Federal workers who died on the job honored

(GARY CAMERON / REUTERS)

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.

Federal Diary

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.

AP case highlights whistleblower policies

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 14:  U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder holds a news conference about efforts by the Justice Department and the Health and Human Services Department to combat Medicare fraud at the Justice Department May 14, 2013 in Washington, DC. Holder faced a large number of questions about his department's investigation targeting phone records and data from the Associated Press.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

FEDERAL DIARY | DOJ secret review of phone records gives federal employee advocates one more reason to doubt the Obama administration's full commitment to protecting whistleblowers, particularly those in national security agencies.

IRS is quiet on accountability in scandal

UNITED STATES Ð APRIL 6: Tea party activist on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol hold up signs and flags during a rally on Wednesday, April 6, 2012, days before a possible federal government shutdown. (Photo By Douglas Graham/Roll Call)

FEDERAL DIARY | The targeting of political groups by the Internal Revenue Service is not only “outrageous,” as President Obama said Monday, but it also might be a “deadly sin.”

In the Loop

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 09:  Fountains run in front of the State Capitol as HRH Prince Harry tours an anti-landmine photography exhibition by The HALO Trust charity during the first day of his visit to the United States at the Russell Senate Office Building on May 9, 2013 in Washington, DC. HRH will be undertaking engagements on behalf of charities with which the Prince is closely associated on behalf also of HM Government, with a central theme of supporting injured service personnel from the UK and US forces.  (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Obama fills jobs under streamlined process

Streamlined federal job appointments process showing results.

Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin walks down the steps of presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., campaign plane upon their arrival in Lancaster, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Did Palin have her own Umbrellagate?

Sarah Palin weighs in. Does she remember Lancaster, Pa.?

U.S. President Barack Obama listens to a question about the Internal Revenue Service scandal during a joint news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the White House Rose Garden in Washington, May 16, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS)

In the Loop: Choose your scandal

From Benghazi to IRS to AP records, what might hurt the White House more?

The High Court

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.

Retired, but still judging — and being judged

HANDOUT IMAGE: Sandra Day O'Connor poses for a portrait for her new book, 'Out of Order: Stories from the History of the Supreme Court.'  (Photo by Dane Penland) **HANDOUT IMAGE, NO SALE, NO TRADE, MANDATORY CREDIT, ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUCTION OF BOOK REVIEW**

Sandra Day O’Connor and other former justices before her have kept working long after leaving the high court.

Fine Print

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.

Fine Print: How many magazines does it take to inform military services?

Budget cuts result in shifting of priorities in Defense Department “luxuries” such as magazines.

Latest Federal News

Report: GSA’s bonus system flawed

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

At Cincinnati IRS office, surprise over claims of partisan villainy

At Cincinnati IRS office, surprise over claims of partisan villainy

As details emerge in the scandal, those with ties to the unit ponder the bureaucracy, and the public vitriol.

Obama fills jobs under streamlined process

Obama fills jobs under streamlined process

Streamlined federal job appointments process showing results.

Did Palin have her own Umbrellagate?

Did Palin have her own Umbrellagate?

Sarah Palin weighs in. Does she remember Lancaster, Pa.?

GSA watchdog finds abuse in awards system for senior executives

GSA watchdog finds abuse in awards system for senior executives

GSA inspector general finds flawed awards and appraisal system for senior executives.

Labor nominee wins approval of Senate panel.

Labor nominee wins approval of Senate panel.

Thomas Perez moves to full Senate consideration after lawmakers voted along party lines.

‘A very big challenge’ lies ahead for Daniel Werfel at scandal-plagued IRS

‘A very big challenge’ lies ahead for Daniel Werfel at scandal-plagued IRS

President Obama taps a career budget analyst to serve as acting administrator of the IRS.

Column

In the Loop: Choose your scandal

In the Loop: Choose your scandal

From Benghazi to IRS to AP records, what might hurt the White House more?

Senate confirms Moniz as secretary of energy

Senate confirms Moniz as secretary of energy

Former MIT scientist and professor approved unanimously, 97 to 0.

Benghazi! IRS! Government spying on the press!

Benghazi! IRS! Government spying on the press!

Which of these stories might damage President Obama the most?

Senate committee approves Perez for confirmation vote

Senate committee approves Perez for confirmation vote

The full Senate will consider confirmation of President Obama's pick for labor secretary after a Senate committee voted Thursday to move forward with the process.

Steven Miller's IRS resignation memo

Steven Miller's IRS resignation memo

The acting IRS commissioner resigned Wednesday amid revelations that the agency had targeted conservatives that applied for tax-exempt status.

Obama’s books earn big bucks. Biden’s, well . . .

Obama’s books earn big bucks. Biden’s, well . . .

It’s hard to beat the audience for presidential memoirs.

Upcoming committee vote for Thomas Perez

Upcoming committee vote for Thomas Perez

A Senate committee will vote Thursday on whether to move forward with confirmation proceedings for Thomas Perez, the president's pick for labor secretary.

Column

AP, IRS scandals hurt all feds

AP, IRS scandals hurt all feds

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.

Groups that sought tax-exempt status say IRS dealings were a nightmare

Groups that sought tax-exempt status say IRS dealings were a nightmare

Some say the agency illegally sought names of donors or membership lists.

Column

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

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

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

Column

In the Loop: Looking down the road to power

In the Loop: Looking down the road to power

Asian Americans pursuing deputy posts in the administration.

Working to improve nutrition in schools

Working to improve nutrition in schools

A leadership conversation with Audrey Rowe, the administrator of the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service.

VA deputy secretary Scott Gould departs Friday

VA deputy secretary Scott Gould departs Friday

The agency’s No. 2 had been in the post for four years.

VA announces overtime “surge” to battle disability claims backog

VA announces overtime “surge” to battle disability claims backog

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Wednesday that it is mandating the use overtime for claims processors at its 56 regional offices as part of a "surge" aimed at eliminating the disability claims backlog.

Leading humanitarian relief efforts during African famine

Leading humanitarian relief efforts during African famine

Cara Christie, a disaster-operations specialist with the USAID, is credited with recognizing the significance of the impending famine almost a year before it unfolded.

Kerry team starting to fill in at State

Kerry team starting to fill in at State

Department veteran and top National Security Council aide Danny Russel is tapped for East Asia post.

Tougher discipline for IRS employees set aside, at least for now

Tougher discipline for IRS employees set aside, at least for now

For procedural reasons, plan to add criminal penalties for certain employee misconduct doesn't come to a vote.

Top Pelosi aide joins Facebook D.C. lobby shop

Top Pelosi aide joins Facebook D.C. lobby shop

Catlin O’Neill, chief of staff in Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi’s office, joins the social media giant

Asian Americans looking to up administration jobs

Groups urge Obama to boost numbers in senior posts.

Roth-style investing in TSP continues to grow

Roth-style investing in TSP continues to grow

After-tax investing style has been available for a year in government's 401(k)-style plan.

Defense furloughs set for July

Defense furloughs set for July

Hagel announces plans for 11 unpaid days rather than 14; more relief may come, but he says he “can’t promise.”

Column

AP case highlights whistleblower policies

AP case highlights whistleblower policies

FEDERAL DIARY | DOJ secret review of phone records gives federal employee advocates one more reason to doubt the Obama administration's full commitment to protecting whistleblowers, particularly those in national security agencies.

Column

In the Loop: For Team Obama, it’s all relative

At least this time around nominees haven’t had to withdraw.