Author Archive

Jory Heckman

Senior Reporter

Jory Heckman
Jory Heckman is a senior reporter covering federal agency leadership and management, congressional oversight, appropriations, government shutdowns and major civilian agencies. He joined Government Executive in July 2026 after nearly 12 years of covering federal workforce issues at Federal News Network. He graduated from Hofstra University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and political science. He also studied political science at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He’s run seven marathons in four countries, and officiated three weddings.
Artificial Intelligence

State Department orders ‘super intelligence’ wording across all official communications

An internal cable from the agency extends Trump’s terminology change to emails, speeches, websites and official titles, while preserving legal language and historical records.

  • By David DiMolfetta and Jory Heckman
Artificial Intelligence

OPM revamps online pay tables, spearheads AI adoption across federal workforce 

The agency's CIO Adam Starr described the pay table refresh as part of a broader plan to “make every part of the federal experience tech-first."

  • By Jory Heckman
Artificial Intelligence

Tax chief pushes 'AI-first IRS' to get more out of agency's workforce

The IRS made more than 4,000 hires this year, but its headcount remains mostly unchanged after cutting more than a quarter of its workforce last year.  

  • By Jory Heckman
Modernization

Supreme Court keeps USPS from carrying out mail-in voting changes in midterm elections

Postmaster General David Steiner previously told Government Executive that USPS would comply if the courts decided to block these changes.

  • By Jory Heckman
Policy

Shutdown threat possibly lifted as House passes stopgap spending bill

The measure gives Congress more time to reach a deal on a comprehensive spending package for fiscal 2027.

  • By Jory Heckman
Artificial Intelligence

Labor looks to AI to tackle accommodation requests from disabled employees

Employees say they’ve waited months or longer for decisions, as the Labor Department considers using AI to sort requests and flag missing documentation.

  • By Jory Heckman
People

OPM shrinks its workforce by a third, seeks further staffing cuts

The agency is giving employees in its healthcare and insurance division another shot at opting into the deferred resignation program.

  • By Jory Heckman