Author Archive

Sean Michael Newhouse

Staff Reporter

Sean Michael Newhouse
Before joining Government Executive in 2024, Sean Michael Newhouse covered House and Senate committees for four years at CQ Roll Call. There, he covered a wide range of issues but took a particular interest in technology policy. He is a graduate of the University of Dayton.
Artificial Intelligence

What the federal workforce could look like with AI government employees

Planning will determine how effectively AI agents are incorporated to streamline agency processes and systems, government technology experts argued.

Digital Government

Veteran suicide hotline employees permitted to work remotely after concerns that in-office requirement would hurt service

One Veterans Crisis Line supervisor said the return to office mandate was creating confusion among staff, presented logistical challenges and could hurt recruitment.

Digital Government

Government shutdown prospects increase after Schumer says Democrats won’t vote for GOP funding bill

Democrats have argued that the shutdown fight is an opportunity to push back on Elon Musk-backed agency spending and staff cuts.

Digital Government

House passes GOP funding bill to avoid government shutdown

The measure now heads to the Senate where it’s uncertain if Democrats will provide the votes needed to avoid a lapse in government funding.

Policy

Judge orders DOGE to comply with FOIA requests

Trump officials have argued that records from the government efficiency initiative fall under the Presidential Records Act, which can temporarily shield information from public scrutiny.

People

Official who safeguards whistleblowers drops lawsuit protesting his firing by Trump

An appeals court had allowed the Trump administration to remove Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger while it heard his case.

People

Many federal employees ordered to submit recent accomplishments for second Musk email

Government workers have been instructed not to include classified or sensitive information in their responses.

Digital Government

Trump DOGE order directs agencies to build tech to track government spending

The executive order directs agencies to build centralized tech systems to “record every payment” issued under grants and contracts.

People

Judge denies federal unions’ request to block mass probationary firings

The federal judge said in a preliminary ruling that the National Treasury Employees Union likely must first bring their challenge to the Federal Labor Relations Authority.

People

Senior Democrat wants to know who in the Trump White House got Top Secret clearance without a complete background check

Trump issued a memo providing temporary security clearances for certain personnel, arguing delays in their vetting were "unacceptable."

People

Trump fires multiple agency inspectors general

At least a dozen were removed, including the IGs for the departments of Defense, State, and Energy, the Washington Post reported.

People

What Trump’s inaugural address means for federal employees

Many of Trump’s expected Day 1 executive orders will impact government workers.

Digital Government

Officials say federal employee background check system overhaul is finally on the right track

The director of the agency primarily responsible for background checks of federal employees said the change in administration likely won’t affect modernization efforts.

People

Fed employee advocate Connolly to lead Democrats on House Oversight Committee

The Virginia Democrat could be a leading opponent to Trump’s plans for overhauling the civil service.

People

Could Biden’s recent strategy to streamline government hiring be scuttled under Trump?

One of the purposes of the administration’s federal hiring improvement plan is to make agencies aware of hiring tools they already have access to.

People

Intelligence IGs head for the exit before Trump’s return

Trump fired five inspectors general during his first administration.

Policy

An agency-by-agency look at Trump's plan to overhaul government

The president-elect's vision will lead to sweeping changes at federal agencies and the employees who work in them.

Policy

Trump and Musk want to create a government efficiency commission. It’s not a new idea

Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton both spearheaded initiatives to reduce government waste and inefficiency, although they went about it in vastly different ways.