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.
Policy
What defense employees can expect if the government shuts down
Here's what would happen to feds' pay and benefits if House Republicans force a shutdown on Oct. 1.
- Erich Wagner
Policy
5.2% Pay Bump for Troops, Feds in 2024 Budget Proposal
The largest proposed pay raise for federal employees since the Carter administration still falls short of the demands of some Democrats and unions.
- Erich Wagner
Policy
Cutting Pentagon Jobs Won't Stop the Real Waste, Union Says
Lawmakers should reject pressure to fund underperforming weapons and service contracts, AFGE officials said.
- Erich Wagner
Policy
House Republicans Vote to Turn Back Time on Telework
The SHOW UP Act would require federal agencies to revert to their pre-pandemic telework policies.
- Erich Wagner
Threats
Former Acting DOD Comptroller Accused of Sexual Harassment, Using N-Word
The Pentagon inspector general's office says it substantiated several allegations against Douglas Glenn, now CFO at the Office of Personnel Management.
- Erich Wagner
Policy
Defense Civilians To Get Average 4.6% Pay Raise in 2023
Biden formalizes plan to raise federal workers' pay.
- Erich Wagner
Policy
Rolling Back Trump's Workforce Policies Won't Be Simple
President-elect Biden has vowed to rescind on his first day a series of Trump-era directives aimed at weakening federal labor unions and politicizing the civil service, but repairing the damage could take much longer.
- Erich Wagner
Policy
Administration Rushes Out Guidelines for Ending Civil Service Protections
Just two days after the executive order, initial instructions are issued on converting career federal policy-making positions to at-will appointments.
- Erich Wagner
Policy
‘Stunning’ Executive Order Enables Politicized Civil Service
President Trump's new directive allows thousands of federal jobs now filled through competition to be turned into at-will positions.
- Erich Wagner
Threats
Wear Homemade Masks If You Can't Get Real Ones, Pentagon Tells Its People
N95 respirators and surgical masks will be reserved for health care workers and patients, the Defense Department said in a series of memos this week.
- Erich Wagner
Ideas
DOD Civilians Would Get 1% Pay Raise Under 2021 Budget Proposal
That's more than the Trump administration's 2020 request, which would have frozen wages, but less than the 3.1% average pay increase enacted by Congress.
- Erich Wagner, Government Business Council
Policy
The Government is Spending $90 Million a Day to Pay People Not to Work
The government’s debt to furloughed workers has already surpassed the payroll costs related to the 2013 shutdown.
- Erich Wagner
Threats
Homeland Security Warns Its Employees of Increased Threats to Them
Acting DHS DepSec says recent days have seen an uptick "in response to U.S. government actions surrounding immigration."
- Erich Wagner
Threats
As Clearance Backlog Soars Past 710,000, Senators Want to Know Why
A nearly four-fold increase has people waiting more than a year for top-secret clearance.
- Erich Wagner
Policy
Defense Bill Compromise Boosts 2018 Military Pay Raise
Democrats vow a fight for civilian pay parity.
- Erich Wagner
Policy
Trump Budget Includes 1.9 Percent Pay Raise for Civilians, Retirement Cuts
Military personnel would see a 2.1 percent pay increase in 2018 under the proposal.
- Erich Wagner
Threats
Mattis Fills Key Executive Positions at the Pentagon
Former official: Defense Secretary James Mattis’ political SES appointments are mainstream choices.
- Erich Wagner