Jennifer Liberto

Poor hit hardest by Washington budget cuts

money.cnn.com — As the sequester continues, the poor, sick and elderly are taking a deeper hit from federal spending cuts with less money going to programs like Meals on Wheels. Forced federal spending cuts intended to be equal and across-the-board have lately fallen harder on the nation's poor, sick and elderly.

4 federal agencies to shut Friday

money.cnn.com — Taxpayers won't be able to check the status of their refunds for several days thanks to federal budget cuts. Got a question about tax refunds, polluters or subsidized housing? Don't expect an answer this Friday.

4 federal agencies to shut Friday

money.cnn.com — Taxpayers won't be able to check the status of their refunds for several days thanks to federal budget cuts. Got a question about tax refunds, polluters or subsidized housing? Don't expect an answer this Friday.

Overworked IRS unit was treated like a "step sister"

money.cnn.com — IRS staffers who reviewed applications from groups seeking charity tax exempt status were overworked, understaffed and lacked a layer of experienced middle managers. The Internal Revenue Service group under fire in the current scandal was overworked, understaffed and lacked a layer of experienced middle managers, according to two former IRS employees.

Defense Department trims furlough days to 11

money.cnn.com — The Department of Defense will trim its forced furloughs for employees to 11 days from 14. Defense Department employees are getting a little bit of a reprieve. Workers now face 11 days of furloughs, cut down from an expected 14 days, Defense Department Secretary Chuck Hagel is expected to announce Tuesday afternoon.

What's behind the IRS tea party scrutiny flap

money.cnn.com — The Internal Revenue Service is under fire for targeting tea party and other conservative charity groups for extra scrutiny. The IRS watchdog is set to release documents this week that will reveal fresh details on why the IRS picked on conservative groups that were seeking tax-exempt status.

Postal Service considers price hikes

money.cnn.com — The U.S. Postal Service board will look into hiking postage prices on all types of mail, as losses continue to plague the agency, the chief of the board said Friday. Mickey Barnett said the board has directed the service to "evaluate price increases," even though "as a board we are loathe to pursue this approach."

Flood alarms threatened by budget cuts

money.cnn.com — Federal budget cuts are forcing a federal agency to turn off hundreds of stream gauges, which are used to forecast floods, like those that hit Iowa last month. The U.S. flood alarm system is about to get smaller. On May 1, the U.S.

How ‘political intelligence’ can come from Congress itself

washingtonpost.com — On the same morning a congressional staffer told investors in a private call that odds were improving for a government decision that would help medical insurers, trading spiked in a major health-care company. The private call, arranged by a consulting firm called Capitol Street, took place the morning of March 18.

National parks budget cuts: Long waits, locked restrooms loom for visitors

money.cnn.com — Spring break visitors to Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park faced longer lines. It will likely get worse in the summer, when the park can hire fewer seasonal employees because of the forced budget cuts. Heading to the Grand Canyon this summer? You may be in for a long wait in your car at the entrance gate.