Federal Government

Metropolitan region's make up a major part of the U.S. in terms of population and economic activity. Accordingly, the Brookings Institution was surprised to see how little of the government's first year stimulus package went to those areas.

February 21, 2010 - The New Republic

Sustainability is going federal through a new collaboration between HUD, EPA and DOT. Anthony Flint takes a look at the new coordinated effort and some of the challenges it faces.

February 17, 2010 - Citiwire

National Journal asks its panel of transportation experts whether the Obama Administration's recent announcement of high-speed rail funding projects is really a wise investment.

February 3, 2010 - National Journal

The Obama Administration is including a $4 billion plan to create a national infrastructure bank as part of its 2011 federal budget proposal.

February 2, 2010 - The New York Times

As part of a $133 million renovation of a federal building in Portland, the Government Services Administration plans to add 200-foot high "vegetated fins" that will carpet the building with plants and - hopefully - energy savings.

February 1, 2010 - New York Times

Twitter, iPhones, and new sites like SeeClickFix make it increasingly easy for citizens and governments to communicate. Along with newly available data sets, these "Gov 2.0" apps may signal a new era of active citizens and responsive governments.

January 29, 2010 - CNN

The U.S. Federal Government has released a new online tool to help in the collection of feedback and ideas from the general public.

January 22, 2010 - CNET

America's transportation system is in trouble, according to many experts. But action at the congressional level doesn't seem to recognize the importance of the problem, writes Neal Peirce.

January 19, 2010 - Citiwire

A federal plan aimed at helping 3 to 4 million homeowners on the verge of foreclosure has fallen far short of expectations, enabling only about 31,000 loan modifications.

January 6, 2010 - The Washington Independent

Change Observer interviews Casey Jones, the director of design excellence and the arts for the U.S. General Services Administration about green building and sustainability in urban design.

January 2, 2010 - Change Observer

New legislation looks to boost the federal government's investment in urban parks for the first time in eight years.

December 5, 2009 - Gotham Gazette

Some mayors say the Obama Administration's urban agenda concentrates too much power at the state level.

November 30, 2009 - The Atlantic

November 9, 2009 - Nate Berg

Richard Moe, longtime president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has announced his retirement. His tenure brought about a major change in the way the group interacts with the federal government to preserve the nation's historic sites.

November 5, 2009 - The Washington Post

Transportation officials are talking more and more about drafting a brand new type of transportation bill, one that diverges from the patterns and old thinking of the past. But that's easier said than done.

September 21, 2009 - The New York Times

Work has been hard to find for many architects over the last year. But for architects doing federal work, the story is a bit different.

September 16, 2009 - Architectural Record

The Obama Administration has announced a plan to invest $4.25 billion of stimulus money to build low-income rental housing.

August 18, 2009 - The Boston Globe

The White House Office of Urban Affairs is officially in action, but the creation of urban policy seems to have started on its own, according to this column form Neal Peirce.

August 9, 2009 - Citiwire

A new study from The Brookings Institution discusses how school quality and neighborhood affordability are linked, and how both can be improved.

August 1, 2009 - The Brookings Institution

The federal transportation bill seems unlikely to pass any time soon, according to legislators. They have yet to reach any consensus about the mechanisms for funding the bill.

July 25, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal