Government operations is the day-to-day work of running government. It covers how agencies carry out policy, spend money, buy goods and services, manage property, and respond to crises. It includes routine matters such as holidays and shutdowns, and larger ones such as continuity planning. The topic looks at how government gets things done after laws are passed.
An independent team explaining how government works
American importers and exporters are paying hundreds of millions of dollars in tariffs each month while the Supreme Court shows no signs of rushing to judgment…
On January 30, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency about Cuba and immediately authorized tariffs on countries that provide oil…
The United States now has 51 active national emergencies—roughly triple the number that existed in 2001. On January 30, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive…
Importers have already paid over $130 billion in tariffs under President Trump's executive orders. At issue is a 1977 law called the International Emergency Economic Powers…
The extra authority governments use in an emergency is covered under Emergency Powers.
What the federal government owns, and how it buys goods and services, is covered under Federal Property and Procurement.
How federal money reaches other governments and groups is covered under Grants and Funding. Efforts to update how government works are covered under Government Modernization.
When a federal government shutdown ends, it is not an event. It is the beginning of a process. The public often sees the moment…
On November 5, 2025, the Supreme Court heard what has been called the biggest legal test yet of the Trump administration's presidency. The justices…
For over 70 years, the presidential autopen has operated quietly in the White House. The machine uses a real pen to replicate a president's…
Governments fund operations primarily through taxes, but they can accept voluntary donations. This comes with significant restrictions. Federal, state, and local rules governing donations…
The White House is the seat of executive power and one of the nation's most secure facilities. Its physical form has evolved over two…
With a budget of approximately $6.8 trillion in fiscal year 2024, the U.S. federal government is one of the largest and most complex entities…
Trump’s proposed triumphal arch raises questions about design, funding and approval. Its site near Arlington links the plan to a historic memorial landscape.
In October 2025, with the government shut down and military paychecks at risk, President Donald Trump announced he would direct the Pentagon to pay…
The Insurrection Act is a set of United States federal laws that grants the President limited authority to deploy active-duty military forces and federalize…
In October 2025, President Donald Trump said his administration had reached a deal with Harvard University for a $500 million payment and the creation…
