Get government file (5)
I believe the answer is:
grasp
'get' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'government file' is the wordplay.
'government' becomes 'g' (abbreviation for government).
'file' becomes 'rasp' (rasp is a kind of file).
'g'+'rasp'='GRASP'
(Other definitions for grasp that I've seen before include "Understand (the point)" , "Follow - understand - seize" , "Hold firmly; understand" , "Seize, hold firmly" , "Hold tightly" .)