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US pandemic accountability committee gets funding to continue work to 2034
The US Congressional oversight committee set up to provide oversight of government spending related to the COVID-19 pandemic will continue its work until 2034 after it was provided with additional funding. The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) was established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a US$2.2 trillion economic…
Different policies to apply to US government officials based on COVID-19 vaccination status
The Biden administration has updated its COVID policy guidance for the federal workforce, making clearer distinctions between vaccinated and unvaccinated employees when it comes to official travel, paid leave, and other areas. The Safer Federal Workforce Task Force set out in updated guidance last week that vaccinated staff can travel for official purposes after…
US veterans affairs employees report not feeling emotionally supported during COVID-19
More than half (51%) of clinical staff at the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) did not feel emotionally supported during the COVID-19 pandemic, while only 40% were aware of the support services available, according to a staff survey. The results have prompted the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) –…
US government pushes to resume vaccine mandate enforcement for federal workers
The Biden administration has requested that an appeals court allow it to immediately resume the discipline process for federal employees who have not complied with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate after a court judgement deeming it unlawful was overturned. The US Court of Appeal for the Fifth Circuit last week overturned a lower court’s ruling that…
COVID-19 vaccine mandate for US federal employees reinstated by appeals court
The Biden administration has won an appeal allowing it to reinstate its coronavirus vaccine mandate for the government workforce, after it was forced to pause the policy following a court ruling in January. Last week, a US Court of Appeals of the Fifth Circuit panel instructed the Texas district court that had issued the January…
Three biases that policymakers must avoid in crises – and how to do it
The coronavirus pandemic required government to think fast and implement at pace novel policies. How well did it work? Tony Cash looks at the pitfalls that public servants must avoid in such situations Developing and delivering effective government policy requires time. It takes time to consider the root causes of the issues that the policy…
‘A global inflection point’: Government finance chiefs set out how their countries are launching the post-COVID economy
The pandemic has done huge damage to growth rates and public finances – but digital technologies, green growth and government interventions offer an economic lifeboat. At the first session of the Global Government Finance Summit, Matt Ross heard treasury chiefs from around the world debate how to restore buoyant growth “If history is a guide,…
Canada to put unvaccinated federal workers on unpaid leave
Civil servants in Canada who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the month will be placed on unpaid leave, the government has announced. The vaccine mandate demands that government staff declare their vaccination status through an online portal by 29 October. “Members of the public service who are not fully…
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Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
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