Federal File

Policies on using a company e-mail account for personal use vary among private employers. But if you're a Department of Education employee, don't even think about it.

After one employee's personal message unintentionally ended up in the hands of Sen. Slade Gorton of Washington, the outspoken Republican asked the department's inspector general to investigate employee e-mail use.

The brouhaha began May 5 when a worker in the office of educational research and improvement used her e-mail to forward a letter to colleagues that asked recipients to lobby against a legislative proposal by Sen. Gorton. The proposal--to channel funding for most federal education programs into block grants--had passed the Senate as an amendment...