http://www.govexec.comKellie Lunney covers federal pay and benefits issues, the budget process and financial management. After starting her career in journalism at <i>Government Executive</i> in 2000, she returned in 2008 after four years at sister publication <i>National Journal</i> writing profiles of influential Washingtonians. In 2006, she received a fellowship at the Ohio State University through the Kiplinger Public Affairs in Journalism program, where she worked on a project that looked at rebuilding affordable housing in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. She has appeared on C-SPAN’s <i>Washington Journal</i>, NPR and Feature Story News, where she participated in a weekly radio roundtable on the 2008 presidential campaign. In the late 1990s, she worked at the Housing and Urban Development Department as a career employee. She is a graduate of Colgate University.en-usTue, 21 May 2013 15:56:38 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/agriculture-close-avoiding-furloughs/63407/Senate appropriators approve request to shift funds; House lawmakers will render decision by Thursday.Kellie LunneyTue, 21 May 2013 15:56:38 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/agriculture-close-avoiding-furloughs/63407/Pay & BenefitsIllinois farmer Jacob Hermes uses a combine to harvest his winter wheat crop.Seth Perlman/APhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/customs-and-border-employees-might-escape-furloughs/63317/Lawmakers have until mid-June to approve a request to shift funds within agency’s budget.Kellie LunneyMon, 20 May 2013 15:49:37 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/customs-and-border-employees-might-escape-furloughs/63317/Pay & BenefitsA Customs and Border Patrol agent and a security dog keep watch at a checkpoint in Falfurrias, Texas.Eric Gay/APhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/treasury-taps-federal-retirement-coffers-again/63302/‘Extraordinary’ debt ceiling measure has become more ordinary in recent years.Kellie LunneyMon, 20 May 2013 14:15:18 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/treasury-taps-federal-retirement-coffers-again/63302/Pay & BenefitsTreasury Secretary Jack LewMolly Riley/APhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/senior-exec-bonuses-targeted/63253/Bipartisan bill would prohibit performance awards for top civil servants during sequester.Kellie LunneyFri, 17 May 2013 15:07:36 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/senior-exec-bonuses-targeted/63253/Pay & BenefitsJeff Roberson/APhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/05/bill-would-allow-retirees-keep-tricare-prime-access/63187/Defense plans to switch 171,000 enrollees to a different plan on Oct. 1 because of downsizing.Kellie LunneyWed, 15 May 2013 16:49:09 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/05/bill-would-allow-retirees-keep-tricare-prime-access/63187/DefenseThinkstockhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/mspb-rejects-unions-plea-advisory-opinion-furloughs/63163/Group sought a preemptive opinion on possible appeals from Defense employees.Kellie LunneyTue, 14 May 2013 16:53:12 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/mspb-rejects-unions-plea-advisory-opinion-furloughs/63163/Pay & BenefitsAfrica Studio/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/05/al-gore-feds-have-americas-back/63142/Civil servants, good government management remain as important as ever to democracy, says former veep.Kellie LunneyMon, 13 May 2013 18:04:52 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/05/al-gore-feds-have-americas-back/63142/ManagementSarah Scully/GovExec.comhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/05/obama-says-he-wont-tolerate-wrongdoing-irs/63137/President will hold employees accountable if they intentionally targeted political groups.Kellie LunneyMon, 13 May 2013 13:42:50 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/05/obama-says-he-wont-tolerate-wrongdoing-irs/63137/OversightPablo Martinez Monsivais/APhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/05/bill-aims-protect-military-sex-assault-victims/63109/Measure strengthens whistleblower rights for service members who report sexual violence.Kellie LunneyFri, 10 May 2013 14:42:12 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/05/bill-aims-protect-military-sex-assault-victims/63109/DefenseDefense Department file photohttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/05/house-passes-debt-limit-bill/63069/Legislation would direct Treasury to prioritize debt, Social Security payments if government hits debt limit.Kellie LunneyThu, 09 May 2013 11:43:35 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/05/house-passes-debt-limit-bill/63069/OversightPablo Martinez Monsivais/AP File Photohttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/pay-benefits-watch/2013/05/doing-math-unpaid-leave/63048/Figure out how much furloughs will cost you.Kellie LunneyThu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/pay-benefits-watch/2013/05/doing-math-unpaid-leave/63048/Pay & Benefits - Pay & Benefits Watchhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/05/house-vote-debt-ceiling-bill/63021/Legislation would direct Treasury to prioritize debt, Social Security payments if government hits debt limit.Kellie LunneyTue, 07 May 2013 15:24:22 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/05/house-vote-debt-ceiling-bill/63021/OversightPablo Martinez Monsivais/AP File Photohttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/april-brings-reprieve-federal-retirement-applications/62992/OPM received 31 percent fewer new claims last month than in March.Kellie LunneyMon, 06 May 2013 13:21:17 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/april-brings-reprieve-federal-retirement-applications/62992/Pay & BenefitsIoana Davies/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/05/uncle-sam-loses-4900-jobs-april/62969/Retirements, hiring freezes and budget cuts hit agencies.Kellie LunneyFri, 03 May 2013 15:58:37 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/05/uncle-sam-loses-4900-jobs-april/62969/ManagementJim Barber/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/05/agriculture-department-might-escape-furloughs/62928/Farm Service Agency is latest to be spared; Rural Development employees will know their fate by late May.Kellie LunneyWed, 01 May 2013 17:07:09 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/05/agriculture-department-might-escape-furloughs/62928/ManagementDr. Sam Simon chops corn on his dairy farm outside Hyde Park, N.Y.Jim McKnight/AP File Photohttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/tsp-funds-stay-positive-april/62920/International stocks experienced the highest returns, earning 5.32 percent last month.Kellie LunneyWed, 01 May 2013 13:50:34 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/05/tsp-funds-stay-positive-april/62920/Pay & Benefits ImageTeam/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/innovation-government-dips/62871/Analysis shows employees are motivated to improve their performance but don’t feel empowered.Kellie LunneyMon, 29 Apr 2013 18:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/innovation-government-dips/62871/Management Adchariyaphoto/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/no-furloughs-justice/62783/Employees won’t have to take unpaid leave because of sequestration in fiscal 2013.Kellie LunneyThu, 25 Apr 2013 10:46:55 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/no-furloughs-justice/62783/Pay & BenefitsThe Justice Department headquarters in Washington.Alex Brandon/APhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/pay-benefits-watch/2013/04/could-be-year-federal-pension-reform/62761/Deficit hawks still believe changes to the federal civilian and military retirement systems could yield sizable savings.Kellie LunneyThu, 25 Apr 2013 02:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/pay-benefits-watch/2013/04/could-be-year-federal-pension-reform/62761/Pay & Benefits - Pay & Benefits Watchhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/justice-wins-flexibility-avert-furloughs/62764/Appropriators approve department’s request to shift money in budget to pay employee salaries.Kellie LunneyWed, 24 Apr 2013 15:59:28 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/justice-wins-flexibility-avert-furloughs/62764/Pay & BenefitsAttorney General Eric HolderEvan Vucci/APhttp://www.govexec.com/federal-news/fedblog/2013/04/flotus-feds-youre-invisible/62725/First Lady’s well-meaning remark to Interior employees draws laughs.Kellie LunneyTue, 23 Apr 2013 14:34:01 -0400http://www.govexec.com/federal-news/fedblog/2013/04/flotus-feds-youre-invisible/62725/News - FedblogCarolyn Kaster/APhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/obama-budget-would-increase-federal-workforce/62722/Additional staff proposed for Homeland Security, VA among other agencies.Kellie LunneyTue, 23 Apr 2013 13:49:51 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/obama-budget-would-increase-federal-workforce/62722/ManagementJacquelyn Martin/APhttp://www.govexec.com/technology/2013/04/va-will-fast-track-oldest-claims/62673/Vets waiting a year or longer for benefits will receive priority.Kellie LunneyFri, 19 Apr 2013 16:20:43 -0400http://www.govexec.com/technology/2013/04/va-will-fast-track-oldest-claims/62673/Technologylenetstan/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/senators-pentagon-let-services-avoid-furloughs-if-they-can/62628/Lawmakers question Defense approach to apply unpaid leave across-the-board.Kellie LunneyThu, 18 Apr 2013 13:24:45 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/senators-pentagon-let-services-avoid-furloughs-if-they-can/62628/Pay & BenefitsMaine Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King are questioning the department’s approach to spread furloughs evenly among affected employees to maintain fairness and possibly to avoid legal action. J. Scott Applewhite/APhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/furloughs-begin-across-executive-branch/62599/Labor, OMB employees among those starting unpaid leave.Kellie LunneyWed, 17 Apr 2013 14:41:49 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/furloughs-begin-across-executive-branch/62599/ManagementLabor Department headquartersFlickr user americanbackroom.com