal agency is best on Twitter?

A lot happened in 2010, and if one thing's for sure, more users than ever joined, used and learned from Twitter.

By Ed O'Keefe  | December 20, 2010; 10:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)
Categories:  About the Blog  
Save & Share:                   

Postal Service expecting its busiest day of the year

Headed to the post office today to mail holiday packages? You should expect a long line.

By Ed O'Keefe  | December 20, 2010; 6:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)
Categories:  Eye Opener, Postal Service  
Save & Share: