Federal Government Policy and Business

Case of National Weather Service official raises question of how often revolving-door rules are broken

The Washington Post: The recent revelation that a senior official at the National Weather Service helped write his own job description for a cushy post-retirement consulting position — then was back at work the day after he left — has drawn scrutiny not just because of the eye-popping details.

The Donald Jiron case, investigated by former Commerce Department Inspector General Todd Zinser, also has raised a key question: How often are revolving-door rules broken in government? Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, is asking the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pointed questions about the practice of civil servants returning as contractors to pretty much the same job they had in government.

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