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-usWed, 01 May 2013 17:07:09 -0400http://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.comhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/04/bill-aims-give-agencies-furlough-flexibility/62558/Legislation would exempt 'essential employees' from unpaid leave by following government shutdown guidance.Kellie LunneyTue, 16 Apr 2013 13:57:34 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/04/bill-aims-give-agencies-furlough-flexibility/62558/OversightSen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.J. Scott Applewhite/APhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/04/house-rejects-bill-would-allow-uncle-sam-fire-federal-tax-cheats/62544/Chamber passes measure prohibiting contracts with delinquent firms.Kellie LunneyMon, 15 Apr 2013 19:48:48 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/04/house-rejects-bill-would-allow-uncle-sam-fire-federal-tax-cheats/62544/OversightRep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, revived a bill earlier this year that he shepherded through the House during the 112th Congress.Rick Bowmer/APhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/memorial-remembers-feds-killed-job/62480/Wall of Honor at OPM pays tribute to civilians across federal government.Kellie LunneyFri, 12 Apr 2013 16:05:40 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/memorial-remembers-feds-killed-job/62480/Management“The people that we remember today loved their country. They loved their neighbors. They loved their nation,” said John Berry.Sarah Scully/GovExec.comhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/senior-execs-finances-wont-go-online/62472/Congress ends STOCK Act disclosure requirement for career employees.Kellie LunneyFri, 12 Apr 2013 13:30:03 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/senior-execs-finances-wont-go-online/62472/Managementbloomua/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/opm-director-berry-bids-farewell-employees/62441/General Counsel Elaine Kaplan will take over as acting head of the agency next week.Kellie LunneyThu, 11 Apr 2013 13:41:51 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/opm-director-berry-bids-farewell-employees/62441/Pay & BenefitsOPM file photohttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/pay-benefits-watch/2013/04/mixed-budget-bag-feds/62412/Obama’s fiscal 2014 plan recommends a pay raise, but also a pension contribution hike from employees.Kellie LunneyThu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/pay-benefits-watch/2013/04/mixed-budget-bag-feds/62412/Pay & Benefits - Pay & Benefits Watchhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/obama-budget-increases-feds-pension-contributions/62409/Proposal would raise the amount employees pay toward pensions by 1.2 percent over three years.Kellie LunneyWed, 10 Apr 2013 14:11:01 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/obama-budget-increases-feds-pension-contributions/62409/Pay & BenefitsThinkstockhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/obama-seeks-1-percent-pay-raise-feds/62400/Fiscal 2014 budget plan also proposes a 1 percent salary increase for military.Kellie LunneyWed, 10 Apr 2013 11:51:01 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/obama-seeks-1-percent-pay-raise-feds/62400/Pay & BenefitsJ. Scott Applewhite/APhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/senior-execs-group-baffled-bonus-policy/62367/OMB tells agencies to withhold certain monetary awards during the sequester unless lawyers deem them legally required.Kellie LunneyTue, 09 Apr 2013 10:33:16 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/senior-execs-group-baffled-bonus-policy/62367/Pay & BenefitsLev Kropotov/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/retirement-claims-continue-surge/62346/OPM received more than double the number of new applications in March than it anticipated.Kellie LunneyMon, 08 Apr 2013 17:50:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/retirement-claims-continue-surge/62346/Pay & BenefitsOtnaYdur/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/watchdog-millions-katrina-aid-unaccounted/62312/IG says Louisiana can’t prove money was spent to elevate homes.Kellie LunneyFri, 05 Apr 2013 11:14:48 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/watchdog-millions-katrina-aid-unaccounted/62312/ManagementThis aerial photo from 2005 shows the devastation caused by the high winds and heavy flooding in the greater New Orleans area following Hurricane Katrina.Vincent Laforet/AP File Photohttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/petition-seeks-student-loan-help-feds/62294/We the People request asks administration to forgive some debt to offset pay freeze.Kellie LunneyThu, 04 Apr 2013 14:46:14 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/petition-seeks-student-loan-help-feds/62294/Pay & Benefitshxdbzxy/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/survey-feds-lose-faith-leaders/62267/Government employees rank leadership lower than pay and work-life balance.Kellie LunneyWed, 03 Apr 2013 18:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2013/04/survey-feds-lose-faith-leaders/62267/Managementiluistrator/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/03/justice-postpones-furlough-decision-mid-april/62185/Attorney general is still weighing unpaid leave for employees because of sequestration.Kellie LunneyFri, 29 Mar 2013 13:11:48 -0400http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/03/justice-postpones-furlough-decision-mid-april/62185/Pay & BenefitsAttorney General Eric HolderEvan Vucci/AP