No plans to retire at 61 years of service

(SHAWN T. MOORE / U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR)

FEDERAL DIARY | Ed Pratt, 80, has been with the Bureau of Labor Statistics for six decades and still loves his work. Pratt, who helps process data on the prices of the many items collected by about 400 people from stores across the nation, is proud of his work with the CPI.

Federal Diary

Feds don’t look good draped in the Fifth

Lois Lerner, head of the IRS unit that decides whether to grant tax-exempt status to groups, listens on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing to investigate the extra scrutiny the IRS gave to Tea Party and other conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. Lerner later invoked her constitutional right to not answer questions and was dismissed by House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif.    (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Feds who take the Fifth Amendment about the public’s business undermine the public’s confidence. By asserting her right, Lois Lerner undermined the credibility of her employer, the IRS, an agency whose reputation has been beaten bloody by the scandal over the targeting of conservative organizations.

A few black Capitol cops protest agency bias

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 21: Members and supporters of the United States Capitol Black Police Association (USCBPA), exercised their First Amendment rights and demonstrated against treatment of African American officers and employees by the United States Capitol Police (USCP). The demonstration took place on a grassy area near the US Capitol. Planners of the event said the event would draw 50-200 people, but less than a dozen showed up. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

Black Capitol police officers protested workplace bias while pursuing a 12-year-old lawsuit. Planners of the event expected it to draw 50-200 people, but fewer than a dozen people participated.

Who is responsible for IRS scandal?

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: The Internal Revenue Service, on May, 19, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

House hearing may reveal more information about who is to blame. Lois Lerner, director of exempt organizations for the Internal Revenue Service, is at the center of the IRS scandal about targeting conservative organizations for extra scrutiny.

In the Loop

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 1: Washington Nationals fans cheer as the Washington Nationals finish out the Opening Day game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on Monday, April 1, 2013. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)

Not their usual hardball

Members of Congress plan a bipartisan outing to take in a Nats game.

Ex-Im bank taps Hill veteran

Scott Mulhauser, a longtime Senate staffer and aide to Vice President Biden, is named chief of staff.

epa03713970 US business executive and entrepreneur Penny Pritzker (C) leaves at the conclusion of the US Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on her nomination to be the US Secretary of Commerce, on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, USA, 23 May 2013. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

In the Loop: Playing nicely?

Commerce nominee Penny Pritzker inspires a wave of politeness at Capitol Hill hearing.

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

Fine Print: For Senate panel, there’s power and limitations on Syria

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., right, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speak to reporters just after the Senate voted 99-0, for a resolution that would affirm support for Israel if it is forced to take military action to defend itself from an Iranian nuclear threat, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Despite passage of bill calling for aid, Foreign Relations Committee should watch its step on pushing Obama.

Fine Print: The press and national security

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Attorney General Eric Holder enters the hearing room to face the House Judiciary committee about journalists phone records and IRS improprieties, on May, 15, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

The Associated Press leak investigation isn’t as clear-cut as the uproar makes it out to be.

In sexual assault crisis, brass didn’t act, so Congress may

FILE - In this March 27, 2008, file photo, the Pentagon is seen in this aerial view in Washington. Is the U.S. spending enough money on defense, and is it spending it in the right ways? In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks the money spigot was turned wide open, pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and expanding the armed forces. Now that’s changing, and an important issue in the election is whether budget cuts have gone too far. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

FINE PRINT | The festering issue jeopardizes the military’s chain of command.

Latest Federal News

Obama nominates new Census Bureau director

John H. Thompson is the head of a private-sector research group with ties to the University of Chicago.

U.S. Park Police furloughs forced by sequestration end in June, agency says

U.S. Park Police furloughs forced by sequestration  end in June, agency says

National Park Service says it took a closer look at its budget to reduce unpaid days off for officers.

Sanders skeptical about calls for presidential commission to investigate VA backlog

Sanders skeptical about calls for presidential commission to investigate VA backlog

Bernie Sanders expressed skepticism in a C-SPAN interview about proposals to create a presidential commission to examine the enormous backlog of veterans disability claims.

Not their usual hardball

Not their usual hardball

Members of Congress plan a bipartisan outing to take in a Nats game.

Furloughs to end for U.S. Park Police, Park Service says

Furloughs to end for U.S. Park Police, Park Service says

The U.S. Park Police will discontinue furloughs forced by sequestration as the summer tourist season gets underway

Obama nominates new Census director

Obama nominates new Census director

President Obama named John H. Thompson as his choice to head the U.S. Census Bureau.

Ex-Im bank taps Hill veteran

Scott Mulhauser, a longtime Senate staffer and aide to Vice President Biden, is named chief of staff.

Post-ABC poll: Most Americans disapprove of cuts

Post-ABC poll: Most Americans disapprove of cuts

Polling data shows that 56 percent of Americans disapprove of the government-wide spending cuts.

Obama nominates Katherine Archuleta to head personnel agency

Obama nominates Katherine Archuleta to head personnel agency

The White House announced the president’s choice to head OPM on Thursday.

IRS, EPA and HUD will close Friday

IRS, EPA and HUD will close Friday

Mass furlough of 115,000 employees at the three major federal agencies is the result of sequestration.

Column

In the Loop: Playing nicely?

In the Loop:  Playing nicely?

Commerce nominee Penny Pritzker inspires a wave of politeness at Capitol Hill hearing.

IRS names replacement for Lerner

IRS names replacement for Lerner

An internal communication shows that the agency replaced Lois Lerner with Ken Corbin.

Great leadership books for your summer reading list

Great leadership books for your summer reading list

These books offer keen insights into leadership and management challenges, which on a day-to-day basis can bring their own dramas, twisting plot lines and, in this city, political intrigue.

For Pritzker, no sharp knives

For Pritzker, no sharp knives

President Obama’s pick to lead Commerce gets a surprisingly nice welcome from the Senate GOP.

Hunting gators with Sen. David Vitter

Hunting gators with Sen. David Vitter

For $5,000 a person you can spend a weekend hunting alligators with the Louisiana senator.

Benefit rules loosened for federal employees in tornado area

Benefit rules loosened for federal employees in tornado area

Federal employees affected by the Oklahoma tornado are eligible for special considerations in their health insurance and other benefit programs.

McConnell: IRS is Kafkaesque

McConnell: IRS is Kafkaesque

The Senate Republican leader drops a literary reference when talking about the embattled agency.

Obama to nominate Katherine Archuleta to head OPM

Obama to nominate Katherine Archuleta to head OPM

White House officials said President Obama will choose Katherine Archuleta to head OPM, making her the second Hispanic choice for a political appointment during this term.

A new chief for OPM?

A new chief for OPM?

President Obama may name former campaign official Katherine Archuleta to head government’s H.R. agency.

Senate committee approves Obama's NLRB nominees

Senate committee approves Obama's NLRB nominees

The vote split along party lines but moved the confirmation process to the full Senate.

Column

In the Loop: Losing planes, framing Cabinet members

In the Loop: Losing planes, framing Cabinet members

It’s all a matter of perspective inside the Beltway.

Legal battle over contraceptive mandate intensifies

Legal battle over contraceptive mandate intensifies

Religiously devout business owners says mandate in health-care law violates their faith.

Column

Feds don’t look good draped in the Fifth

Feds don’t look good draped in the Fifth

Feds who take the Fifth Amendment about the public’s business undermine the public’s confidence. By asserting her right, Lois Lerner undermined the credibility of her employer, the IRS, an agency whose reputation has been beaten bloody by the scandal over the targeting of conservative organizations.

Column

Fine Print: For Senate panel, there’s power and limitations on Syria

Fine Print: For Senate panel, there’s power and limitations on Syria

Despite passage of bill calling for aid, Foreign Relations Committee should watch its step on pushing Obama.

Meet the new Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner

Meet the new Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner

We're working very hard to do more with less, but if funding continues at the present level, we will certainly have to cut more programs.

$80M? Chump change

$80M? Chump change

Obama’s billionaire commerce chief nominee, Penny Pritzker, understated her income... by quite a lot.

Lerner taking Fifth undermines confidence in IRS

Lerner taking Fifth undermines confidence in IRS

When a federal employee refuses to answer questions about the public's business, it clashes with the public's expectations.

Hagel directs Pentagon to seek new software for health records

Hagel directs Pentagon to seek new software for health records

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Wednesday directed that the Pentagon develop-- via competitive bid --new healthcare management software that would better integrate military health care records with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Any way you slice it

Any way you slice it

Sen. Marco Rubio knocks the idea of making key lime pie the nation’s official confection.

Brush with glory

Brush with glory

Some former Cabinet officials get official portraits done in lightning time, while others may take years.