Public Policy
Regulation, trade, government and security, read for what they do to the businesses that have to live with them.
Public Policy is the vertical for the decisions made in capitals that land on companies. Regulation, trade and tariffs, elections and government, antitrust, and healthcare policy are the beats, and geopolitics and security appear when they change what a business can plan for. Three stories each weekday at 11, in our own words, linked to the publisher. We choose for the reader who has to model a policy risk rather than argue about it: the general counsel, the head of government affairs, the founder selling into a market whose rules are moving. Sources range from newspapers to think tanks and academic institutes, and we say which is which. The editor’s note beneath the day’s lead explains the choice and what to watch as the policy moves from proposal to enforcement.
Picture credit: By Touch Of Light - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=158822157
Every story we have kept in Public Policy, newest first. Headlines link to the publisher; the tags below narrow the list.
Trump’s new Education IG nominee continues dizzying run of leadership changes at the watchdog office
President Trump nominated Mark Priebe, the acting inspector general, to permanently lead the Education Department's Office of Inspector General, the watchdog's fourth leadership change since early 2025. Predecessor nominee Heidi Semann had her nomination withdrawn in September after earlier IGs Sandra Bruce and Rene Rocque departed or were replaced.
Editor's noteTrump's Education IG nominee is a symptom of a deeper problem: a disregard for the independence of watchdog agencies. Watch whether Priebe's confirmation is followed by a reduction in the number of IGs fired by the administration, which would indicate a genuine commitment to oversight or just another revolving door.
GSA is losing a key digital modernization leader
Mike Lynch, GSA's deputy administrator, is departing for the private sector after 20 months leading the agency's OneGov software-discount program, the USAi AI-access platform, and an automation initiative called the million hours challenge. Administrator Ed Forst credited Lynch with accelerating GSA's technology adoption efforts.
Eleventh Circuit Upholds Restriction on Referring to "Settlement" of Trump v. IRS,
The Eleventh Circuit upheld a restriction on calling the Trump v. IRS outcome a settlement. The district court had found the parties not adverse and imposed non-monetary sanctions on them and two attorneys after a $1.776 billion deal announced by the Justice Department.
Editor's noteThe Eleventh Circuit's ruling on Trump v. IRS is a warning to litigants that courts will scrutinize settlements for improper motives. Watch the Treasury's payment schedule, as any delay or irregularity could revive the court's investigation into the settlement's legitimacy.
FAA asks Congress for $30B to finish air traffic control modernization
FAA requested $30 billion from Congress to complete air traffic control modernization, adding to the $12.5 billion already appropriated. A new Senate bill from Eric Schmitt maps out a common automation platform, cloud infrastructure, and controller safety tools, targeting 2028 completion.
Lawmaker warns intelligence contractors' Trump ballroom donations may be scrutinized
Rep. Jim Himes warned that intelligence contractors including Booz Allen Hamilton, Palantir, Lockheed Martin, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft could face congressional scrutiny over donations to Trump's White House ballroom project, citing concerns about fused political favors and federal contracting.
A Few More Thoughts On The Missouri Ruling
A legal commentator criticizes the Supreme Court's stay in the Missouri redistricting dispute, faulting its vague standing finding, thin merits reasoning, and reliance on late-election equities, while noting an Eighth Circuit judge's complaint about unclear emergency orders.
Editor's noteThe Missouri ruling's vague standing finding and thin merits reasoning reveal a Court that's prioritizing electoral stability over constitutional clarity. Watch whether the Court's reliance on late-election equities in future cases leads to a slippery slope of judicial deference to executive branch decisions.
TRO Issued Ordering Reinstatement of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico White House Access
A federal judge ordered the White House to reinstate press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico after the administration revoked them without notice or a chance to respond.
Editor's noteA court ordering credentials reinstated within days of revocation is the system working exactly as designed, and that is itself the news: the remedy for retaliation against a newsroom already exists and was used. Watch whether the order survives an appeal before calling this settled.
FLRA ruling puts ball back in courts’ court on Trump’s union EOs
A Federal Labor Relations Authority ruling found federal unions cannot challenge Trump's executive orders administratively, steering disputes toward the federal courts instead.
Editor's notePushing labor disputes from an administrative body into federal courts is slower and more expensive for the side with less money, which is rarely management. Watch whether union litigation budgets, not just union arguments, become the story that decides these cases.
Three Mistakes That Made Donald Trump
A former White House communications official argues three earlier policy mistakes -- trade protectionism, costly interventions, and uneven bank bailouts -- paved the way for Trump.
President Trump's Legal Argument in Support of Excluding CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House
The Trump administration argues it may restrict journalist access to the White House, citing professional-standards violations and limited press room capacity.
Editor's noteRestricting access on professional-standards grounds is a discretionary lever dressed up as a neutral rule, and discretionary levers get used again once a precedent exists. Watch which outlets lose access next and whether the stated reason keeps changing to fit each new exclusion.
Congress — not the president — should appoint the next GAO head, bipartisan coalition argues
A bipartisan coalition of government-watchdog and advocacy groups urged Congress to strip the president from choosing the next Government Accountability Office comptroller general, citing the vacancy left by Gene Dodaro's retirement.
Lawmakers call on leadership to override Trump’s planned pay freeze
A bipartisan coalition of 110 lawmakers led by Rep. James Walkinshaw and Sen. Chris Van Hollen urged Congress to reject Trump's proposed 2027 federal civilian pay freeze, citing recruitment risks and inflation.
MSNBC Pundit's Tweet Accusing Lawyer of "Coach[ing]" Jan. 6 Hearing Witness "to Lie" Wasn't Negligent
A federal judge ruled MSNBC commentator Andrew Weissmann's tweet accusing lawyer Stefan Passantino of coaching January 6 witness Cassidy Hutchinson to lie was not defamatory, finding the claim adequately supported by sworn testimony.
More ‘Big Balls’-type young feds are what the OPM chief wants
OPM Director Scott Kupor says he wants more young, non-degreed federal hires like DOGE alum Edward Coristine, expecting short two-to-three-year tenures before recruits move to the private sector.
New in SCOTUSBlog: "Break The Supreme Court Law Clerk Cartel"
Law professor Josh Blackman proposes Supreme Court clerk reforms in SCOTUSBlog: mandatory post-clerkship public service, justices rotating through regional courthouses, and barring clerks from discussing cases across chambers.
DHS secretary defends smaller FEMA workforce after judge challenges 50% staffing cut plans
DHS Secretary Mullin defended FEMA's reduced staffing as efficient, after a federal judge ruled the department unlawfully ordered a 50% workforce cut that had already shed 4,300 jobs.
Editor's noteA court has already called the cut unlawful and four thousand three hundred people have already gone. The secretary's defence of it is therefore the news: the department is arguing efficiency for a reduction a federal judge said it had no lawful authority to order at all.
First Circuit Refuses to Stay District Court Injunction Against Trump's Executive Order on Mail-In Voting
The First Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused to stay a district court injunction blocking Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting, ruling the Postal Service rule oversteps constitutional election authority.
Donald Trump Hasn't Violated Twenty-Second Amendment
A federal magistrate rejected a lawsuit claiming Trump violated the Twenty-Second Amendment, ruling his 2020 election claims do not retroactively change that Biden won that year's vote.
Trump's Executive Order on Mail-in Ballots is an Assault on Federalism and Separation of Powers
Legal analysis argues Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting via USPS oversteps federal authority, as a district judge blocked it and the administration appealed again to the Supreme Court.
The U.S.-Led Middle East Order Is Over. The Mecca Agreement Proves It.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey formed a defense pact, demonstrating declining U.S. influence in the Middle East and regional powers establishing independent security arrangements.
Tracking My Son to His Grave: Nina’s Story
Documentary follows Ukrainian mother Nina searching for her son, captured during 2014 Donetsk airport battle. She uses video evidence to confirm his execution, highlighting cellphone footage's role in war crimes investigations.
A path toward sustainable security in Colombia
Atlantic Council releases issue brief examining approaches to achieving sustainable security and peace in Colombia through policy analysis and recommendations.
Editor's notePolicy briefs on Colombia are usually written for Bogota. This one is worth the lead slot because sustainable security is the test case for whether a negotiated peace can hold without permanent external funding, and the answer travels well beyond the country it is about.
‘ICJobs:’ Intel community gets new classified jobs portal
Intelligence community launches classified jobs portal to recruit talent for positions requiring security clearances, addressing staffing needs in AI and national security operations.
Leaders’ Medical Secrecy Harms Public Trust
Lack of transparency regarding leaders' medical conditions undermines public confidence by suggesting hidden forces control governance without accountability or public oversight.
How I Got My Career in Foreign Policy: Sadanand Dhume
Sadanand Dhume, a former foreign correspondent and author, joined the Council on Foreign Relations as senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia, discussing his coverage of economic, extremist, and international relations issues.
Apple Hires Airline Exec as Vice President of Government Affairs
Apple hired Nick Gatten, a former American Airlines executive, as vice president of government affairs. He will assume duties from retiring Katherine Adams and report to general counsel Jennifer Newstead.
Editor's noteApple’s new head of government affairs comes from an airline rather than a law firm or a lobby, and that led Public Policy because of what it says about the years ahead: operational, global and constant. Airlines are regulated in every jurisdiction they land in, a relevant CV for a company now regulated everywhere at once.
Braw in Al Jazeera on Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian port infrastructure
Atlantic Council expert Braw provided commentary to Al Jazeera regarding Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Russian port infrastructure, analyzing military strategy and operational impacts.
America’s Fatal Attraction to War
The article examines why U.S. presidents face incentives to employ military force, analyzing the structural and political factors that encourage military intervention as a policy tool.
Why We Should Fight
Article discusses areas where Trump made mistakes, without providing specific policy details or substantive arguments in the provided excerpt.
