Author Archive
Erich Wagner
Erich Wagner is a senior correspondent covering pay, benefits, organized labor and other federal workforce issues. He joined Government Executive in the spring of 2017 after extensive experience writing about state and local issues in Maryland and Virginia, most recently as editor-in-chief of the Alexandria Times. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.
Erich Wagner is a senior correspondent covering pay, benefits, organized labor and other federal workforce issues. He joined Government Executive in the spring of 2017 after extensive experience writing about state and local issues in Maryland and Virginia, most recently as editor-in-chief of the Alexandria Times. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.
Workforce
NTEU becomes latest federal worker union to endorse Harris
Unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO previously swapped out their Biden endorsements for the vice president shortly after he announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential campaign in July.
- Erich Wagner
Pay & Benefits
Senators push to avert pay cliff looming over overseas Foreign Service officers in stopgap spending deal
Foreign Service officers stationed outside the U.S. could see an average pay cut of 22% if the provision undergirding legislation aimed at ensuring commensurate pay between overseas federal workers and their domestically located counterparts is not reauthorized.
- Erich Wagner
Workforce
Congressional committees tackle bills governing telework, marijuana and labor unions
While a Senate panel advanced bills improving telework data reporting by federal agencies and codifying the end of the restriction on federal employees’ past use of marijuana, its House counterpart advanced controversial bills aimed at busting federal employee unions and adding leading questions to the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.
- Erich Wagner
Workforce
Former executives warn Schedule F poses risk to national security
Even if not maximally pursued initially, experts said the effort to replace nonpartisan workers in policy jobs with political loyalists could make presidential transitions even more precarious.
- Erich Wagner
Management
Trump’s second-term agenda: Breaking the bureaucracy
If elected this fall, Donald Trump's return to Washington would promise a more aggressive—and plausible—campaign to hobble unions, politicize the nonpartisan civil service and remake the federal government in the Republican’s image.
- Erich Wagner
Workforce
O’Malley makes last ditch effort to secure Biden’s budget proposal for Social Security
The commissioner said that without a budget anomaly to boost funding at the agency, the Social Security Administration would need to institute a hiring freeze and would see its workforce fall to a 50-year low.
- Erich Wagner
Pay & Benefits
Lawmakers file discharge petition to repeal controversial tax rule affecting federal retirees
The Social Security Fairness Act has broad bipartisan support both in Congress and among federal employee unions.
- Erich Wagner
Management
There is little consensus in Washington on spending following August recess
The House last weekend unveiled a continuing resolution that would fund federal programs for six months at fiscal 2024 levels and institute new voter ID provisions, a nonstarter for Democrats.
- Erich Wagner
Oversight
MSPB to update rules to make operations smoother without a quorum
An interim final rule slated for publication next week updates the Merit Systems Protection Board’s procedures to allow the agency to take more actions without a full slate of political appointees.
- Erich Wagner
Management
Trump vows to establish an 'efficiency commission' with Elon Musk at the helm
The former president said the Tesla CEO has “agreed” to head up a task force aimed at cutting federal programs.
- Erich Wagner
Workforce
D.C. lawmaker reintroduces measure to grant whistleblower, OSHA protections to congressional workers
The Congress Leads by Example Act would afford employees of the legislative branch whistleblower and OSHA retaliation protections, along with parental bereavement leave benefits.
- Erich Wagner
Management
Biden administration seeks more Social Security funding, election and transition provisions in possible CR
The Office of Management and Budget made the requests as part of the process by which the White House and Congress prepare for the potential need to pass a short-term continuing resolution in September.
- Erich Wagner
Pay & Benefits
All TSP portfolios posted modest gains in August
Each of the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program’s investment options gained value for the second straight month.
- Erich Wagner
Pay & Benefits
Biden formally announces 2% average pay raise for feds in 2025
The president each August must declare an “economic emergency” to prevent large automatic increases to locality pay from taking effect, in accordance with the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act.
- Erich Wagner
Pay & Benefits
OPM reminds agencies to grant feds leave to vote
Federal workers are entitled to up to four hours of paid administrative leave to go to the polls, thanks to an executive order signed by President Biden in 2021.
- Erich Wagner
Workforce
Trump calls federal workforce 'crooked,' vows to hold them 'accountable'
In an interview with a right-wing Youtuber, the former president seemingly alluded to reviving Schedule F and other Trump-era policies aimed at making it easier to fire federal employees.
- Erich Wagner
Pay & Benefits
House lawmakers plan to force a vote on bill to kill provision that cuts some feds' retirement pay
The Social Security Fairness Act would abolish two tax provisions that reduce retirement benefits for some federal workers.
- Erich Wagner
Management
Social Security to finalize rules making expanded phone and video hearings permanent
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the agency quickly pivoted toward offering disability determination hearings by phone and video, options that remain popular today.
- Erich Wagner
Workforce
The other time an administration sought a ‘more responsive’ federal workforce
An investigator into the Nixon administration’s civil service abuses says Schedule F shares a lineage with the disgraced former president.
- Erich Wagner
Management
GSA will update its property management regulations to reflect gender inclusive pronouns
The agency previously adopted similar updates to regulations governing federal travel earlier this year.
- Erich Wagner