Federal Government

Congress and Administration Reach Deal on Economic Stimulus Plan

William Galston | Posted 03.18.2009 | Politics


William Galston

Sooner or later, the administration will have to level with the people, and then make the case for a financial rescue package the magnitude of which will make the stimulus package look like pocket change.

Lessons from the Losers -- How Not to Cave

Matt Stewart | Posted 03.01.2009 | Politics


Matt Stewart

It's essential to draw a distinction between rigidly opposing a terrible idea and opposing good one. The Iraq War is a terrible idea based on a lie. By turn, the stimulus package is a pretty good one.

The Promise of Public Health

Amy L. Fairchild, Ph.D. and Ronald Bayer, Ph.D. | Posted 02.27.2009 | Politics


Amy L. Fairchild, Ph.D. and Ronald Bayer, Ph.D.

Like the provision of medical care to the ill, an effective health system -- which keeps children and adults from becoming sick in the first place -- depends on both vision and commitment.

Obama Signals Shift in Governing Philosophy

Max Stier | Posted 02.27.2009 | Politics


Max Stier

He is not just saying we need to improve government operations. He's saying we need to put this issue front and center and then he is taking real action.

The Next FEMA

Max Stier | Posted 02.09.2009 | Politics


Max Stier

This was originally published as an exclusive commentary for Washington Monthly. Barack Obama must begin rebuilding federal agencies fast--or risk se...

Challenges for the New Chief Performance Officer

Max Stier | Posted 02.07.2009 | Politics


Max Stier

This was originally posted as an exclusive commentary for The Washington Post. President-elect Barack Obama's choice today of Nancy Killefer as our g...

What Americans Can Do to Avoid a Depression

Dennis Paulaha | Posted 01.16.2009 | Politics


Dennis Paulaha

Saving people's homes while increasing consumer spending and solving the financial industry's credit crunch will stimulate the economy.

Top Intelligence Picks a No-Win for Obama

Tim Shorrock and Frank Naif | Posted 01.03.2009 | Politics


Tim Shorrock and Frank Naif

The Obama transition team's highly anticipated announcement of its new national security lineup has telling omissions: there's no Director of National Intelligence or CIA Director.

Fourteen Changes Barack Obama Could Make in His First 30 Days

Stephen C. Rose | Posted 11.14.2008 | Politics


Stephen C. Rose

If he can infuse the huge federal engine with bite-sized, doable tasks that all link together somehow, he will be a mystery reformer -- a relatively low-key, undramatic force that renews and redirects an ineffective establishment.

Obama Votes For Bailout Bill With Language That Could Harm Firms Owned by Women and Minorities

Lloyd Chapman | Posted 11.02.2008 | Business


Lloyd Chapman

No Objection From Obama To Bailout Bill Language That Could Harm Firms Owned By Women and Minorities Senator Barack Obama has voted for the latest Se...

The Law of Unintended and Unanticipated Consequences

Neil Grossman | Posted 10.26.2008 | Business


Neil Grossman

We are facing the gravest economic crisis in generations.

New SBA Head Still Refusing to Release Small Business Contracting Statistics

Lloyd Chapman | Posted 10.19.2008 | Business


Lloyd Chapman

Eleven and a half months after the end of the federal government's fiscal year (FY) 2007, new Acting Administrator of the Small Business Administratio...

SBA Goes After Its Harshest Critic

Lloyd Chapman | Posted 08.06.2008 | Business


Lloyd Chapman

The American Small Business League (ASBL) has uncovered an extensive campaign by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to impugn the organization's ...

Government's Oil Investigation 6 Months Underway

AP | Posted 06.06.2008 | Business


WASHINGTON — Federal regulators are six months into a wide-ranging investigation of U.S. oil markets, with a focus on possible price manipulatio...

Feds to collect DNA from every person they arrest

AP | EILEEN SULLIVAN | Posted 04.24.2008 | Politics


WASHINGTON — The government plans to begin collecting DNA samples from anyone arrested by a federal law enforcement agency _ a move intended to ...

Trust Not in Trust Funds

Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson | Posted 04.05.2008 | Business


Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson

The U.S. government is going to give itself a financial hernia paying back the Social Security and Medicare funds and keeping up with demand.