The Fed Page: Federal Government News, Headlines & Analysis

Trio of budget measures could affect feds

(J. Scott Applewhite / AP)

Joe Davidson

FEDERAL DIARY | The debt limit, sequestration (again) and an expiring budget law are reasons feds should be concerned.

Federal Eye

Monkey business at U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka

Josh Hicks

EYE CATCHERS | Stories from The Washington Post and across the Web that caught The Federal Eye's attention.

GSA takes new steps to address government travel spending

Josh Hicks

The agency, plagued by a travel scandal last year, announced plans to form a new travel-advisory committee and freeze per diem travel reimbursement rates.

Reports: Tim Geithner to leave Treasury by end of month

Josh Hicks

Multiple news outlets have reported that Tim Geithner will leave his post by the end of January, regardless of whether Congress and the White House have forged a deal to raise the debt ceiling.

Bigger tax incentive in store for transit riders

Josh Hicks

The fiscal-cliff deal raises the amount of pretax income public-transportation users can set aside for commuting, representing a reverse from the 2011 decrease.

'Autopen' is the new White House signing tool -- when POTUS is out of town

Josh Hicks

EYE CATCHERS | Stories from The Washington Post and across the Web that caught The Federal Eye's attention.

Federal Diary

Deal leaves federal employees with uncertainty

Dawn breaks at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. U.S. lawmakers hurtled toward a midnight deadline to avert hundreds of billions of dollars in tax increases and spending cuts, struggling to extract the country from a fiscal trap they created. Photographer: Jay Mallin/Bloomberg

Joe Davidson

Congressional action to avert a “fiscal cliff” means that government agencies will avoid many dreaded spending reductions — at least for now.

Defense bill draws varied reviews

Joe Davidson

FEDERAL DIARY | DOD bill leaves union dissatisfied, a contractors group pleased and whistleblowers in between.

Federal plaintiffs sense victory in DOMA fight

Joe Davidson

FEDERAL DIARY | Federal employees and retirees are optimistic that Supreme Court will rule against the Defense of Marriage Act.

In the Loop

This picture taken on October 2, 2010 shows Macats, or Temple monkeys, perched atop a tree inside a Buddhist prilgrim site in the north-central town of Anuradhapura. The macats thrive in the holy area where they have a free run and devotees try to shoo off the animals from damaging ancient sites and religious symbols. AFP PHOTO / Ishara S. KODIKARA (Photo credit should read Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)

Monkey throws wrench in U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka

Diplomacy typically isn’t monkey business, but the folks at the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka recently had their usual routine disrupted by a wandering primate.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., President Barack Obama's pick for Secretary of State, arrives for a meeting at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

Kerry for SecState: Coming soon

In the Loop’s news roundup, confirmation hearings ahead for the senator; plus Pelosi does Tina Fey’s bidding; and a senator returns after a stroke.

BERLIN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 23: A mother toque macaque, which is a kind of monkey from Ceylon, holds her male baby at Zoo Berlin on October 23, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. The baby monkey was born on August 23. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Monkey business at the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka

A wandering primate crashes the party at the diplomatic facility in Colombo; hilarity ensues.

The Influence Industry

After election, fundraising starts anew

T.W. Farnam

Election Day marks the end of a political campaign and the beginning of fundraising for the next campaign.

Lobbying on taxes usually pays off

WASHINGTON,DC-MARCH 17: Street signs on K St. NW, Washington DC on March 17, 2011 ( Photo by Jeffrey MacMillan/For Washington Post)

T.W. Farnam

INFLUENCE INDUSTRY | Firms that invest in lobbying benefit substantially at tax time, studies find.

A tale of ‘fiscal cliff’ lobbying

epa03497436 Chair of the Business Roundtable Boeing CEO Jim McNerney (R) introduces US President Barack Obama prior to Obama delivering remarks to members of the Business Roundtable at their headquarters in Washington, DC, USA, 05 December 2012. EPA/KEVIN DIETSCH/POOL

Tom Hamburger

INFLUENCE INDUSTRY | New groups have come on the scene, but others feel a bit left out of talks.

In Session

Danger between the lines of a contract in Afghanistan

Real security — as Americans understand it — does not, and probably will not, realistically exist in Afghanistan no matter how safe it is declared today or next year by U.S. or Afghan officials.

Walter Pincus

Security details in a plan to expand a base reveal how dangerous the country remains.

Excess-profits tax on contractors during wartime is long overdue

The U.S. Capitol stands in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. The U.S. House of Representatives doesn't plan any votes on the federal budget tonight, meaning that Congress for now will fail to avert $600 billion in tax increases and spending cuts set to start at midnight. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Walter Pincus

FINE PRINT | For the new year, a radical national security idea that should have happened years ago.

The high cost of Afghan disengagement

A U.S. soldier from the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) prays during Christmas Eve celebrations in Kabul, December 24, 2012. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani (AFGHANISTAN - Tags: MILITARY SOCIETY)

Walter Pincus

FINE PRINT | It will cost $5.7 billion to transfer or return the troops and equipment we sent to Afghanistan.

The High Court

Obama’s impact on federal judiciary falls short in first term

Robert Barnes

Senate Republicans take advantage of slow pace of nominations, but second term offers chances.

A test for Obama’s evolution on gay marriage?

Newlyweds Heather Laird, left, and Dawn Rains smile as flower petals are tossed their way as they depart Seattle City Hall, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Seattle. Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a voter-approved law legalizing gay marriage Wednesday, Dec. 5 and weddings for gay and lesbian couples began in Washington on Sunday, following the three-day waiting period after marriage licenses were issued earlier in the week. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Robert Barnes

HIGH COURT | The Supreme Court may have made it more difficult for President Obama to avoid taking a stand on whether it is unconstitutional to exclude same-sex couples from the right to marry no matter where they live.

Tidying up the 2012 election

Voters get a sticker indicating that they voted at the precinct 1012 in the Handley-Meadowbrook Community Center, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012 in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Rodger Mallison) MAGS OUT; (FORT WORTH WEEKLY, 360 WEST); INTERNET OUT

Robert Barnes

HIGH COURT | The legal battles of the 2012 election will serve as a backdrop for the Supreme Court’s deliberations on at least two cases concerning voting rights.

The Federal Buzz

Will new whistleblower protections work?

Natalie Jennings

Lawmakers are praising the new provision in the Whistleblower Protection Enforcement Act. Will it work?

On GovLoop: Is whistleblowing welcome where you work?

The Federal Coach

Great leadership books in 2012

Tom Fox

For the federal leaders on your holiday list, here are some of my favorite leadership books that came out this year.

Read the Article

Using data to improve government performance

Tom Fox

Every federal leader should be honestly and carefully assessing their programs to gauge effectiveness and improve outcomes.

Read the Article

As CEO of the federal government, how will you treat your workers?

Tom Fox

Many of our government’s problems and missteps come from a tendency by federal leaders to talk policy and forget operations.

Read the Article

Federal Player

Micaela Cornis-Pop --National program manager, Polytrauma System of Care, Veterans Health Administration, Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Helping VA rehabilitate those with multiple wounds of war

The Partnership for Public Service

Micaela Cornis-Pop oversees more than 110 rehabilitation facilities around the country, helping the VA stay at the forefront of developments in treating traumatic brain injury and other medical issues facing injured veterans.

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