Meryl Kornfield

Washington, D.C., United States

Staff writer for @washingtonpost. Reach me at [email protected], DM or Signal. Forever proud of my @thealligator/@ufjschool roots 🐊

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Articles

When government thinks you’re dead, it upends lives. DOGE may make it worse.

1 day ago | washingtonpost.com | Meryl Kornfield |Lisa Rein |Hannah Natanson

When government thinks you’re dead, it upends lives. DOGE may make it worse. (washingtonpost.com) When government thinks you’re dead, it upends lives. DOGE may make it worse. By Meryl Kornfield; Lisa Rein; Hannah Natanson 2025042309000300 When Richard VanMetter tried to buy a sandwich, he didn't realize he was dead.
Watchdog agency tells fired federal workers they have no legal basis for complaints

2 days ago | adn.com | Meryl Kornfield

The Office of Special Counsel told thousands of probationary federal workers that it would not pursue their complaints about their firings, according to a copy of an OSC email obtained by The Washington Post. The decision was a reversal of the position of the previous head of the independent office, who was fired by President Donald Trump. The independent watchdog agency said it does not have the purview to pursue the complaints that more than 2,000 federal employees made, the email said.
Watchdog agency tells fired workers they have no legal basis for complaints

2 days ago | washingtonpost.com | Meryl Kornfield

Watchdog agency tells fired workers they have no legal basis for complaints (washingtonpost.com) Watchdog agency tells fired workers they have no legal basis for complaints By Meryl Kornfield 2025042121262500 The Office of Special Counsel has told thousands of probationary federal workers that it will not pursue their complaints about their firings, according to a copy of an OSC email obtained by The Washington Post.
Art of the ceasefire

3 days ago | washingtonpost.com | Meryl Kornfield |Patrick Svitek |Jacob Bogage

Art of the ceasefire (washingtonpost.com) Art of the ceasefire In today’s edition … Which programs may be on the Republicans’ chopping block in budget talks. By Meryl Kornfield; Patrick Svitek; Jacob Bogage 2025042110042500 Good morning, Early Birds. Tonight and tomorrow night will be the best times to catch the Lyrid meteor shower. Send tips to [email protected]. Thanks for waking up with us.
Fertility and maternal health programs slashed, alarming experts

5 days ago | washingtonpost.com | Sabrina Malhi |Meryl Kornfield

Fertility and maternal health programs slashed, alarming experts (washingtonpost.com) Fertility and maternal health programs slashed, alarming experts By Sabrina Malhi; Meryl Kornfield 2025041911004500 Federal programs that help people compare IVF clinics, monitor safety in fertility and make sense of health data have been scaled back by the Trump administration in a move some maternal health experts predict will have an enduring effect on women and children. Layoffs at the Department of...
Immigrants Prove They Are Alive, Forcing Social Security To Undo Death Label

5 days ago | southfloridareporter.com | Hannah Natanson |Lisa Rein |Meryl Kornfield

Immigrants falsely labeled dead by the Social Security Administration are showing up at field offices with documents proving they are alive, leading staff to reinstate nearly three dozen people over the past week, according to records obtained by The Washington Post. The immigrants who have requested a reversal and been reinstated in Social Security databases include a Haitian asylum seeker and a child, the records show.
Immigrants prove they are alive, forcing Social Security to undo death label

5 days ago | washingtonpost.com | Hannah Natanson |Lisa Rein |Meryl Kornfield

Immigrants prove they are alive, forcing Social Security to undo death label (washingtonpost.com) Immigrants prove they are alive, forcing Social Security to undo death label By Hannah Natanson; Lisa Rein; Meryl Kornfield 2025041816431700 Immigrants falsely labeled dead by the Social Security Administration are showing up at field offices with documents proving they are alive, leading staff to reinstate nearly three dozen people over the past week, according to records obtained by The...
Why one Democratic governor can’t stand Trump’s tariffs

6 days ago | washingtonpost.com | Theodoric Meyer |Patrick Svitek |Meryl Kornfield

Why one Democratic governor can’t stand Trump’s tariffs (washingtonpost.com) Why one Democratic governor can’t stand Trump’s tariffs In today’s edition … Fed chair’s warnings of tariff-induced inflation challenges Trump’s economic credibility . . . Rep. Goodlander opts to run for reelection instead of the of Senate. By Theodoric Meyer; Patrick Svitek; Meryl Kornfield 2025041810035700 Good morning, Early Birds.
Dems want to talk immigration

1 week ago | washingtonpost.com | Meryl Kornfield |Patrick Svitek

Dems want to talk immigration (washingtonpost.com) Dems want to talk immigration In today’s edition … Vulnerable House Republicans post strong fundraising quarter. By Meryl Kornfield; Patrick Svitek 2025041710022700 Good morning, Early Birds. Haiku Day today. It's a nationally observed day. This is a Haiku. Send tips to [email protected]. Thanks for waking up with us.
Biden’s retirement plan?

1 week ago | washingtonpost.com | Meryl Kornfield |Patrick Svitek

Biden’s retirement plan? (washingtonpost.com) Biden’s retirement plan? In today’s edition … Ernst gets a Democratic opponent . . . Top Trump critics rake in campaign cash. By Meryl Kornfield; Patrick Svitek 2025041609533200 Good morning, Early Birds. It's Emancipation Day in D.C., where President Abraham Lincoln ordered an end to slavery 163 years ago today. Send tips to [email protected]. Thanks for waking up with us.