Amid a disastrous oil spill, a Supreme Court nomination and the ongoing financial regulatory reform debate, some lawmakers will spend a few hours on Wednesday worrying about restrooms. Specifically, restrooms in federal buildings. Crack all the jokes you want, but advocates think it’s a big deal. Most federal buildings are about 40 years old andRead… Read more »
House lawmakers unanimously approved Tuesday a resolution that expressed lawmakers’ continued support for the safety and security of federal workers. The measure also called on the government to continue seeking ways to improve their protection. Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) — whose Northern Virginia congressional district is home to thousands of federal workers — said heRead… Read more »
Happy Monday! The way Postmaster General John E. Potter sees it, he has less than six months to convince Congress and the nation of the urgent need to retool the U.S. Postal Service for the 21st century. By fall, the Postal Service won’t have enough money to make payroll, Potter predicts. But big customers, regulators,Read… Read more »
Though the Obama administration has stressed its involvement with the April 20 BP oil spill since “day one,” at least one Interior Department official decided instead to phone it in and go white water rafting in the Grand Canyon with his wife and other officials. Tom Strickland — who serves as Interior Secretary Ken Salazar‘sRead… Read more »
Looking for a good read about the Civil War to take to the beach this summer? How about some facts and figures on Afghanistan and Pakistan? Or maybe a retelling of the history of the Metric system in the United States? (Okay, yes, that last one is a stretch.) The Government Printing Office has launchedRead… Read more »
Happy Wednesday! Lawmakers have introduced a measure that would allow the Office of Personnel Management to extend health-care coverage to the adult children of federal workers before the new federal health-care law takes effect next year. Several health insurance companies plan to extend coverage to adult children up to age 26 starting in June, butRead… Read more »
As Public Service Recognition Week begins, the Federal Eye spoke with Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service, about this week’s events, President Obama’s recent defense of government and why it’s still hard to get a job with the government: Federal Eye: What do you hope happens this week? Stier: There are twoRead… Read more »
At least 15 of the 73 federal inspectors general, auditor or whistleblower protection jobs are vacant or tied up in the Senate confirmation process, according to a new report by the Center for Public Integrity. Congress created 12 inspector general positions in 1978 and the list has grown to cover at least 69 agencies. ThoughRead… Read more »
It’s Day 14 of federal efforts to stave off a massive oil spill and environmental disaster (efforts that began on Day One, in case all those reminders from the Obama administration have slipped you by.) Here’s a rundown of where things stand from a federal perspective: BY THE NUMBERS More than 2,000 volunteers are trainedRead… Read more »
Happy Monday! The House is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a bill that has more cosponsors than any other in Congressional history — but will likely die once again in the Senate. For years Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) has pushed Congress to change the name of the Department of the Navy to the Department ofRead… Read more »