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.
CXO Briefing
Congressional Democrats Propose an 8.7% Pay Raise for Feds in 2024
The annually introduced bill would provide a 4.7% across-the-board increase in basic pay and an average 4% increase to locality pay.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
OPM Has Replaced Its Embattled CFO Following Harassment Report
The Defense Department inspector general recently substantiated complaints that the senior executive sexually harassed subordinates and used racial slurs.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
OPM Guidance Lays Out Vision for ‘Exceptional’ Internship Programs at Agencies
Agencies should expand the number of interns they hire each year, among other things.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
OPM Official Accused of Using N-Word, Sexual Harassment During His Tenure at Defense
OPM said it is reviewing the inspector general’s report.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
These Are the Agencies that Saw the Biggest Losses in Employee Satisfaction in 2022, and the Few that Saw Gains
Only 10 agencies with at least 100 employees saw improvements to their job satisfaction score in the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, and no agencies with at least 10,000 workers gained ground.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
OPM Has Authorized Another Round of Paid Leave For Feds to Get COVID-19 Boosters
As part of the Biden administration’s efforts to encourage Americans to receive the latest COVID-19 booster, federal workers will get up to four hours of paid leave for the shot.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
EEOC to Propose Rules Codifying Electronic Filing Options for Feds
Although the agency that investigates complaints of workplace discrimination has offered the option to file documents and track cases electronically for years, its regulations do not specifically endorse the current system.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
It's Official: Biden Formalizes Average 4.6% Pay Raise Plan for Feds in 2023
The annual declaration of a national emergency preventing large automatic pay increases from taking effect confirms that 0.5% of the total pay raise will go to an average increase in locality pay.
- By Erich Wagner
News
Agencies Are Responding to the Supreme Court's Abortion Ruling. Here's How.
Hundreds of thousands of federal employees’ access to in-state reproductive health services disappeared Friday after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
Coming Soon: More Regs and Bills to Help Modernize the Federal Workforce
Reforms will ease the process of everything from attracting new talent to processing retirement claims, says OPM Director Kiran Ahuja.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
A House Panel Advances Legislation Encouraging Telework at Agencies
The bill would improve training for managers, among other things.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
White House Internships Will Soon Be Paid
The move comes as part of an administration-wide push to improve the recruitment of young federal workers.
- By Erich Wagner
Policy
More Than 60 Democratic Lawmakers Want a 5.1% Raise for Feds
The lawmakers asked the leadership of the House Appropriations Committee to override President Biden’s plan to offer an average 4.6% raise for federal employees in 2023.
- By Erich Wagner
News
Federal Employees Are Growing Less Engaged and Less Satisfied With Their Jobs
Response rates for the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey also fell 10 points from 2020, amid an abbreviated fall survey period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
Biden’s Management Agenda Update Adds Metrics to Workforce Goals
The White House’s first update to the president’s management agenda, first released last November, lines up tasks for agencies and attaches individual officials to goals.
- By Erich Wagner
Policy
Biden Proposes a 4.6% Raise for Federal Workers for 2023
If enacted, the figure would mark the largest pay increase for federal employees in two decades.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
Lawmakers Face a Tight Deadline to Pass Funding Bills
Although appropriators still had not released the text of a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending package Tuesday afternoon, they insisted they would not resort to passing another stopgap measure to keep the government open.
- By Erich Wagner
Policy
A Pay Raise for 67,000 Feds, and More
A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.
- By Erich Wagner
Policy
OPM Issues Guidance to Ensure 67,000 Feds Make at Least $15 per Hour
Agencies have until the end of this month to exercise special pay rates to implement a $15 minimum wage, in accordance with a Biden administration executive order.
- By Erich Wagner
CXO Briefing
Hill Proposal Would Give Federal Employees a 5.1% Average Pay Raise in 2023
A bill from Democratic lawmakers would provide federal workers with a 4.1% across-the-board boost, along with an average 1% increase in locality pay.
- By Erich Wagner