iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

USPS is gearing up for the midterms, but a court-blocked executive order and suspicious mailings have added complications. Jory Heckman gets into how the agency is preparing for election season. buff.ly/oHUfx8c

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USPS ‘ready to deliver’ ballots in midterms without mail-in voting EO restrictions

The Postal Service's law enforcement agency is investigating suspicious letters sent to several state officials who oversee election operations.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 16/10/2026

HUD lost nearly a third of its workforce. Now housing groups say they’re having a harder time getting answers from the agency. Sean Michael Newhouse has the fallout. buff.ly/uyhO7do

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HUD’s staffing cuts hurt certain housing services, watchdog finds

Housing organizations told the Government Accountability Office that they now face more obstacles getting in touch with department employees in a timely manner.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 16/10/2026

COMMENTARY: What if a federal job application could help a foreign adversary map America’s most valuable expertise? Lindy Kyzer argues it’s time to bring HR into the counterintelligence conversation. buff.ly/M5l3U0p

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The next counterintelligence threat may be hiding in federal hiring

COMMENTARY | Foreign adversaries are exploiting resumes, recruiting and professional relationships to pursue sensitive information. Federal agencies need to recognize the risks without making it…

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 16/10/2026

That bigger retirement check? Medicare costs and earnings limits could eat into it. Federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan lays out what federal retirees need to know before 2027. buff.ly/uIP8QMU

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Federal retirees face more than a COLA change in 2027

From Medicare premiums and Social Security earnings limits to a federal pay freeze, several changes could affect retirees’ finances and the benefits available to them next year.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

The federal pay tables millions rely on are getting a long-overdue makeover. But OPM isn’t stopping at a website refresh. Jory Heckman reports on the agency’s bigger push to bring AI and other new technology into the federal workforce. buff.ly/P8ZPwXd

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OPM revamps online pay tables, spearheads AI adoption across federal workforce

The agency's CIO Adam Starr described the pay table refresh as part of a broader plan to “make every part of the federal experience tech-first."

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

ICYMI: Which races should feds have on their radar this fall? Sean Michael Newhouse breaks down eight key contests, from Maine to Texas, with implications for the people who keep the government running. buff.ly/8prn7mB

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8 midterm races for federal employees to watch

Several high-profile races, including Senate elections in Maine, Georgia and Texas, could impact civil servants.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

The administration was placing political appointees in jobs under a new classification before the public had a clear picture of who was filling them. Sean Michael Newhouse traces how the appointments came to light and what we still don’t know. buff.ly/oGRr8wE

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Trump quietly hired political appointees under a new job classification, good government group reports

While Schedule G is not officially set up in regulation, the Office of Personnel Management emphasized that the position category for political appointees was established by executive order and that…

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

A bigger retirement check sounds good, right? But with health insurance premiums climbing, federal retirees may not have as much extra cash as they’d hoped. Erich Wagner explains what’s coming. buff.ly/3JEoUNW

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Cost-of-living adjustments for federal retirees to increase next year

Former federal workers are set to receive between 2.6% and 3.6% more from their retirement annuity next year, according to new numbers from the Social Security Administration.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Thousands of USDA employees were facing moves across the country. Now a judge has hit pause, with the future of the department’s reorganization still in question. Jory Heckman tracks where the fight stands. buff.ly/2FDM6lq

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A judge just put USDA’s employee relocation plans on ice

The order blocks the department from moving about 2,600 employees or closing affected offices while a legal challenge to its reorganization proceeds.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

USDA is reshuffling its food assistance agency, but the big question is still up in the air: Who’s actually going to have to move? Jory Heckman has the latest twist in a reorg tangled up in court. buff.ly/kBGx8jz

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USDA reshapes its food assistance agency, but employee relocations remain on hold

The Food and Nutrition Service is moving ahead with its reorganization, but plans to relocate most of its employees remain on hold for now.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

The midterms could change who calls the shots on federal funding, workforce policy and veterans’ issues. Sean Michael Newhouse names eight races that could matter most to feds. buff.ly/8prn7mB

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8 midterm races for federal employees to watch

Several high-profile races, including Senate elections in Maine, Georgia and Texas, could impact civil servants.

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

What does the National Security Council actually do, and how does White House thinking become national security policy? Government Executive’s Tanya Ballard Brown gets into it with Ellen Knight at ClearanceJobs Connect, Oct. 16 at 11:30 a.m. in Reston, Va. Details: buff.ly/NaaHo26

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

The Bureau of Prisons is making a second run at canceling its union contracts, this time with a fresh legal argument about national security. Erich Wagner connects the dots in a fight that’s far from over. buff.ly/HhBKZvq

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Bureau of Prisons re-terminates union contracts despite court order

Attorneys for the Trump administration said there is nothing in U.S. District Judge Vernon Oliver’s preliminary injunction preventing BOP from canceling its collective bargaining agreements a second…

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

They submitted the paperwork. They got deadline extensions. And HHS closed their disability accommodation cases anyway. Now some employees are left without accommodations they were relying on. Jory Heckman gets into what went wrong. buff.ly/ZtHoEQt

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HHS scraps disability accommodations over missing paperwork. Employees say they have receipts

A union leader for CDC headquarters employees said the Health and Human Services Department closing out these accommodation requests was “a deliberate choice to clear the backlog."

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

Some former feds found new jobs. Others are still trying to find a role that makes sense for the skills they built in government. Sean Michael Newhouse gets into why that transition has been especially tough for some. buff.ly/CwTm4zg

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Some former federal employees are still struggling to find the right fit

Workforce officials and lawmakers say some of the employees pushed out of government last year are still struggling to find work that matches their skills.

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

That 5% TSP contribution gets you the full agency match. But could lowering your contributions now cost you later? Federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan weighs what’s worth keeping in mind before you make the switch. buff.ly/VdBd7bZ

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Don’t let 5% become your TSP retirement strategy

Getting the full agency match is a good baseline, but if retirement is around the corner there’s more to consider before deciding what to do with the rest of your paycheck.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

ICYMI: With the next GAO chief still to be chosen, this question is getting more interesting: Should the president have a say? Sean Michael Newhouse reported last month on the bipartisan push to give Congress the final word. buff.ly/dMQqa34

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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 · 07/10/2026

A federal judge found BOP’s move to end its union contracts was likely pretextual. But at least one prison says it still isn’t recognizing the union. Erich Wagner gets into what’s happening at FCI Mendota. buff.ly/Wl18i2p

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Bureau of Prisons is the latest agency ordered to reinstate union rights

As of Tuesday, at least one correctional facility has refused to recognize its union local, in apparent contravention of a preliminary injunction issued last week.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

SSA is taking away a scheduling option employees say they depend on for care and medical appointments, setting up a fight with the union. Jory Heckman gets into what’s changing and why AFGE is pushing back. buff.ly/MWIj06z

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Social Security ends flexible work schedules, teeing up clash with union

The agency’s top HR official says these changes are necessary to “deliver the service the public expects.” A union argues SSA violated its labor contract making this decision on its own.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

TSA took away the chairs. The union is pushing back: Does standing really make officers better at their jobs? Sean Michael Newhouse gets to the bigger fight over pay, working conditions and collective bargaining at the agency. buff.ly/IGMbel0

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TSA took away its officers’ chairs. The union isn’t sitting quietly

The Trump administration has taken several actions to weaken Transportation Security Administration employees’ collective bargaining rights.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

The VA may be back on track to let its AFGE contract expire, but the court’s reasoning gets into some pretty important weeds. Erich Wagner follows the latest turn in this long-running fight. buff.ly/NVPTiy0

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Appeals court seemingly OKs VA’s contested union contract expiration

A three-judge panel found that a judge’s ruling in August forcing the VA to maintain its CBAs with AFGE improperly delved into questions of compliance with particular contract provisions.

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Foreign affairs agencies moved fast to cut staff and spending. New watchdog reports suggest some of those decisions moved faster than the planning behind them. Sean Michael Newhouse takes a closer look at what went wrong. buff.ly/Nfn5oti

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Cut first, measure later: Watchdogs find problems across foreign affairs agency reorganizations

Among the findings, the inspector general for the State Department reported that the government is spending $3.2 million biweekly on administrative leave for employees who received reduction in force…

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GovExec @govexec.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

A $55 million watchdog budget is being cut to $20 million, a move the FHFA inspector general says could force an 80% staffing reduction. Sean Michael Newhouse gets into what follows and why Democratic leaders are calling for FHFA chief Bill Pulte to resign. buff.ly/BQXNJA4

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Housing finance agency chief moves to slash watchdog’s budget, leading Democrats to demand his resignation

The Federal Housing Finance Agency inspector general said that budget cuts would force the office to reduce its staffing by up to 80% and effectively stop criminal investigations.

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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

(Also ::leans in, cups mouth, whispers:: we are not Nextgov. Send Nextgov pitches to Nextgov.)

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

We’re particularly interested in pieces that offer a fresh perspective on issues affecting the federal workforce and the way government operates, with concrete ideas about what agencies, managers or policymakers should do. Problems AND solutions, people!

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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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