Eating Policy

Thinking the unthinkable

Can you imagine a state without a food stamps program? Should you?

Aug 7 • Jennifer Pahlka

63

20

14

July 2026

Rebuilding the machinery of government can't be a partisan project

Voters can't reward what they never see delivered. That's everyone's problem.

Published on The Renovator • Jul 24

North Carolina’s bold move on civil service

The state’s new civil service statute, enacted by a Republican legislature and signed into law by a Democratic governor, is a big deal

Jul 20 • Jennifer Pahlka

180

9

25

Government Reform Needs a Field

I spent twenty years helping build a field without realizing that's what I was doing. This one, we're building on purpose.

Published on The Art of Association • Jul 9

June 2026

Philanthropy’s Willie Sutton Problem

Third wave philanthropy will need to work with government, but it will also have to work ON government

Jun 19 • Jennifer Pahlka

82

14

16

May 2026

The Digital Service Was Never the Point

Colorado becomes first state to commit to the product model at scale

May 30 • Jennifer Pahlka and Kelly Taylor

104

8

15

April 2026

A (shorter) Three Horizons Framework for Government Reform

We keep propping up a system that’s run out of time to adapt

Apr 27 • Jennifer Pahlka

16

4

A Three Horizons Framework for Government Reform

We keep propping up a system that’s run out of time to adapt

Apr 24 • Jennifer Pahlka

120

36

39

Mitigating Metrics Malaise: Claude on Goodhart's Law

Claude fought the law, and the bot won

Apr 22 • Jennifer Pahlka

68

2

3

To operationalize the product model, you have to speak budget

And how the US can double down on the "systems that benefit everyone but belong to no one."

Apr 13 • Jennifer Pahlka

42

9

4

What DOGE Could Have Done

Done right, cutting staff actually can be a part of getting better outcomes. Part of.

Apr 9 • Jennifer Pahlka

71

2

17

Trial by Fire: Crisis Engineering

A new book shows how to turn a crisis into the change you've been waiting for

Apr 7 • Jennifer Pahlka

63

7

10