Why did FEMA deny funding after explosion?

FEDERAL EYE | The agency this month denied an appeal for millions of dollars in additional aid to help West, Tex., recover from an April 17 fertilizer-plant explosion that killed 15 people and decimated some 37 blocks of homes, schools and businesses.

Federal Diary

Defense of Marriage Act decision could expand rights for gay feds

Thom Watson, right, and Jeff Tabaco show the rings which they exchanged during their 2009 wedding ceremony at their home in Daly City, Calif., Monday, June 10, 2013. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this month in a lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of the gay marriage ban, known as Proposition 8. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

But if law is overturned, some in same-sex marriages might not get full spousal benefits immediately.

Recent controversies hurt federal employees

FILE- This Tuesday, July 3, 2007 file photo shows the skyline of Washington, D.C., including the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol. The Washington D.C. area, including suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, are benefiting from a healthy job market in 2012, much of it linked to the federal government. Demand for homes is consistently strong, and foreclosure activity in the metropolitan area slowed in the first half of the year. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

The recent spate of controversies — revelations about the massive collection of electronic data by the National Security Agency, the Internal Revenue Service’s political targeting and conference scandals, and the seizure of Associated Press telephone records — undermines confidence in government.

Court indicates Labor Department went after whistleblower

A former employee gets $820,000 from the agency after a court ruling indicating unfair treatment.

In the Loop

This combination shows the signatures of Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew from a Sept. 21, 2011 memo posted on the White House website when he was Office of Management and Budget director, top, and as Treasury Secretary on the 2013 annual report for the Financial Stability Oversight Council, bottom. Lew won’t win any prizes in penmanship, but his official signature which will go on the nation’s currency is at least a slight improvement over the loopy scrawl he had a few months ago. The Treasury Department unveiled the new signature on Tuesday. It takes the Bureau of Engraving and Printing about 18 weeks to put the new engraving plates into production. That means Lew’s signature will not show up on the various currency denominations until sometime this fall. (AP Photo)

Lew’s official signature a vast improvement

Looks like Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has been working on his penmanship.

A cicada appears in Fairfax Station, Virginia, U.S., on Friday, May 17, 2013. After 17 years of living underground, millions of cicadas are emerging on the U.S. East Coast. Members of brood 2 have not been seen in the region since 1996 and will be omnipresent for a few weeks - just long enough to breed and die. Photographer: Julia Schmalz/Bloomberg

Cicada canapes, anyone?

At an event at the Dutch Embassy, the menu is likely to bug you.

President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 4, 2013, where he announced  the nominations of, from left, Robert Wilkins, Cornelia Pillard, and Patricia Ann Millet, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Senate steps up pace on judges

The often lumbering chamber has set a lively pace on approving judicial nominations.

The High Court

Same-sex marriage isn’t waiting
for the Supreme Court to weigh in

A crowd gathers at the State Capitol where Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton signed the gay marriage bill, Tuesday, May 14, 2013, in St. Paul, Minn. Dayton’s signature on the bill ended an intense two years for gay marriage supporters and opponents in this Midwestern state, which swung from a failed push to constitutionally ban same-sex weddings into a successful bid to becoming the 12th state to affirm them. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

HIGH COURT | Views are quickly changing across the country, but will that influence the justices’ ruling?

A chief justice not in the headlines sparks censorship controversy

Justice John Roberts (right), Judge Diarmuid O'Scannlain (middle) and Judge Anna Brown presided over Lewis & Clark Law School's first environmental moot court Thursday April 4, 2013. Three top students argued a case to the panel before an audience of 500. College officials think it's the first time a sitting chief justice has visited an Oregon law school. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

College officials said student paper must get Supreme Court’s approval, though court says that’s not so.

Supreme Court’s usual teams change sides in some criminal cases

A policewoman stands at her post in front of the Supreme Court on March 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. The rights of married same-sex couples will come under scrutiny at the US Supreme Court on Wednesday in the second of two landmark cases being considered by the top judicial panel. After the nine justices mulled arguments on a California law that outlawed gay marriage on Tuesday, they will take up a challenge to the legality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The 1996 law prevents couples who have tied the knot in nine states -- where same-sex marriage is legal -- from enjoying the same federal rights as heterosexual couples. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SamadJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

COLUMN | Justices are taking a deep look at Fourth Amendment’s protection against “unreasonable” searches.

Fine Print

In digital world, oversight of intelligence gathering is key

Intelligence community has layers of monitoring. But what do companies that have you information do?

Report urges different future role for military

Study’s authors urge reduced physical presence and greater cooperation in the years to come.

A little history on NSA activities

FILE - In this June 6, 2013 file photo National Security Agency plaques are seen at the compound at Fort Meade, Md. The NSA was founded in 1952 but only publicly acknowledged years later, which explains its nickname “No Such Agency.” It includes the Central Security Service, the military arm of code breakers who work jointly with NSA. Visible from a main highway, the tightly guarded compound requires the highest of clearances to enter, and is equipped with various electronic means to ward off an attack by hackers. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

FINE PRINT | Looking back at rulings, debates over surveillance sheds light on current battles.

Latest Federal News

Column

Defense of Marriage Act decision could expand rights for gay feds

Defense of Marriage Act decision could expand rights for gay feds

But if law is overturned, some in same-sex marriages might not get full spousal benefits immediately.

Lew’s official signature a vast improvement

Lew’s official signature a vast improvement

Looks like Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has been working on his penmanship.

GSA nominee testifies before Senate panel

GSA nominee testifies before Senate panel

President Obama's choice to lead the agency testified Tuesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Rep. Cummings releases a full IRS interview

Rep. Cummings releases a full IRS interview

The Democratic congressman said the interview "debunks conspiracy theories" about the IRS targeting controversy.

Cicada canapes, anyone?

Cicada canapes, anyone?

At an event at the Dutch Embassy, the menu is likely to bug you.

ICE director John Morton stepping down

ICE director John Morton stepping down

Morton led the agency for four years after unanomous confirmation by the Senate.

Senate steps up pace on judges

Senate steps up pace on judges

The often lumbering chamber has set a lively pace on approving judicial nominations.

Hearing will examine 'reinventing government'

Hearing will examine 'reinventing government'

The hearing will pit leaders from the nation's largest federal-employee union against proponents of smaller government.

Building shared IT services for federal agencies located overseas

Building shared IT services for federal agencies located overseas

Claire Votaw, director of the State Department’s Project Services Office, heads an effort to consolidate redundant operations by providing shared IT services to federal agencies that operate alongside the diplomatic corps.

Column

In digital world, oversight of intelligence gathering is key

Intelligence community has layers of monitoring. But what do companies that have you information do?

Column

The politics of restrooms

The politics of restrooms

The expansion of the Senate women’s room is a big deal indeed, anecdotal evidence suggests.

A spokesman’s script

A spokesman’s script

A line in the DoD’s report on ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ shows a spokesman sticking to his lines.

ICE director stepping down in July

ICE director stepping down in July

ICE director John Morton has headed ICE for more than four years.

Threats and attacks against public lands employees rise

Threats and attacks against public lands employees rise

Increase in danger partly attributed to use of lands for purposes related to illegal drugs.

States can’t add citizenship proof for vote registration, justices say

States can’t add citizenship proof for vote registration, justices say

Justices strike down Arizona law that went beyond what federal law requires on voter registration.

Army exempts some training from hiring freeze

Army exempts some training from hiring freeze

Employees who leave their jobs for developmental programs can be rehired.

A dangerous season

A dangerous season

A rather morbid analysis says presidents are more likely to die in June and July.

Cummings challenges Issa on IRS transcripts

Cummings challenges Issa on IRS transcripts

The top Democrat and Republican from the House oversight committee have sparred over the release of transcripts from a congressional investigation of the IRS targeting controversy.

Officials talk federal e-mail retention

Officials talk federal e-mail retention

After the Associated Press reported this month that some Obama Cabinet officials have used alternative e-mail accounts in addition to government addresses to conduct federal business, The Washington Post talked with the National Archives and Records Administration about it and what’s new in the world of electronic recordkeeping.

A batch of new diplomats

A batch of new diplomats

The White House nominates a slate of ambassadors that includes top Obama donors and career diplomats.

Classic rock fundraisers

Classic rock fundraisers

Lawmakers plan money-making events for the Rolling Stones and Eagles shows.

Senate restrooms are power venue

Senate restrooms are power venue

Little did we know of the important conversations that go on in the ladies’ loos.

How did postal reform fail last year?

How did postal reform fail last year?

Examining the sticking points from last year's postal reform talks.

Column

Recent controversies hurt federal employees

Recent controversies hurt federal employees

The recent spate of controversies — revelations about the massive collection of electronic data by the National Security Agency, the Internal Revenue Service’s political targeting and conference scandals, and the seizure of Associated Press telephone records — undermines confidence in government.

House leader proposes new bill to restructure Postal Service

House leader proposes new bill to restructure Postal Service

Rep. Darrell Issa’s plan would allow the postal service to start five-day delivery.

Column

Cabinet nominees left hanging

Cabinet nominees left hanging

It’ll be a summer of waiting as some Obama picks wait for the Senate to act.

Trust Congress? Not so much.

Trust Congress? Not so much.

The public’s confidence in Congress has dropped to a record low, according to a new Gallup poll.

They like Ike, but not his memorial

They like Ike, but not his memorial

Lawmakers critical of the planned Eisenhower memorial advance a bill scrapping the Gehry design.

Issa proposes new legislation to restructure postal service

Issa proposes new legislation to restructure postal service

The chief House architect of a bill that failed to gain traction in the last Congress has drafted new legislation

Justices rule human genes can’t be patented

Justices rule human genes can’t be patented

The high court’s decision on Myriad Genetics could profoundly affect the medical and biotechnology industries.