iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Federal workers are facing another double-digit premium hike, but the averages don’t tell the whole story. Erich Wagner digs into the plans where costs are swinging wildly, including one that’s jumping 105%. buff.ly/gQj4WWO

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Federal employees’ health insurance premiums to rise by double digits for third straight year

Some insurance carriers have undergone wide swings in cost, as at least one plan’s premiums will more than double next year.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The IRS says AI can help a workforce that’s roughly the same size as it was a year ago do more, from processing amended returns to closing the tax gap. Jory Heckman gets into what the agency is betting on. buff.ly/4Lwc7XP

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Tax chief pushes 'AI-first IRS' to get more out of agency's workforce

The IRS made more than 4,000 hires this year, but its headcount remains mostly unchanged after cutting more than a quarter of its workforce last year.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Planning a 2027 federal retirement? Don’t pick your exit date on vibes. Federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan maps out the calendar dates that could make a real difference. buff.ly/i8fOof9

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Retiring in 2027? Picking the right date could pay off

The date you leave federal service can affect when your annuity begins and how much you receive for unused annual leave.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

September was a rough month for #TSP investors, with nearly every fund slipping into the red. Erich Wagner tracks where the biggest losses landed and how the funds are doing so far this year. buff.ly/qGAQCkc

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TSP funds were back in the negative in September

The performance of portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program largely mirrored market-wide declines.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Another turn in the Education IG shuffle. Mark Priebe’s nomination comes just days after Trump withdrew Heidi Semann’s, with the watchdog office now back under René Rocque. Sean Michael Newhouse tracks the latest twist. buff.ly/otlM7w2

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Trump’s new Education IG nominee continues dizzying run of leadership changes at the watchdog office

Mark Priebe — the nominee, who recently served as acting inspector general at the Education Department — has defended the president’s mass firing of inspectors general and appears to have supported…

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A key architect of GSA’s tech push is heading for the exit. Frank Konkel traces Michael Lynch’s mark on AI adoption, automation and the agency’s efficiency drive. buff.ly/4wVN59u

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GSA is losing a key digital modernization leader

Michael Lynch joined the General Services Administration in January 2025 as a senior advisor and later became the agency’s deputy administrator.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Hey you! We’re looking for commentary pitches for Government Executive. If you have an idea for our audience of federal employees and managers, our writers guidelines are here: www.govexec.com/about/writer...

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Writer's Guidelines

Government Executive is the leading source for news, information and analysis about the operations of the executive branch of the federal government.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Up to $25,000 for standout feds? OPM just made it easier for agencies to put some real money behind top performance. Sean Michael Newhouse connects the dots. buff.ly/oSCAbRW

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$25,000 bonuses for top-performing feds? OPM makes it easier for agencies to award them

The HR agency also recently capped the percentage of civil servants who can earn the top two performance ratings in fiscal 2026.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The “favorite Trump policy” question is out. But OPM’s replacement still asks applicants to show how they’d handle a policy they disagree with. Erich Wagner breaks down what changed and what didn’t. buff.ly/sCyM7Ux

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Following court order, OPM replaces “favorite EO” question for jobseekers

The Office of Personnel Management’s latest essay question for federal job applicants asks less about their personal politics and more about their ability to follow instructions.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The Trump administration is rescinding its authorization for agencies to initiate RIFs during a government shutdown as part of a settlement with federal employee unions. Jory Heckman breaks down what it means for the next funding lapse. buff.ly/SffPG8x

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Shutdown mass-layoff policy rescinded as part of settlement with unions

The Trump administration sent reduction in force notices to thousands of employees during the 43-day government shutdown last fall.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A new FLRA ruling could give NTEU another opening in its fight over Trump’s union executive orders. Erich Wagner gets into what the decision means for the case now sitting before the D.C. Circuit. buff.ly/kqAeQCe

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FLRA ruling puts ball back in courts’ court on Trump’s union EOs

The National Treasury Employees Union said Wednesday that a recent Federal Labor Relations Authority decision supports its argument that it cannot seek redress through administrative channels.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Your benefits don’t stand still and neither should your understanding of them. Federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan walks through what changed in 2026 and what to keep an eye on as 2027 approaches. buff.ly/m8Fwu0R

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Your federal benefits changed this year. Here’s what to know

A guide to the retirement, insurance, Social Security and TSP changes affecting federal employees, retirees and survivors in 2026, plus what to watch for in 2027.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Americans' trust in government is on the decline, but their sentiment toward civil servants is rising. Sean Michael Newhouse digs into the results of the Partnership for Public Service's latest survey: buff.ly/SxZOFCr

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Trust in government is sinking, but a new survey suggests civil servants’ stock is rising

The percentages of respondents who said most civil servants are competent and committed to helping people “like me” increased to record highs — at 65% and 61%, respectively.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The IRS and Social Security Administration's recent decision to suspend employees' ability to take advanced leave and sick time will only exacerbate both agencies' staffing woes, Senate Democrats say: buff.ly/dJrrHR1

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IRS and Social Security will see more employees quit without advanced leave, senators warn

Senate Democrats warn employees will “inevitably leave” both agencies following a suspension of advanced leave, adding to deep staffing cuts.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The FAA says more efficient staffing is the key to unlocking the rest of air traffic controllers’ 3.8% raise. Lawmakers aren’t so sure. Erich Wagner takes you inside the clash over what Congress intended and what controllers are actually facing. buff.ly/zxxzyBu

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FAA administrator defends withholding part of ATC pay raise

Democrats on a House appropriations subcommittee accused FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford of trying to “squeeze” the already overstretched air traffic controller workforce.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Nonprofits from across the ideological spectrum are urging lawmakers to remove the president from the process for picking the next head of Congress' agency responsible for oversight of federal agencies. Sean Michael Newhouse reports: buff.ly/y8nYETJ

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Congress — not the president — should appoint the next GAO head, bipartisan coalition argues

The organizations from across the political spectrum contended that former Comptroller General Gene Dodaro’s retirement last year provides an opportunity for lawmakers to overhaul the nomination…

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

IRS employees were pulled from their careers to do work they weren’t hired or trained to do. Now a Treasury IG wants to know how it’s going, as the IRS considers keeping them there. Jory Heckman gets into what employees are telling the watchdog. buff.ly/XaLfWtP

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IRS watchdog audits employee reassignments, as agency looks to extend some tours of duty

Employees placed on these involuntary details are doing jobs several pay grades below the work they were hired to perform, but continue to receive their regular paychecks.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

OPM is taking its pitch for federal careers to college campuses, with some notable people joining the director along the way. Sean Michael Newhouse looks at who’s been part of the tour and where Kupor is headed next. buff.ly/iUvcrpF

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OPM uses conservative influencers on college tour to recruit young workers

On Thursday, the government HR agency chief is visiting an unaccredited college founded by right-wing figures.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

When a workplace accommodation takes months to process, the delay can become a workplace problem of its own. Now 40 House lawmakers want answers from the Labor Department. Jory Heckman gets into what’s behind the backlog. buff.ly/BquMSnS

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Labor’s disability accommodation delays under scrutiny by House lawmakers

Lawmakers say interim accommodations “are infrequently considered,” and that staffing shortages have contributed to significant processing delays and growing backlogs.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

A bipartisan push on federal pay is putting Congress on the clock, with 110 lawmakers calling for at least a 3.8% raise for civilian employees. Erich Wagner has the congressional math and what happens next. buff.ly/Y0FrzTx

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Lawmakers call on leadership to override Trump’s planned pay freeze

Members of both parties urged congressional leaders to “at minimum” authorize an across-the-board 3.8% pay raise for civilian federal employees, in line with President Trump’s supplemental pay…

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Pay.gov may make federal benefit payments easier, but choosing the right form still matters. Retirement expert Tammy Flanagan walks through what to know before you click submit. buff.ly/AYZmXTA

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Navigating the Pay.gov maze for federal retirement deposits

Don't let missing service credits or opaque OPM billing notices shrink your monthly annuity. Here is what you need to know before clicking submit.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

A long-running NASA discrimination case takes another turn. The employees challenging the EEOC say it overlooked key parts of their case. Erich Wagner gets into what they’re asking the agency to reconsider. buff.ly/BxOriom

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NASA employees: EEOC committed ‘flagrant distortions’ to decertify class complaint

EEOC officials touted a long-running discrimination case against NASA as an example why federal sector cases were in need of reform. The employees who brought the case said commissioners railroaded…

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Some careers take you to the moon. Others solve the problems that help the whole government get there. Sean Michael Newhouse profiles NASA’s Joanne Woytek, a longtime problem-solver whose work has touched agencies across government. buff.ly/EtTDWsH

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‘I love to solve problems’: Awards program honors feds who improved the delivery of public services

The Service to the Citizen award recognizes public servants at the federal, state and local levels as well as contractors.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The Hatch Act complaints keep coming, but answers from the agency that enforces the law have been harder to find. Sean Michael Newhouse digs into the latest allegations against Trump officials and why some investigations have been sitting for nearly a year. buff.ly/q9FdEI8

govexec.com

Hatch Act complaints against Trump officials continue to pile up as investigations go on for nearly a year

Attorney General Todd Blanche and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are the latest administration officials to be accused of breaking the ethics law.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

USPS won’t be changing how it handles mail-in ballots for the midterms after all. Postmaster General David Steiner previously told Government Executive's Jory Heckman that the Postal Service would follow the courts’ lead. Here’s where the rules stand now: buff.ly/xTDnDWC

govexec.com

Supreme Court keeps USPS from carrying out mail-in voting changes in midterm elections

Postmaster General David Steiner previously told Government Executive that USPS would comply if the courts decided to block these changes.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

That “favorite Trump executive order” question on federal job applications? A judge just put a stop to it, ruling that it likely violates applicants’ First Amendment rights. Erich Wagner explains what the ruling means for federal hiring: buff.ly/vu0gCW3

govexec.com

Judge halts ‘favorite EO’ question on federal job applications

U.S. District Judge George O’Toole issued a stay blocking federal agencies from asking an essay question civil service advocates call a “loyalty question,” but found he could not prevent…

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

USDA employees facing relocation got a bit more time, as a federal judge considers putting the agency’s plans on hold. Jory Heckman breaks down what the judge’s pause could mean for workers already getting relocation orders. buff.ly/cAdCNUA

govexec.com

Judge considers temporary pause in USDA relocations in new lawsuit

A federal judge in San Francisco said an administrative stay “doesn't say anything about the merits" of the case, but would give him more time to “adjudicate this properly.”

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Sign an NDA. Break it to blow the whistle. Get disciplined. Under a new bill, that federal worker could sue their agency directly in federal court. Erich Wagner, on a bill that would change the whistleblower playbook. buff.ly/5y0Knl9

govexec.com

Bill would let federal whistleblowers sue if disciplined over violating NDAs

New legislation from Virginia Democrats seeks to beef up federal whistleblower protections as the Trump administration weighs drastically expanding agencies’ use of non-disclosure agreements.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

What does 9/11 mean if you were too young to remember it? For some, memories may be borrowed, blurry or tied to what came after, but the impact runs deep. Sean Michael Newhouse talked to public servants about how an event they barely remember still shaped them. buff.ly/BDY4ioR

govexec.com

What does 9/11 mean for young public servants who hardly remember it?

Although they may have limited memories of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, some people say the events still shaped their career decisions.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

In the hours and days following the 9/11 attacks, federal agencies in New York City worked to account for their employees, find new places to work and help with the recovery. Government Executive’s Tanya Ballard Brown reported this story from NYC in 2001: buff.ly/4hJTBgu

govexec.com

Horror, Then A Helping Hand

In New York, federal employees fled for their lives, then pitched in to help.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Twenty-five years later, 9/11 still has lessons for federal families. Federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan looks at the benefits and records families should understand before they need them. buff.ly/rTL2UBI

govexec.com

What 9/11 can teach federal families about benefits

The federal workers’ compensation program can provide critical support after a work-related injury, illness or death, but families need to know what to document and which benefits to claim.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

COMMENTARY: If the agency accused of discrimination gets the first say on whether discrimination happened, who’s really getting a fair hearing? Kendrick Roberson of AFGE argues that’s the conflict federal workers should be worried about. buff.ly/7XALEIw

govexec.com

Don’t let federal agencies judge their own discrimination cases

COMMENTARY | The current system would leave workers at the mercy of the agencies they accuse of discrimination, argues AFGE's civil rights leader.

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