Just to clarify one thing...
Ordering all federal website to use HTTPS does _not_ mean they want to ensure the users' privacy. It just means that since they have the data anyway (they're running the servers, after all), they just want to make sure that nobody _else_ gets to listen in too.
While still a good thing for users (and encouragement for other sites to go the same way), just don't be fooled into thinking that this will make your traffic more secure against official US snooping.
I know, for most readers of this comment this is obvious - but not for the general public. The just see the shiny lock icon or green address bar and think they're "safe."