Gov News Today — September 16, 2026
Agencies spent nearly $10 billion for feds not to work in 2025 and more — today's gov signal.
As governments at all levels continue to navigate the complexities of modernization and efficiency, today's news highlights the varied approaches being taken to address these challenges. In a move that has raised eyebrows, federal agencies have budgeted nearly $10 billion for 2025 to cover the costs of furloughs, buyouts, and other forms of employee time off, effectively paying employees not to work. This comes as some state governments are pushing forward with efforts to streamline and improve citizen services, such as Maryland's new free online system for filing individual state income taxes.
The intersection of technology and governance is also in focus, as policymakers grapple with the implications of emerging innovations. In Pennsylvania, lawmakers are weighing in on the debate over whether to slow the development of artificial intelligence, reflecting concerns about the potential impacts on society and the economy. Meanwhile, in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has taken a more targeted approach, ordering a state water agency to crack down on data centers that fail to report their water usage, highlighting the growing importance of data-driven decision making and resource management in the digital age.
Today's signal:
• Agencies spent nearly $10 billion for feds not to work in 2025 (govexec.com)
• Maryland launches free online system for filing individual state income taxes (route-fifty.com)
• Pennsylvania politicians react to calls for an AI development slowdown (route-fifty.com)
• Gov. Greg Abbott orders Texas water agency to penalize data centers that don’t report their water usage (route-fifty.com)