A few black Capitol cops protest agency bias

(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.

Federal Diary

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.

Federal workers who died on the job honored

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reflects during dedication ceremonies at the State Department for new names inscribed on the American Foreign Service Association Memorial Plaque in Washington May 3, 2013. The plaque with names of those who have fallen during service to the State Department is behind Kerry.  REUTERS/Gary Cameron  (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS)

FEDERAL DIARY | Earlier this month, Vice President Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry participated in the American Foreign Service Association ceremony, which honored government workers slain abroad.

AP, IRS scandals hurt all feds

Attorney General Eric Holder testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 15, 2013, before the House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on the Justice Department. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

FEDERAL DIARY | Even before current troubles involving the IRS’s targeting of conservative political groups and the Justice Department’s secret seizure of AP phone records, trust in the federal government was low. Current scandals will smear all federal employees, but provide lessons for other agencies.

In the Loop

In this photo taken Monday, May 6, 2013, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., arrives at the Senate chamber for a vote, on Capitol Hill in Washington.  One of the immigration bill’s authors, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has already acknowledged that the bill will face a tough road to passage if the border security elements are not improved. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Any way you slice it

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

Russian painter Natalia Tsarkova's colour pastels are seen in her studio in downtown Rome February 14, 2013. Tsarkova painted the official portrait of Pope Benedict in 2007 and the official portrait of Pope John Paul II for the 2000 Jubilee. REUTERS/ Max Rossi   (ITALY - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)

Brush with glory

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

President Barack Obama updates reporters on the state of the nation's economy, including the debt crisis in Europe that continues to be a drag on the U.S. recovery, at the White House in Washington, Friday, June 8, 2012. He also touched on recent national security leaks that some say have come from inside hs administration, an allegation he called 'offensive.'  (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Obama is out of the loop on IRS policy?

That IRS thing? The White House employed its “Don’t tell Dad” policy.

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: 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.

Fine Print: Nuclear shell games

Obama’s effort to reduce weapons hits one roadblock after another.

Latest Federal News

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.

The case of the Army’s ‘invisible’ plane

The case of the Army’s ‘invisible’ plane

Defense inspector general report cites “confusion” over who was to oversee a C-12 aircraft.

Report: Power grid vulnerable to cyber attacks

Report: Power grid vulnerable to cyber attacks

A report from Ed Markey and Henry Waxman supports calls for greater federal authority over power-grid protections.

President to nominate acting chief Dan Tangherlini to lead GSA

President to nominate acting chief Dan Tangherlini to lead GSA

President Obama will nominate Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini to the full position Wednesday

Column

Obama is out of the loop on IRS policy?

Obama is out of the loop on IRS policy?

That IRS thing? The White House employed its “Don’t tell Dad” policy.

FEMA puts boots on ground in Okla.

FEMA puts boots on ground in Okla.

FEMA sent personnel including search-and-rescue teams to Oklahoma. Its disaster-relief fund still contains $12 billion.

Bonjour, Congress!

Bonjour, Congress!

A report finds lovely destinations like France and Spain were among the tops for travelling lawmakers.

Group sues IRS for stricter tax-exemption rules

Group sues IRS for stricter tax-exemption rules

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed its lawsuit on Monday in the U.S. District Court for D.C.

Obama White House policy: ‘Don’t tell Dad’

Obama White House policy: ‘Don’t tell Dad’

Seems President Obama was just about the only one in town who didn’t know of IRS probe.

Low-wage contractors picket outside fed buildings

Low-wage contractors picket outside fed buildings

About 50 workers began day-long picketing at Reagan building and blocked traffic.

TSP investment fund again used for debt ceiling relief

TSP investment fund again used for debt ceiling relief

The government once again plans to resort to a financial maneuver involving federal employee retirement savings pending an increase in the national debt limit.

Scalia’s footnote funny

Scalia’s footnote funny

The Supreme Court justice cracks an obscure joke.

Federal aid headed to Oklahoma

Federal aid headed to Oklahoma

The president declared a federal disaster on Monday, designating federal funds to help Oklahoma recover from the massive tornado that tore through the state.

Trash talking at the Park Service

Trash talking at the Park Service

In a victory for the small-government types, the Park Service is outsourcing trash removal at some local sites — to visitors.

Should White House preview IG results?

Should White House preview IG results?

How much should the White House know about IG audits before the results become public?

Improving cataract surgery outcomes for VA patients

Improving cataract surgery outcomes for VA patients

David Vollman,an ophthalmologist, helped organize and implement a pilot project for tracking cataract surgery results that will lead to the creation of a national VA database.

Column

Will no trash cans mean no trash?

In the Loop: The Park Service takes a novel approach to keeping America beautiful.

Justices will review whether prayer violates separation of church, state

Justices will review whether prayer violates separation of church, state

Town of Greece, N.Y., almost exclusively recruited Christian chaplains to deliver remarks.

Column

Who is responsible for IRS scandal?

Who is responsible for IRS scandal?

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.

Column

Fine Print: The press and national security

Fine Print: The press and national security

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

Tips for hiring STEMM talent into government

Tips for hiring STEMM talent into government

About one-quarter of all federal employees work in STEMM occupations today, and the number of people needed with these skills will steadily increase in the years ahead.

Crossroads thinks it was caught up in IRS targeting

Crossroads thinks it was caught up in IRS targeting

A Crossroads spokesman said Friday that the group was probably subjected to special scrutiny.

Sapiro moving up to be acting U.S. Trade Rep

Sapiro moving up to be acting U.S. Trade Rep

Deputy U.S. Trade Rep. Miriam Sapiro said to be taking over pending confirmation of pending nominee.

CBP presents plan to eliminate furloughs

CBP presents plan to eliminate furloughs

A Customs and Border Protection official announced in an internal memo Friday that the agency had presented the plan to Congress for approval.

Rumsfeld’s Rules: ‘Leadership lessons’ on war and life

Rumsfeld’s Rules: ‘Leadership lessons’ on war and life

The former defense secretary opines on most all things.

Farm bills advance with reduced spending

Farm bills advance with reduced spending

The House and Senate are set to consider separate five-year farm bills that would cut billions annually from current spending levels after the agriculture committees from both chambers approved legislation last week. The Senate plans to begin debate on its farm bill Monday.

Column

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

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

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

Report: GSA’s bonus system flawed

Inspector general criticizes awards and appraisal system for agency’s senior executives.