Congressional Procedures
The Senate Filibuster: What It Is and Why It’s Controversial
President Donald Trump wrote his party's leaders in the Senate: "It is now time for the Republicans to play their 'TRUMP CARD,'" he wrote, "and go…
Government Reform
Government reform is the effort to change how government is organized, runs, or makes decisions so that it works better or fits a different view of its role. It covers changes to legislative procedures, agencies and programs, regulation, and the rules for holding office. Reform ideas come from presidents, Congress, think tanks, and voters, and supporters and critics often disagree on both goals and methods.
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October 6last updated
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The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
Latest in Government Reform
Presidential Actions
Federal Programs Eliminated Between January and September 2025
The Trump administration made changes to federal programs, offices, and initiatives between January and September 2025. The changes affected multiple policy areas including health care, environment,…
Department of Homeland Security
America’s Homeland Security Report Card: How DHS Is Tested
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States undertook its most significant government reorganization in over half a century. The new Department of Homeland Security…
Business Regulation
What is Deregulation? A Simple Guide
Deregulation involves the deliberate removal or reduction of government rules and restrictions within specific industries. This process can only happen through legislation passed by Congress, executive…
Topics in Government Reform
All Articles on Government Reform
President’s Management Agenda: How the U.S. Government Tries to Reform Itself
The President's Management Agenda is the federal government's strategic plan for improving its own operations. It represents a presidential administration's formal vision for how…
What Project 2025 Proposed for the Federal Government
Project 2025 proposed changes to federal agencies, presidential power, taxes and benefits, with distinct legal steps needed to put them into effect.
How Policy Changes in America: Big Leaps vs. Small Steps
Is policy change typically gradual adjustments, or are there periods of rapid, large‑scale change? The way laws and government programs come into being and…
Sunset Laws vs. Permanent Regulations: Why Some Rules Have Expiration Dates and Others Don’t
When Congress creates a new law or when federal agencies write new regulations, lawmakers face a crucial choice: Should these rules last forever, or…
Public or Private? The Battle Over America’s Essential Services
Every day, Americans interact with services that could be run by either government or private companies. The water from your tap, your child's school,…
Lobbying vs. Grassroots Advocacy: How Citizens Can Influence Government
When Americans want to influence government policy, they have two main paths: professional lobbying or grassroots advocacy. While both aim to shape decisions in…
How the Postal Reform Act Affects Your Mail Service
Congress enacted the Postal Reform Act of 2022 to modernize USPS and secure its future. This article explains the Act and how it affects…
Challenges Facing the U.S. Department of Commerce
The 21st century brought new challenges, including a weakening industrial base, rising inequality, and the increasing impacts of climate change.
Challenges Facing the Department of Defense
The Department of Defense faces challenges from maintaining military readiness to confronting new forms of warfare.
Challenges Facing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Recent years have tested the CDC. The COVID-19 pandemic in particular exposed and intensified a range of challenges.