Meryl Kornfield
@merylkornfield.bsky.social
Staff Writer at WaPo currently covering the federal workforce and DOGE.
Forever Floridian.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/meryl-kornfield/
meryl.kornfield@washpost.com
Forever Floridian.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/meryl-kornfield/
meryl.kornfield@washpost.com
Pinned
Belated post on this app (which I will be using more now!): I've started covering the federal workforce and am interested in tips, story ideas and general advice. Feel free to message me here, or I'm on Signal at 301-821-2013.
Artist William Brody told me his painting of a Michigan farmhouse was used by the Labor Department in a recent social media campaign without his permission. And he said he disagrees with the rest of the campaign, which illustrates a White, male workforce. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
November 7, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Artist William Brody told me his painting of a Michigan farmhouse was used by the Labor Department in a recent social media campaign without his permission. And he said he disagrees with the rest of the campaign, which illustrates a White, male workforce. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Here's what it's like to call Social Security these days: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Callers to Social Security wait for hours to get help. Hear their ordeals.
Millions of seniors and disabled people call Social Security’s 1-800 number every month. What they experience is often maddening.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Here's what it's like to call Social Security these days: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
“Cancer rates among young adults in the Corn Belt, a patchwork of golden fields and straight-line highways stretching across the heart of the Midwest, are rising more rapidly than in the country as a whole, a Washington Post data analysis reveals.” www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
The mysterious rise of cancer among young adults in the Corn Belt
Communities across the Corn Belt are confronting a rise in cancers among young adults — and few clear explanations.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:15 PM
“Cancer rates among young adults in the Corn Belt, a patchwork of golden fields and straight-line highways stretching across the heart of the Midwest, are rising more rapidly than in the country as a whole, a Washington Post data analysis reveals.” www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Amid this broader convo about SNAP, I'm re-upping our story about what's coming for Social Security benefits, including a rule change to rescind a Biden-era expansion of SSI eligibility for people in households receiving SNAP or other public assistance. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump plan would limit disability benefits for older Americans
Trump administration officials are considering eliminating age as a factor in deciding whether someone is capable of working.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Amid this broader convo about SNAP, I'm re-upping our story about what's coming for Social Security benefits, including a rule change to rescind a Biden-era expansion of SSI eligibility for people in households receiving SNAP or other public assistance. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Meryl Kornfield
NEW: After The Washington Post reported Monday on the demolition of the "East Wing facade," a new picture obtained by Law Dork that was taken on Tuesday shows that a substantial portion of the entirety of the East Wing has been demolished.
October 21, 2025 at 8:13 PM
NEW: After The Washington Post reported Monday on the demolition of the "East Wing facade," a new picture obtained by Law Dork that was taken on Tuesday shows that a substantial portion of the entirety of the East Wing has been demolished.
Employees who help regulate hazardous waste. Inspectors who check the quality of federal housing. An office that makes sure students with disabilities get the help they need. These are the targets of the latest government layoffs: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Shutdown layoffs target services for vulnerable students, homeless, seniors
The most at-risk Americans will suffer from the Trump administration’s latest layoffs, current and former federal officials warned.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Employees who help regulate hazardous waste. Inspectors who check the quality of federal housing. An office that makes sure students with disabilities get the help they need. These are the targets of the latest government layoffs: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Reposted by Meryl Kornfield
JUST IN: Chicago journalistsa re suing DHS and ICE over force used against reporters:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
JUST IN: Chicago journalistsa re suing DHS and ICE over force used against reporters:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Meryl Kornfield
The Trump administration wants to make it harder for older Americans to qualify for Social Security www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202... @merylkornfield.bsky.social
Trump plan would limit disability benefits for older Americans
Trump administration officials are considering eliminating age as a factor in deciding whether someone is capable of working.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The Trump administration wants to make it harder for older Americans to qualify for Social Security www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202... @merylkornfield.bsky.social
Reposted by Meryl Kornfield
The Trump administration plans to end funding starting Wednesday for an oversight group that helps inspectors general root out waste, fraud and abuse.
Trump administration moves to defund inspector general watchdog group
The decision marks the latest example of the administration’s push to limit government oversight activities.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 30, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The Trump administration plans to end funding starting Wednesday for an oversight group that helps inspectors general root out waste, fraud and abuse.
Reposted by Meryl Kornfield
Read @washingtonpost.com on administration plans to end funding of CIGIE.
“I think this is just another star in the constellation of dismantling the federal inspector general community.”
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
#IGs #OMB #InspectorsGeneral #Watchdogs @merylkornfield.bsky.social
“I think this is just another star in the constellation of dismantling the federal inspector general community.”
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
#IGs #OMB #InspectorsGeneral #Watchdogs @merylkornfield.bsky.social
Trump administration moves to defund inspector general watchdog group
The decision marks the latest example of the administration’s push to limit government oversight activities.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Read @washingtonpost.com on administration plans to end funding of CIGIE.
“I think this is just another star in the constellation of dismantling the federal inspector general community.”
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
#IGs #OMB #InspectorsGeneral #Watchdogs @merylkornfield.bsky.social
“I think this is just another star in the constellation of dismantling the federal inspector general community.”
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
#IGs #OMB #InspectorsGeneral #Watchdogs @merylkornfield.bsky.social
"Federal agencies are just eight days away from seeing their funding lapse and having to shutter their offices, though which employees will be sent home remains unknown." www.govexec.com/workforce/20...
As shutdown looms, federal agencies have no public plans for one
How the Trump administration would handle a shutdown and who it plans to furlough remains a mystery.
www.govexec.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:02 PM
"Federal agencies are just eight days away from seeing their funding lapse and having to shutter their offices, though which employees will be sent home remains unknown." www.govexec.com/workforce/20...
Reposted by Meryl Kornfield
D.C. usually gets blamed for local crime, but Congress also a role to play. Specifically, the feds are supposed to reimburse D.C. for the costs of using local police for things like big protests and motorcades. But congressional funding hasn't kept up with costs: 51st.news/trump-dc-tak...
What happens now that the D.C. emergency order has ended?
Plus: Solving the mystery of a new helicopter, and trying to get Congress to cough up more money for police.
51st.news
September 19, 2025 at 7:21 PM
D.C. usually gets blamed for local crime, but Congress also a role to play. Specifically, the feds are supposed to reimburse D.C. for the costs of using local police for things like big protests and motorcades. But congressional funding hasn't kept up with costs: 51st.news/trump-dc-tak...
In case you might be wondering, VA's secretary did not say anything publicly when Fox News anchor Brian Kilmeade suggested that mentally ill homeless people, which includes many veterans, should be killed.
But he did criticize a reporter for seeking comment from officials.
But he did criticize a reporter for seeking comment from officials.
September 19, 2025 at 5:13 PM
In case you might be wondering, VA's secretary did not say anything publicly when Fox News anchor Brian Kilmeade suggested that mentally ill homeless people, which includes many veterans, should be killed.
But he did criticize a reporter for seeking comment from officials.
But he did criticize a reporter for seeking comment from officials.
Most Americans are critical of Trump on crime, the economy, immigration and other issues, a new Post-Ipsos poll finds. The survey paints a downbeat picture of the first eight months of Trump’s presidency www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Most Americans critical of Trump on crime, economy and other issues, poll finds
The Post-Ipsos survey paints a downbeat picture of Trump’s presidency, as Americans disapprove of his performance by double-digit margins on a broad range of issues.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Most Americans are critical of Trump on crime, the economy, immigration and other issues, a new Post-Ipsos poll finds. The survey paints a downbeat picture of the first eight months of Trump’s presidency www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
A new ref in the separation-of-powers battle? When the legislative branch’s chief watchdog retires soon, Trump will get to nominate his replacement www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
The impending retirement that could rock Capitol Hill
The director of the Government Accountability office will step down in a few short months, leaving a void atop the agency that has found the White House guilty of violating congressional spending law.
www.politico.com
September 18, 2025 at 3:12 PM
A new ref in the separation-of-powers battle? When the legislative branch’s chief watchdog retires soon, Trump will get to nominate his replacement www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Reposted by Meryl Kornfield
Hard to think of a more on-the-nose encapsulation of how far the online speech wars have swung in the year of our lord 2025 than major U.S. corporations racing to fire people whose tweets offended Milo Yiannopoulos
September 17, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Hard to think of a more on-the-nose encapsulation of how far the online speech wars have swung in the year of our lord 2025 than major U.S. corporations racing to fire people whose tweets offended Milo Yiannopoulos
“Officials organized the state visit to minimize the president’s public exposure. Most of the pomp and ritual unfolded behind Windsor’s manicured hedges and its stone parapets”
As President Trump arrived in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, dozens of groups came out with demonstrations centered on the Gaza war, Trump’s global tariff blitz, racism, abortion and climate change.
Trump’s U.K. visit was meant to be cloistered. Protesters have other ideas.
President Donald Trump’s second state visit to Britain was designed to keep him away from crowds, but opponents of the American president made it clear they would be heard.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 18, 2025 at 3:11 AM
“Officials organized the state visit to minimize the president’s public exposure. Most of the pomp and ritual unfolded behind Windsor’s manicured hedges and its stone parapets”
The group behind Project 2025 wants a ‘Manhattan Project’ for more babies @jacobbogage.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
The group behind Project 2025 wants a ‘Manhattan Project’ for more babies
A draft position paper from the Heritage Foundation proposes massive revisions to U.S. economic policy to encourage heterosexual married couples to have more children.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 3, 2025 at 6:37 PM
The group behind Project 2025 wants a ‘Manhattan Project’ for more babies @jacobbogage.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Reposted by Meryl Kornfield
The Social Security Administration has conceded an issue with phone service, after denying it to NPR, and has announced a fix.
Social Security announces a phone service fix after denying there was an issue
The Social Security Administration has conceded an issue with phone service, after denying it to NPR, and has announced a fix.
n.pr
August 7, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The Social Security Administration has conceded an issue with phone service, after denying it to NPR, and has announced a fix.
Reposted by Meryl Kornfield
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel says it’s investigating Jack Smith, the former Justice Department official who oversaw two federal prosecutions of Donald Trump, for potentially violating the law barring federal officials from political activity.
Former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith faces investigation by Office of Special Counsel
Jack Smith, who pursued two cases against Donald Trump, is being investigated for potentially violating the Hatch Act.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 2, 2025 at 8:12 PM
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel says it’s investigating Jack Smith, the former Justice Department official who oversaw two federal prosecutions of Donald Trump, for potentially violating the law barring federal officials from political activity.
🧵A thread on covering Social Security this week... Earlier this month, the agency had quietly announced that it would now require people calling the main 1-800 number for some routine tasks to go through a multi-pronged authentication to prove they aren't fraudsters.
August 1, 2025 at 2:20 PM
🧵A thread on covering Social Security this week... Earlier this month, the agency had quietly announced that it would now require people calling the main 1-800 number for some routine tasks to go through a multi-pronged authentication to prove they aren't fraudsters.
Reposted by Meryl Kornfield
We sought this number for months, and we finally got it this week when @merylkornfield.bsky.social and @hannahnatanson.bsky.social presented their own tally — compiled through reporting from sources and constant calls to more than a dozen agencies. No one else has been able to report it until now.
July 31, 2025 at 11:42 AM
We sought this number for months, and we finally got it this week when @merylkornfield.bsky.social and @hannahnatanson.bsky.social presented their own tally — compiled through reporting from sources and constant calls to more than a dozen agencies. No one else has been able to report it until now.
Reposted by Meryl Kornfield
ANOTHER EXCLUSIVE from the
@washingtonpost.com : The federal government is paying more than 154,000 people not to work. Great reporting from
@merylkornfield.bsky.social @hannahnatanson.bsky.social @laurameckler.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
@washingtonpost.com : The federal government is paying more than 154,000 people not to work. Great reporting from
@merylkornfield.bsky.social @hannahnatanson.bsky.social @laurameckler.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
The federal government is paying more than 154,000 people not to work
Early resignation offers and other programs have reduced the workforce, but critics say the moves are also wasting money.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 31, 2025 at 2:11 PM
ANOTHER EXCLUSIVE from the
@washingtonpost.com : The federal government is paying more than 154,000 people not to work. Great reporting from
@merylkornfield.bsky.social @hannahnatanson.bsky.social @laurameckler.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
@washingtonpost.com : The federal government is paying more than 154,000 people not to work. Great reporting from
@merylkornfield.bsky.social @hannahnatanson.bsky.social @laurameckler.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Meryl Kornfield
A Washington Post analysis found President Trump and his appointees allegedly defied court orders in a third of over 160 lawsuits with substantive rulings, which experts say pose an unprecedented threat to the U.S. legal system.
Trump officials accused of defying 1 in 3 judges who ruled against him
A comprehensive analysis of lawsuits against Trump policies shows dozens of examples of defiance, delay and dishonesty, a serious test for the court system.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 21, 2025 at 12:45 PM
A Washington Post analysis found President Trump and his appointees allegedly defied court orders in a third of over 160 lawsuits with substantive rulings, which experts say pose an unprecedented threat to the U.S. legal system.
