Military spouses have long faced challenges that come with frequent moves, career disruptions and balancing family life during deployments. Now, a new White House executive order creates the President's Military Spouse Commission, a panel charged with developing recommendations on issues ranging from employment and child care to health care, education and housing. The administration says the commission will give military spouses a direct voice in shaping federal policy, but questions remain about what authority it will have and how quickly it can deliver results. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen joins us with more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A longstanding framework meant to root out inadvertent discrimination in hiring assessments will no longer be required for agencies. An interim final rule that OPM issued last week eliminates the "Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures" from federal personnel policy and regulations. The move aligns with a June opinion from the Department of Justice, which deemed the framework for hiring assessments unconstitutional. Federal News Network's Drew Friedman breaks down what the changes will mean with the Partnership for Public Service's Jenny Mattingley.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Breakthroughs get the headlines. Standards rarely do. But supporters of a bipartisan bill say America's biotechnology future depends on measurement science that most people never see Better information often leads to better decisions. ARPA-H is investing in new technology designed to give clinicians a clearer picture of how a baby is tolerating labor Data can reveal a problem. Solving it is another matter. New reporting examines the non-combat deaths of Army women and asks whether years of reviews and reforms have produced meaningful changeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The United States has invested heavily in biotechnology research, but supporters of a new bipartisan bill argue that innovation depends on more than scientific breakthroughs. They say measurement science and common standards are essential if new discoveries are going to move reliably from the laboratory to the marketplace. Here to discuss that effort is Congresswoman April McClain Delaney of Maryland's Sixth District.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Army has spent years studying sexual assault, domestic violence and other threats to the safety of service members. New reporting on the non-combat deaths of Army women raises a difficult question: what happens when an institution understands a problem but struggles to improve outcomes? Here with what they found are Austin Campbell and Daniel Johnson of The Intercept.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For generations, doctors have had to make some of childbirth's most important decisions with incomplete information about how a baby is responding to labor. ARPA-H is funding research aimed at changing that by giving clinicians a clearer view of what's happening in real time. Here with more is Dr. Kate Arnold, Program Manager, Scalable Solutions at ARPA-H.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Department of Veterans Affairs recent memo on cloud security isn’t breaking new ground. It’s not even changing policy. The best comparison for the memo that is reminding VA contracting officers and program managers that vendors do not have to have their FedRAMP certification before responding to or submitting proposals for solicitations or requests for information is mythbusting.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Senate’s bill to keep the government funded past the midterm elections would keep critical cybersecurity authorities alive through December. The continuing resolution would also extend the authorities of a central fund that invests in agency technology projects. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Everyone wants lower energy bills. The question is how much homeowners should have to pay upfront to get them One of the toughest jobs in government is paying today for problems you're hoping won't happen tomorrow A permit is supposed to provide certainty. Some critics say one little-known EPA power means the approval process may never truly be overSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Investors, developers and local communities make long-term decisions based on the assumption that a federal permit means a project can move forward. Critics of a little-used EPA authority argue that assumption may no longer be as reliable as many people think. Joining me to walk through the issue is Myron Ebell, chairman of the Fix the EPA Veto Coalition.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Senate’s bill to keep the government funded past the midterm elections would keep critical cybersecurity authorities alive through December. The continuing resolution would also extend the authorities of a central fund that invests in agency technology projects. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Whether it's backup power for a hospital or a microgrid for a public facility, FEMA's hazard-mitigation programs are designed to reduce future disaster losses before they occur. A recent GAO review examined how communities make the case for those investments and how FEMA evaluates whether they're worth the cost Joining me now is Janet McKelvey, Acting Director for Natural Resources and Environment at GAO. Read the report here: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-26-108470.pdf See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Energy-efficient homes can save money over time, but new requirements often increase costs at the front end. A recent Department of Energy analysis examined that tradeoff and raised questions about how policymakers should balance affordability and long-term savings Joining me to walk through that analysis is Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Adverse action rules for federal employees are undergoing a major transformation. A set of final rules from the Office of Personnel Management transfer more power to OPM and take some authority away from the Merit Systems Protection Board. At the same time, agencies will now be required to prioritize employee performance over tenure during a reduction-in-force. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Army says one of its biggest modernization efforts has reached a turning point. After years of testing, officials say its Next Generation Command and Control program, or NGC2, is ready to move beyond experiments and into broader use across the force. The goal is to replace a patchwork of aging command-and-control systems with a single, data-driven network that helps commanders make faster decisions on the battlefield. But turning that vision into reality will mean overcoming technical, budget and cultural challenges. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen joins us with more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New technologies and new threats are forcing agencies to make decisions faster than they once did. That reality is raising questions about whether federal acquisition processes are keeping pace. Stephanie Kostro, president of the Professional Services Council, joins me to talk through the challenge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton . . . When technology changes faster than acquisition cycles, government has a problem Contracting officers have broad authority to evaluate proposals. But they don't get to change the scoring system after proposals arrive Many acquisition reform efforts focus on policies and regulations. The Defense Innovation Unit is betting that changing the workforce may be just as importantSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For years, acquisition reform has focused on new authorities, new pathways, and new policies. The Defense Innovation Unit believes the next challenge may be preparing acquisition professionals to use those tools effectively. Here to discuss that effort is Cherissa Tamayori, director of acquisition at the Defense Innovation Unit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Past performance can make the difference in a best-value procurement. But agencies still have to evaluate it the way they said they would. That's the lesson from a recent GAO protest involving a Veterans Affairs acquisition support contract. Joining me now with the details is Zach Prince, partner at Haynes Boone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration has been pushing federal agencies to aggressively adopt artificial intelligence capabilities. And now a new Commerce Department center is serving as a gateway for connecting the AI industry with government. To break it all down, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration has 20 additional ideas for improving federal acquisition. These range from dramatically increasing the simplified acquisition and micro purchase thresholds to raising the dollar figures on task order protests to allocating more money for acquisition workforce training. The Office of Management and Budget submitted these legislative proposals to Congress earlier this month. For more on what OMB is asking for, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The House has already left town, but the Senate still has a crowded agenda that includes spending legislation, nominations and other administration priorities. Whether lawmakers leave Washington as scheduled may depend on how much of that work they can complete first. Here with the latest is Bloomberg Government's Deputy News Director, Loren Duggan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton . . . The Senate is supposed to start its August recess next week. The question is whether senators will be packing suitcases or unpacking another round of White House priorities Before governments commit billions of dollars to an infrastructure project, they have to decide how they'll measure success A strong market can make investors feel smarter than they really are, it can also make them forget how much risk they're carryingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Public-private partnerships are often justified through something known as a Value for Money analysis. New federal guidance aims to make those evaluations more transparent by putting greater emphasis on data, assumptions and documentation. Here to discuss those changes and what they could mean for future infrastructure decisions is Share Habibi, research and policy director at In the Public Interest.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The first half of the year delivered strong returns for many TSP investors. But rising balances can sometimes mask a more important question: how much risk sits underneath those gains? Here with a midyear reality check is certified financial planner Arthur Stein.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Information Systems Agency is seeking industry input on its plan to migrate all combatant commands’ common-use IT services to the Defense Department Network, after General Dynamics Information Technology challenged the agency's decision to expand the Defense Enclave Services contract to perform the work. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two recent technology investments illustrate some of the Pentagon's biggest IT bets: consolidating enterprise software purchases and accelerating artificial intelligence across the military. Oracle landed a contract worth up to $7 billion to provide software and services across the Defense Department, while Accenture won an $821 million task order to expand the Pentagon's War Data Platform, which it views as the backbone of many of its AI efforts. They reflect a broader strategy to standardize IT infrastructure, avoid duplicative spending, and make it easier for AI analyze military data. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen joins me now with a closer look.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton . . . NIST’s Cyber AI Profile is designed to move agencies from abstract frameworks to real operational choices Artificial intelligence is only as reliable as the information behind it. Many organizations are discovering they haven't paid enough attention to that part When an organization hires someone, it assumes it knows who's doing the work. In some cases, that's becoming a risky assumptionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Technology has made remote hiring easier and distributed work more common. It's also created new opportunities for fraud and misrepresentation. In some cases, organizations are discovering the person performing the work isn't necessarily the person they hired. Here to discuss what's at stake for government contractors is Jennifer Jackman, DC managing partner at Ice Miller.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal agencies often struggle to turn high‑level guidance on AI and cybersecurity into everyday decisions about procurement, deployment and risk. NIST’s new Cyber AI Profile is meant to help close that gap by showing how AI risk management can work in practice. We’ll talk about how it’s intended to be used and what not to do with it, with Kat Megas, the program manager for cybersecurity, privacy and AI at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Organizations are investing heavily in AI, but many still struggle with a basic question: can they trust the data feeding those systems? New research suggests governance, recordkeeping and information management may be lagging behind AI adoption. We'll explore what that means for federal managers with Robert Cruz, vice president for regulatory and information governance at Smarsh.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

National Whistleblower Day offers a chance to look at why whistleblower protections remain a bipartisan priority. From financial crime to artificial intelligence, policymakers increasingly depend on insiders to identify problems that regulators may never see from the outside. To help put that evolution in context, I'm joined by Stephen Kohn, chairman of the board of the National Whistleblower Center.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton . . . it's National Whistleblower Day The United States has protected whistleblowers since the Continental Congress. Nearly 250 years later, advocates say insiders remain one of the government's most important tools for uncovering wrongdoing and emerging risks If whistleblowers are essential to enforcement, government increasingly wants them to come forward. One recent case shows just how serious that effort has become Encouraging people to speak up is one challenge. Protecting them afterward is another, especially when they work for government contractors Good intentions, incentives and legal protections only matter if employees know where to turn when they uncover a problem. On National Whistleblower Day, we examine the protections, risks and realities of reporting wrongdoing inside governmentSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Throughout this National Whistleblower Day special we've been discussing why disclosures matter and how government encourages them. The final piece is understanding how the federal whistleblower system works in practice. For that perspective, I'm joined by Charles Baldis of the Office of Special Counsel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Whether whistleblower programs succeed often depends on what happens after a disclosure is made. Congress is now considering changes aimed at strengthening protections for contractor employees who report wrongdoing tied to federal work. Joining me to discuss those proposals is Tom Devine, legal director of the Government Accountability Project.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The House narrowly passed its version of the fiscal 2027 defense policy bill last week despite strong Democratic opposition over the bill’s price tag, the war with Iran and a provision that would expand military partnership between the United States and Israel. While much of the attention surrounding the National Defense Authorization Act focuses on the bill’s massive price tag, foreign policy and partisan riders, the must-pass package includes several provisions affecting the Defense Department's civilian workforce. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis joins us to break down what measures impacting civilians made it into the bill and what was left out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the Army launched its data operations center in April, the goal was to create a centralized service that will reduce the burden on warfighters. Over the long term, A-DOC hopes to make it easier for warfighters to use artificial intelligence and machine learning tools by turning raw data into refined intelligence. For more on the service’s plans for the Army Data Operations Center, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller caught up with David Markowitz, the Army’s chief data and analytics officer at the recent AFCEA TechNet Cyber conference.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For decades, Congress has created boards, commissions and oversight bodies intended to operate with some distance from presidential control. Two recent Supreme Court decisions are providing new insight into how the Court views that balance and what it could mean for the people serving in those roles. Here to help us consider the implications is former FDIC Inspector General Jay Lerner.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton It takes a lot for public servants to speak out. More than 1,200 former Justice Department officials recently decided they needed to An $11 billion price tag gets attention. Understanding what government lost in the process may take a lot longer Two recent Supreme Court decisions may have changed the rules for some of government's most independent institutionsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A coalition of 1,200 former Justice Department officials took the unusual step of publicly opposing the nomination of Todd Blanche as Attorney General. Beyond the confirmation debate itself, the episode raises questions about trust, morale and the environment facing career employees. Here with more on what this reveals about today's Justice Department workforce is the executive director and founder of The Justice Connection, Stacey Young.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Public Citizen has released a new analysis estimating that the deferred resignation program will cost taxpayers at least $11 billion. The report examines where that money went and what agencies may have lost as experienced employees left government service. That degraded mission performance is something much harder to put a price tag on. Here to walk through the analysis is Doug Pasternak, research director of Public Citizen’s Trump Accountability Project.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An Army initiative that launched in 2024 wants to reshape how soldiers prepare for future wars. But as the "Transformation in Contact" program has expanded to include the Army National Guard, it's begun to strain the balance between staying ready for today's fight and looking ahead to the next one. Outdated facilities are making it hard to adapt to new technology, and that new technology has started to crowd spaces soldiers still need for regular operations and training. Federal News Network's defense reporter Rachel Cohen joins us with more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s been a busy month for the Space Development Agency. After a months-long pause, SDA has just launched its next batch of satellites after it dealt with issues in the group of communications satellites known as Tranche 1. To explain that strategic pause, and what the agency learned from it. Jennifer Elzea, SDA’s director of strategic engagement talked with Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The government says it wants greater access to commercial technology and innovation. But cybersecurity requirements, data protections and agency-specific policies can make the federal marketplace difficult to navigate. Joining me to discuss that balancing act is senior fellow at the George Mason University Baroni Center for Government Contracting and former GSA Administrator, Emily Murphy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The debate over controlled unclassified information is revealing a larger struggle over how government buys technology The Defense Department is looking for new ways to bring commercial innovation and manufacturing capacity into the national security arena Military leaders are drawing new lessons from conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and beyond. Those lessons are reshaping what they expect from industry and how quickly new capabilities need to reach the fieldSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Governments around the world are rethinking the technologies and capabilities they'll need for future conflicts. I caught up with OJ Sanchez, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, at the Farnborough Airshow to discuss what military customers are asking for now and what lessons industry is taking from today's battlefields.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Building military capability takes more than defense contractors alone. Increasingly, the Pentagon is looking to commercial manufacturers, technology firms and other nontraditional partners to expand the defense industrial base. That's a topic drawing growing attention across the defense community, and my next guest says Michigan is becoming a focal point for that shift. Scott Davis is president of the NDIA Michigan Chapter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Space Force leaders argue that doubling the size of the newest branch of the military is a “national security necessity,” roughly 25% of the jobs within the service were unfilled in fiscal 2025, and the service lacks guidance for determining how many people it actually needs to accomplish its missions. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fired probationary employees from the Department of Homeland Security and the Interior Department are continuing to challenge the legality of their terminations last year. This time, they’re taking their fight to federal appeals court. The ex-employees are challenging the Merit Systems Protection Board’s decision to dismiss their case. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration has released its latest Unified Agenda, offering the clearest picture yet of what federal agencies expect to work on in the coming months. While the White House continues to emphasize deregulation, the agenda shows a government that remains deeply engaged in writing and revising rules. Joining me for a closer look, Will Yeatman, the new director of the Regulatory Studies Center at George Washington University.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton . . . Congress can pass legislation. Government still has to implement it. A look at the week on Capitol Hill with Mitchell Miller The Trump administration continues to champion deregulation. But agencies still have thousands of regulatory actions on their to-do lists The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering changes to decades-old radiation protection requirements. At issue is how regulators translate scientific risk into practical operating rulesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For decades, federal radiation standards have been guided by the principle that exposures should be kept as low as reasonably achievable. Now the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering changes to that framework while maintaining the same scientific assessment of radiation risk. The debate centers on how regulators put that science into practice. Joining me to walk through the issue is Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a busy week on Capitol Hill, with House lawmakers advancing spending, defense and other major legislation before leaving town. What happens next will depend on both the Senate and the agencies responsible for implementation. Here with the latest is Mitchell Miller, Capitol Hill correspondent for WTOP.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Space Force’s Space Systems Command already is seeing an increase in trust and confidence when it comes to applying artificial intelligence tools to mission areas. While hard metrics still may be difficult to point to, for areas like source selection or market research, Guardians already are feeling the impact of these new and emerging capabilities. F Schnell is deputy portfolio acquisition executive for the Space Force Infrastructure Office, and Capt. “Doc” Rana is the director of Human-AI Teaming Lab at Space Systems Command. They talked about it with Federal News Network’s Jason Miller on our Space and Satellite Exchange. Rana speaks first.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Merit Systems Protection Board is no longer describing itself as “independent.” In recent weeks, the board has been removing the word “independent” from its public-facing materials. The action has raised questions of confidence in other MSPB processes. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The administration says recent personnel changes are intended to make government more effective and improve accountability. But as agencies move from policy announcements to implementation, questions remain about consistency, fairness and the day-to-day realities facing the managers and employees who make government work. John Hatton of NARFE joins me to help us see the forest and not just the trees.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For years, policymakers have looked at military family issues through separate lenses; housing, employment, health care or mental health. But a new study suggests families experience those challenges as an integrated whole. And when those pressures build, the consequences extend beyond the household and into military readiness itself. Here to walk through the details is Gabby L'Esperance, Vice President of Research and Evaluation at Military Family Advisory Network.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton It's easy to focus on the latest workforce rule or executive action. But taken together, these changes raise a larger question: what's the right balance between holding employees accountable and helping them perform at their best? What if military readiness starts at the kitchen table? A new survey of more than 10,000 military and veteran families finds that family well-being, financial stability, health care access, and spouse employment are deeply connected—and directly tied to readiness. Supreme Court justices are accustomed to hearing arguments, not making them before Congress. Recently, two justices went to Capitol Hill to make a case for more security funding.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As concerns about threats against judges continue to grow, members of the Supreme Court took the unusual step of personally advocating for additional security funding on Capitol Hill. That appearance may say as much about the pressures facing the judiciary as the dollars being requested. Joining me with her perspective is Isa Ulloa, founder and CEO of the Public Service Alliance.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Transportation Security Administration is pushing a new privatized security screening model called Gold-Plus. Now some airports are starting to opt into that initiative. TSA and the airports say it will help modernize airport security screening. But TSA employees are worried about losing their federal jobs. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Army is overhauling how it manages its civilian workforce, issuing a directive that aims to make it easier to reward top performers while speeding up the removal of employees with unacceptable performance. The policy touches everything from disciplinary actions and incentive awards, to leave policies and voluntary separation programs. But those who are up for removal will have less time to defend their work than in the past. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen joins us with more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal datasets don't always die dramatically. Sometimes they lose a variable here, an update there, and slowly drift into the statistical afterlife. In this installment of the Data Dish, we take a closer look at which federal datasets have truly flatlined and which are merely hanging on. Joining me are Denice Ross and Chris Dick. Denice is Director of Federal Data Policy at the Federation of American Scientists. Chris is a data scientist, demographer, and founder of Demographic Analytics Advisors.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry GertonWhen is a dataset truly dead? And when is it just being kept alive by a stubborn server and a little hope? On the Data Dish, we're checking the pulse of America's public data systemsAfter years of digital transformation efforts, some experts say government still lacks a common vision for what digital success actually looks likeNobody likes talking about long-term care. The problem is that waiting often means making major decisions with less time and less informationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The best decisions are usually made before a crisis arrives. Long-term care planning is a good example. Families that understand their options early have more flexibility than those forced to decide in the middle of a health emergency. Here with some perspective and advice on preparing before the pressure arrives, is certified financial planner Thiago Glieger of RMG Advisors.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Government has spent more than a decade building digital-service teams. But a new retrospective argues that many successes depended on workarounds rather than lasting institutional change. The authors say the next challenge is creating durable systems that can consistently deliver results and help agencies make better decisions. Here to walk us through their recommendations are Laura Sigelmann and Merici Vinton of the Federation of American Scientists. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

General Dynamics Information Technology is challenging the Defense Information Systems Agency’s decision to expand Leidos’ $11 billion Defense Enclave Services contract to include the combatant commands. The company argues that the agency should have competed the new work. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis is here with more details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than a year after a governmentwide return-to-office mandate, federal employees are reporting lower productivity, diminished morale and increasing strains on their work-life balance. A recent survey conducted by Federal News Network finds that many feds are experiencing distracting workspaces, long commutes and inadequate resources. Here with more on the latest survey results, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton . . . Government spends a lot of time measuring compliance. But does accountability actually help programs succeed? If accountability depends on honest assessments of performance, are agencies using the tools Congress gave them to make those assessments? Federal agencies measure everything from staffing levels to performance goals. But those metrics don't always tell leaders whether they actually have the capacity to accomplish their missionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Knowing whether a program is succeeding requires more than good intentions. It requires a disciplined look at results. Congress strengthened federal performance-management requirements in 2024, but a new GAO review finds important pieces still haven't been fully implemented. Here to explain what GAO found is Lori Atkinson, acting director for strategic issues at GAO. Read the report here: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-26-108516.pdf See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When people hear the word accountability, they often think about assigning responsibility after something goes wrong. But my next guest says accountability starts much earlier. It begins with creating the conditions for success. Joining me is Dr. Abraham Wandersman, senior scientist at the Wandersman Center at Fors Marsh.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Agencies collect enormous amounts of information about performance. But those measures don't always answer a fundamental management question: does the organization have the capability to accomplish its mission? My next guest believes federal leaders need a better way to assess readiness. Joining me is John Mullins, founder of Mullins Consulting.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Space Force has officially welcomed its first part-time service members, launching a first-of-its-kind personnel model that allows Guardians to move between full-time and part-time service without transferring to the National Guard or Reserves. Service leaders say the approach will help recruit and retain skilled workers, particularly those with expertise in the commercial space and technology sectors. But the new model also raises questions about how the military will manage a more flexible workforce and whether its aging personnel systems are ready to support it. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen joins me with more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal agencies are facing growing pressure to replace heavily customized legacy business systems with commercial off-the-shelf platforms that are easier to maintain, update and secure. At the Defense Logistics Agency, officials are treating their enterprise resource planning modernization project as more than just a technology upgrade. DLA says it’s using the transition as an opportunity to rethink how it does business as DoD pursues its first clean audit. Adarryl Roberts is DLA’s chief information officer. He talked about the work with Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The Defense Department has paused part of its cybersecurity certification program, but contractors still have cybersecurity obligations. So who's currently responsible for proving compliance As agencies rethink cybersecurity requirements, they're also working through how to manage risks associated with artificial intelligence. GSA's latest AI contract clause is getting a better reception from industry, but key questions remain If there's a common thread running through debates over cybersecurity requirements, AI rules, and other acquisition policies, it's uncertainty. Contractors are still trying to understand what government expects of themSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recent changes to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program led some contractors to believe requirements had been put on hold. The reality is more complicated. Most cybersecurity obligations remain in place, while responsibility for demonstrating compliance may be shifting more directly to contractors and the executives who certify them. For an update, I'm joined by Eric Crusius, partner at Hunton-Andrews-Kurth.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal contractors are navigating uncertainty on several fronts, from evolving cybersecurity requirements to ongoing questions surrounding overseas programs. The common challenge goes beyond mere compliance to making business decisions when policy direction is still taking shape. Here with more on what PSC members are seeing, is the council's president, Stephanie Kostro.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

GSA is taking another run at what could become the federal government's first acquisition clause focused specifically on large language models. After significant industry pushback, the agency revised its proposal and is now reviewing feedback on a new draft. Here to breakdown the feedback from last week's public listening session is Dan Ramish, partner at Haynes Boone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Senate lawmakers are calling for an independent audit of the Defense Department's multibillion-dollar TRICARE pharmacy program amid concerns that its longtime contractor, Express Scripts, may have a financial incentive to steer beneficiaries toward its own pharmacies. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Pentagon has kicked off its review of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program. Defense officials plan to hold listening sessions across the country to hear about compliance concerns. But questions continue to swirl around what exactly the Pentagon can do differently this time to balance small businesses cost concerns with the need to enforce cyber requirements. For the latest, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton" Federal data helps drive everything from economic forecasts to local planning decisions. Now a new Commerce Department policy has experts debating how government should balance privacy, transparency, and access to information Artificial intelligence may be getting the attention, but AI is only as reliable as the data behind it Washington is entering the annual sprint to the August recess. Congress still has major decisions ahead on spending, nominations, and a possible new reconciliation packageSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As lawmakers look toward the August recess, several of the year's biggest policy debates remain unresolved. Budget issues, pending nominees and early discussions about another reconciliation bill are all competing for attention on Capitol Hill. Here with an update on where things stand, is Loren Duggan, Deputy News Director for Bloomberg Government.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Questions about federal data have increasingly moved from the margins of government policy to the center of it. A new report argues that the United States needs a stronger national data ecosystem if it hopes to support effective decision-making, trustworthy artificial intelligence, and a well-informed public. Joining me to walk through their recommendations are Richard Coffin, chief of research and advocacy at USAFacts, and Joel Gurin, president and founder of the Center for Open Data Enterprise.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most Americans never think about the statistical methods used to protect personal information in federal data products. But a recent Commerce Department order is raising questions about how agencies will balance privacy protections with the need to publish useful public data. Joining me with his concerns is Paul Schroeder, executive director of the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Pentagon is launching a new health screening initiative that will check for low testosterone as part of annual physicals for service members age 30 and older. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the effort is intended to improve readiness, resilience and long-term health, while emphasizing that testosterone replacement therapy would be voluntary. But the announcement is also raising questions about the medical evidence behind widespread screening and how the policy will be implemented across the force. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen joins me with more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal employees have recently scored a few small victories in their quest to restore telework. Two Justice Department attorneys with disabilities will be able to telework as their lawsuit against DOJ continues. And an independent arbitrator has sided with the union in a case involving telework at the Forest Service. Here with a recap on the return-to-office, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton" The VA wanted a consistent way to determine police staffing levels. An inspector general audit found important gaps in the tool meant to make that happen Runways, hangars, seawalls, and military facilities all start with the same thing: concrete. A former Air Force commander says that's worth paying attention See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Supply-chain discussions usually focus on advanced technologies. Retired Brigadier General John Teichert says policymakers should pay more attention to a far more basic input: cement. He argues that growing reliance on imports could create risks for military and critical infrastructure projects. He spoke with Federal News Network's Eric White.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The VA’s inspector general found that a tool designed to determine police staffing levels lacked validation, clear ownership and consistent use. Those very common problems left facilities without a dependable model to guide their planning and coverage. Joining me to discuss the findings and what happens next is the VA’s inspector general, Cheryl Mason. Read the report here: https://www.vaoig.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2026-06/vaoig_25-00523-82_final.pdf See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Space Development Agency is resuming deployments of its proliferated satellite constellation. The agency had to slow down the pace of its launches due to some technical issues but its third in the series of Tranche One launches is now scheduled for July 16. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dozens of House and Senate Democrats are demanding answers from the Trump administration on its implementation of Schedule Policy/Career. A letter sent to the White House this week calls for details about exactly how many positions have been reclassified and whether there are plans to add to the list of those stripped of their civil service protections. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Navy's latest shipbuilding plan lays out an ambitious vision for future fleet growth. But every plan ultimately runs into the realities of industrial capacity, skilled labor and production timelines. Some analysts say those constraints deserve as much attention as the size of the fleet. Here to discuss whether the Navy is planning a fleet it can’t produce, for a fight it may not fit is the Jeanne Kirkpatrick Fellow at AEI, Anand Toprani.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton"The Navy wants a larger fleet, but it's not clear that America's shipyards, suppliers and workforce can deliver it Do the assumptions behind the Navy's new shipbuilding plan still fit today's strategic environment?Modern conflicts move quickly. A new report examines whether the Pentagon's contracting system can keep pace with the demands of today's battlefieldSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Modern warfare puts a premium on speed. A new report argues that when the Pentagon can move quickly from identifying a need to fielding a solution, it can have a direct impact on military effectiveness. For more details, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Stephanie Halcrow, senior fellow at George Mason University's Center for Government Contracting.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Department is pausing the roll-out of contractor cybersecurity requirements. DoD’s top IT official says the current iteration of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program is too onerous on small businesses. She’s now leading a review of the CMMC program to consider the next steps. For the latest, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Adversaries are using open source information to target federal missions. That’s partly because of a surge in publicly available data and AI tools that can make use of that data more quickly than ever. But agencies can use the same kinds of information to help defend themselves through the tradecraft of open source intelligence. Gharun Lacy is the deputy assistant secretary for cyber and technology security at the State Department, and Eric Miller is a senior advisor for open source intelligence at the Defense Intelligence Agency. They talked about OSINT with Federal News Network’s Jason Miller. Lacy speaks first.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Satellites support everything from communications to navigation, making them an increasingly important part of national infrastructure. But protecting those systems depends on being able to identify suspicious activity before it becomes a larger problem. For a look at DHS research in this area, Federal News Network's Eric White discussed these efforts with Ernest Wong, technical lead at the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton" Online scam networks hide behind layers of accounts, infrastructure and payment systems. A recent DOJ operation showed what it takes to find them You can't defend critical infrastructure from threats you can't detect. That's becoming a growing concern in space Before policymakers can improve border security, they need confidence in how they're measuring itSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Border security may be one of government's most visible missions but measuring what's happening along the border is far more complicated. A new GAO report examines whether DHS's metrics and reporting practices are giving Congress an accurate picture of performance. The short answer; not consistently, and Heather MacLeod, Director of Homeland Security and Justice at GAO is here to walk us through the details. Read the reporter here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108715 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal investigators say online scam networks operate like organized enterprises, spanning platforms, payment systems and countries. A recent operation worked to disrupt that ecosystem all at once, not just individual accounts. Joining me now to explain how that works is Mike Sweeney, Director of Preemptive Cyber Defense at Silent Push.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The rules governing discipline and removal procedures for federal employees are on track for a major overhaul. A slew of proposed regulations and executive orders from the Trump administration along with recent court decisions and upcoming hearings, are reshaping how agencies handle adverse action processes for the federal workforce. Here to break down the latest, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Air Force is scrambling to get its employees back online after scores of people were locked out of their computers last week. Computers across the service went into quarantine, a sort of protective shutdown that's routine as a cybersecurity measure both in and out of the military. But what's not routine here is the scale of people affected, and that at least some of them say they weren't warned in advance.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If agencies are no longer willing to wait for markets alone to deliver critical technologies, what comes next? Some are moving upstream, investing in companies and technologies much earlier than traditional procurement would allow. For a look at what that means for industry and government alike, I spoke with Bloomberg Government senior data analyst Paul Murphy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For decades, government largely funded discovery and let the market handle commercialization. NSF is now building new pathways to move promising technologies from the lab into the economy. Joining me to explain that effort is NSF Assistant Director for Technology Innovation and Partnerships, Dr. Erwin Gianchandani.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The federal government is going beyond funding research. It's increasingly helping decide which technologies make it to market The government's role in innovation may be changing from customer to investor TZA more active government role in innovation raises an old question: how do you move faster without losing accountability?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As agencies experiment with new approaches to technology, finance, and acquisition, the rules that govern grants and contracts are changing too. The challenge is making sure oversight keeps pace with innovation. Professional Services Council President Stephanie Kostro joins me now with the latest take on these issues.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Secret Service has struggled in recent years with understaffing and poor workforce planning. Some of those challenges have precipitated high-profile security failures, including the 2024 assassination attempt on President Trump. Now the Secret Service is overhauling its workforce management systems as it also undertakes a major hiring push. Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me with more details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Department is providing little guidance on how firms are expected to comply with a series of restrictions aimed at severing ties with companies the Pentagon says support Beijing's military. A new class deviation the department recently issued significantly broadens the definition of "Chinese military company" but it's unclear how exactly it impacts defense contractors. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Tracye Howard, government contracts partner at Wiley Rein LLP.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After an Inspector General review identified gaps in suicide risk screening and follow-up, the VA moved to strengthen those processes across its system. The result is higher screening rates and more reliable evaluations for veterans at risk. Joining me to break down those improvements is Acting Executive Director of the Office of Suicide Prevention at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Steven Dobscha.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The VA is reporting record-high rates for suicide risk screening and follow-up Congress has a lot on its agenda. The harder question is whether everyone agrees on what belongs at the top of the list The federal government spends tens of billions of dollars each year on university research. Most taxpayers never see how that system actually worksSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Every year, the federal government spends billions supporting research at universities across the country. That investment helps drive scientific advances, but it also depends on a complex system of funding decisions, academic institutions and researchers. For a closer look at how that system works, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Darren Lipomi, professor of chemical engineering at the University of Rochester and author of a new book, "Science Nonfiction: Behind the Scenes in University Research."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congress has a full plate before lawmakers leave town for August. The problem isn't a lack of important work. It's that competing priorities from the House, Senate and White House are all jockeying for the same limited attention and political capital. For a look at where those tensions stand, I'm joined by Mitchell Miller, Capitol Hill Correspondent for WTOP.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the three weeks since the General Services Administration updated its proposed regulations for the basic safeguarding of data within large language model artificial intelligence systems, vendors and other interested parties have officially submitted only a handful of comments. But that is not because there isn’t a lack of interest or questions about the new proposed rule that GSA would apply to all schedule and governmentwide acquisition contracts under their purview. The comments likely will start pouring in after GSA holds a listening session on July 14 in Washington, D.C. For more on what GSA included in the updated draft regulations and what questions still remain, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking to rebuild its workforce after cutting more than a quarter of its employees last year, according to its top officials. But CDC employees heard similar messages from leadership months ago and have yet to see much hiring. Instead, the agency is relying on temporary reassignments to address staffing gaps a strategy that is putting a toll on the workforce, according to employees. This comes as CDC is upgrading its Ebola response to its highest level of threat. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton In the military, mission success depends on understanding what people can actually do—and matching them to the missions that need them For pregnant Medicaid patients, finding care depends on information that's supposed to point them in the right direction, but may not Federal agencies make thousands of decisions about the workforce every day. A new OPM rule could expand how some of those decisions get madeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Getting the right person into the right role has long been one of the military's toughest workforce challenges. The Pentagon is testing new ways to identify individual capabilities and use them in assignment and career decisions. The approach focuses on measurable performance rather than credentials alone. Joining me to explain what's changed to support this approach is Senior Scientist and Portfolio Lead at Aptima, Julia Brown.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Access to care starts with knowing where care actually exists. New findings from the HHS Inspector General show that the provider information Medicaid patients and state officials rely on is often inaccurate or incomplete. Joining me now is Laura Kordish, Regional Inspector General for Evaluation and Inspections at Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hiring someone is only the beginning of the government's relationship with an employee. A newly finalized OPM rule expands the agency's authority to pursue suitability actions for certain misconduct that occurs after hiring, raising new questions about accountability and workforce management. Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Michael Fallings, Managing Partner at Tully Rinckey, to find out more about what is changing.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An overhaul to the federal workforce’s performance management system is now set in stone. A final rule from the Office of Personnel Management removes a previous ban on using forced distribution system. It also prohibits employees from challenging the ratings they receive. OPM's new rule marks the first major update to performance management in decades. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new Defense Department inspector general report finds that the military services have policies for reviewing allegations of abuse at on-base child development centers, but they don't always carry them out the same way. Investigators found inconsistent communication between Family Advocacy Programs and child care officials, leaving some installations without timely information needed to make staffing decisions or update parents. The watchdog warns those gaps can keep classrooms understaffed, reduce child care capacity and ultimately affect military readiness. Joining Eric White now to break down the report and what it means for military families is Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For years, VA modernization conversations have focused on systems and software. John Bartrum says the more important question is what veterans and clinicians experience when those systems either help care flow or get in the way. I spoke with the VA's departing under secretary for health about where technology can improve care delivery across the nation's largest healthcare system.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The Veterans Health Administration is modernizing everything from clinical systems to care coordination. But the real test is whether veterans and providers actually experience a better healthcare system Federal agencies are being asked to move faster, but speed starts with something more basic: a good business forecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When agencies define requirements clearly, industry can respond with better solutions and fewer surprises. When they don't, costs rise and timelines slip. The Professional Services Council has been measuring those trends and recently issued their new acquisition scorecard. PSC CEO Jim Carroll joins me now with more details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Department significantly reduced the size of its civilian workforce in 2025. The department however, started shedding its employees prior to 2025. A government watchdog found that the Pentagon didn’t consistently analyze the impacts of these reductions, either during the 2025 downsizing or in prior years. It also found that the Pentagon has no plan to assess lessons learned from its 2025 workforce reduction efforts. For more, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Government Accountability Office’s director of defense capabilities and management Kristy Williams.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last year, hundreds of Department of Homeland Security employees were reassigned to different jobs. Some were shifted over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to bolster the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Now, the DHS inspector general is looking at whether those reassignments were done legally. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton" NIST's National Vulnerability Database has largely been a helpful resource, but needs some help to continue that Many pointed to the policy issues with the proposed NDA's the Trump administration wants federal employees to sign, but what about the constitutional factors? Some federal careers are built to end early, and that changes everything about how you plan the rest of your lifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For law enforcement officers and others, retirement can come in the late 40s or 50s with decades still ahead to fund and plan. That shift changes how they think about saving, second careers and long-term risks. Joining me to discuss the mind and investment shift required is federal retirement expert, Tammy Flanagan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A list of potential cyber vulnerabilities, rightfully called the National Vulnerability Database, is one of the many ways the National Institute of Standards and Technology aims to help industry and government cyber officials keep track of possible weaknesses in IT systems. However, a recent review of the NVD by the Commerce Department's Inspector General, found that a backlog has developed over the years, and NIST officials are in need of more resources to cut it down. For an explanation of what it will take, I had the chance to speak with Chuck Mitchell from the IG's office.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Office of Personnel Management's proposal to institute a standardized NDA that federal workers could be required to sign as a condition of employment has made for much discussion in federal workforce circles. While many are concerned with the chilling effect it could have on workers, some are wondering about the possible violation of first amendment rights. One of them is the organization Protect Democracy, which filed comments of its own opposing the measure. To get a read on its view, I spoke with Jules Torti who is counsel for the organization.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal unions and nonprofit groups are asking a federal court to temporarily bar USDA from carrying out a reorganization that that will move thousands of employees across the country. USDA leaders have repeatedly said the upcoming relocations will not lead to much attrition among its ranks. But internal documents contradict this claim. In newly uncovered documents, USDA wrote it’s counting on a “significant number” employees who quit rather than relocate. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Office of Personnel Management plans to take a more hands-off approach to the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. A new proposal would make agencies, rather than OPM, responsible for surveying their own employees. OPM is also seeking to cut some currently required questions and add back in some different ones. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new study is taking a close look at what happened to the workforce after the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development, tracking the effects on jobs, finances and health. It offers one of the first large-scale pictures of how that loss of mission played out for employees and their families. Here to share her research findings and recommendations is former USAID foreign service officer, Jamie Oberlander.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The latest version of the PMP exam reflects a shift toward how project work actually gets done today. It puts more weight on real‑world judgment and less on textbook recall. Joining me to walk us through what's different and why it matters is Dr. Kelly Heuer, VP of Learning at the Project Management Institute.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton For military families with special‑needs children, the Exceptional Family Member Program is essential, but not simple When an agency shuts down, the story usually focuses on policy and program impacts. This one looks at the people left behind The practice of project management isn’t static and neither is the examSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For families who rely on it, the Exceptional Family Member Program can shape everything from assignments to access to care. Jessica Hulter knows that firsthand from years spent navigating the system while caring for her daughter, and her experience sheds light on what it takes for military families to find their way through it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Office of Personnel Management wants to make easier to remove federal employees for performance or misconduct reasons. In a new 81-page proposed rule that came out last week, OPM and the Merit Systems Protection Board are jointly seeking to change the administrative procedures used to fire employees and the review of such actions before the board. For more on the proposed changes, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now to discuss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Defense contractors face a new restriction. A new law now prohibits the Pentagon from contracting with companies that retain consultants lobbying for certain Chinese firms blacklisted by the department. For more, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Covington’s Election and Political Law lawyer Zachary Parks.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new executive order sets up a pathway for companies to share advanced artificial intelligence models with federal officials ahead of public release, giving the government earlier visibility into emerging capabilities and the risks they could pose. Joining me to explain how this is playing out is Alex Hastings, a Partner at Morgan, Lewis.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry GertonIf AI starts doing the work, can people trust the outcome?The administration’s new AI framework includes something the government hasn’t had before. A chance to see advanced systems before they’re released to the publicCongress returns from recess with a lot of its plateSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Agentic AI systems promise faster, cheaper execution for federal agencies, but they also raise new questions about governance, accountability and trust. We talk through what has to change as these systems scale with Karim Fadel, vice president of CGI Federal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congress was sort of stuck in a wait and see mode once the president demanded more attention was directed at passing his election security legislation. An effort that that again was thwarted by procedural rules in the Senate. Joining me to explain how things went down and what to watch for after their brief recess next week, Bloomberg Government Deputy News Director Loren Duggan. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on "The Best of the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton" we revisit some of our best interviews of the past couple of months. Learn more about what it will take to replenish the U.S. missile stockpile after the operations in Iran.Also, a warning the agency responsible for overseeing classified work at defense contractors, it may be falling short of its mission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration is giving agencies more leeway to remove federal employees deemed “unfit” for their jobs. A new final rule from the Office of Personnel Management expands the reasons that employees might be considered “unsuitable” and therefore fireable. The change is meant to increase employee accountability, but concerns remain about the possibility of politically motivated removals. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The CIA is looking to drastically speed up its acquisition timelines to acquire cutting edge technology like AI. CIA Director John Ratcliffe says the goal is to complete most technology acquisitions within six months. And the secretive spy agency also wants to open up to industry through a new Office of Corporate Partnerships. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The FAR rewrite is more than just updated rulesIf you’ve ever struggled to hear someone in a crowded room, you’ve experienced a problem today’s technology still hasn’t solved. Researchers are now taking a different approach.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are now starting to see some of the changes to the FAR being implemented in real time. There of course still many questions to be answered during such a large transition phase. To discuss them, I recently caught up with Emily Murphy, former administrator for the General Services Administration and now senior fellow at the George Mason University Baroni Center for Government Contracting. I also had the chance to pick her brain about what happens when a government architecture project, wades into political waters, emphasis on the water portion.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Even advanced hearing aids and implants can fall short when it comes to separating voices from background noise. A new federal research program is looking beyond the ear and into the brain for answers. We get more from Dr. Calvin Roberts, the HEARING program manager at ARPA-H.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Office of Personnel Management is giving many employees in its healthcare and insurance division another chance to accept voluntary incentives and leave their jobs, ahead of their busy season. OPM is giving most employees working there another shot at the deferred resignation program that will allow them to go on paid administrative leave for six months before leaving the agency. OPM is making these changes ahead of an agency reorganization and Open Season. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Washington heads into its summer lull, current and former national security leaders gathered Tuesday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies to discuss the state of play for the defense-industrial base and what we could see ahead on Capitol Hill. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen joins us today with more from that discussion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Security leaders are recalibrating how they read risk in a more fragmented environment. What used to be isolated signals now connect in ways that can change decisions fast. Here to explain what that means for public officials at all levels is Executive Director of Protective Intelligence at Ontic, Fred Burton.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Five years after the passage of the IIJA, attention is shifting from getting money out to making sure projects move and results show up. Oversight is finding persistent issues that could shape how that plays out. Joining me to discuss how this is playing out at EPA specifically is senior advisor to the EPA Inspector General, Kate Robinson.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton When it comes to personal security, knowing something is happening isn’t the same as knowing what to do about it The next test for the infrastructure investment and jobs act is whether it can deliver, not just distribute A new proposed FAR rule is trying to fix one of the government’s most persistent data problems, figuring out exactly what needs to be protectedSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A revised FAR proposal now out for comment aims to unify how civilian agencies define and safeguard controlled unclassified information in contracts, reflecting industry pushback on earlier drafts while addressing long‑standing gaps that left contractors navigating a patchwork of policies. Here to walk us through the details is Zach Prince, a partner at Haynes Boone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leaders across all levels of government convened last week at the Library of Congress in downtown Washington, D.C, for an event celebrating public service. As the U.S. approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, the ceremony sparked inspiration for the next generation of government leaders. Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman was at the event and she files this report. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Despite all the turmoil in federal contracting over the last year, agencies surpassed the 23% governmentwide goal for awards to small businesses in fiscal 2025. The Small Business Administration said last Thursday that agencies awarded 28% of all prime contracts to small firms last year. While agencies reached the overall goal, the total dollars going to small businesses dropped to $179 billion last year from $183.5 billion in 2024. For more on SBA's 2025 small business scorecard, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now to discuss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Net contributions are down and now negative. At the same time, the G Fund has lost its place as the dominant investment. Arthur Stein, Partner with Allworth Financial, says those shifts are connected, and together they point to a change in how the TSP is working for investors.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A massive overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation is now moving through formal rulemaking, with the first set of proposed changes touching wide swaths of how contracts are planned, awarded and managed. The documents run longer than Moby Dick, and stakeholders have just 30 days to weigh in. Here to walk us through the key changes is Partner at Haynes Boone, Dan Ramish.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The "Father of the Nuclear Navy" is still influencing modern day leaders Two trends in the TSP don’t seem to line up, but they might actually be the same story The government is rewriting the rulebook for how it buys and the changes are coming fastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Admiral Hyman G. Rickover had a huge task, development a naval nuclear propulsion program that will use the technology efficiently and safely for years to come. Now known as the "Father of Nuclear Navy," it is safe to say that mission was accomplished. During his career however, he brought many into his sphere of influence and advised many other federal leaders and even presidents about nuclear power to make sure it gets the care and attention it needs. Now one of his long time assistants has written a book about the life and career of the admiral, who I jumped at the chance to speak with, seeing as my own grandfather served under him in the U.S. Navy. I had the pleasure of speaking with Joann DiGennaro, who is the co-founder and now president of the Center for Excellence in Education, an organization the admiral himself created.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center has long been a key cog in the Pentagon’s efforts to protect sensitive information from leaking to foreign adversaries. But the Pentagon is now ramping up a new evaluation regime under the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program. evaluating potentially tens of thousands of contractors that hold sensitive CUI. For more on what the CMMC program means for DIBCAC, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday talked with Nick DelRosso, the center’s director. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Food insecurity is on the rise among military families. And more than a third of currently serving families said they had less than $500 in savings. Those are some of the findings of the Military Family Advisory Network’s biennial survey . Over the years, the survey, which is the largest independent research effort focused on the military family population, has helped shape major policy and quality-of-life reforms. For more on the findings, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Dr. Gabby L'Esperance, Military Family Advisory Network’s vice president of research and evaluation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Competing FEMA reorganization proposals are now on the table, and there’s actually surprising alignment on what needs to change, but no final plan. That raises a more urgent question: how ready will the agency be when the next major disaster hits? Andy Winkler of the Bipartisan Policy Center joins us with a look at what’s at stake.Read the report here: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/issue-brief/fema-reform-comparing-the-review-councils-recommendations-and-congressional-proposals/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With USPS under financial pressure, expanding into new government services could offer a path forward. But despite having the authority to do more, that effort hasn’t moved much beyond passport processing. A new report from the Postal Service’s inspector general points to a lack of strategy and a fragmented approach inside the organization. David Garcia, Research Analyst with the Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General, is here to walk us through the details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton When there’s broad agreement on disaster response reform, why does action still stall? The Postal Service has the authority to expand into government services, so why hasn’t it acted?Congress seemed close to resolving several key issues until the White House stepped in, so what happens now?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congress appeared to be closing in on several major issues last week, before the White House shifted the dynamics in a way that could change what comes next. Now lawmakers are reassessing both timing and substance. For a look at where things stand, we turn to Mitchell Miller, Capitol Hill correspondent for WTOP.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Postal Service has pushed back an immediate cash crisis by delaying payments to employee retirement plans. But Postmaster General David Steiner warned lawmakers this week that USPS’ long-term financial problems are far from solved. For the latest, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reorganizing its long-standing value engineering program by shifting it from a separate activity and folding it into existing project delivery processes. Critics warn the move would increase the risk of waste, cost growth and schedule overruns and one organization has urged the Defense Department to immediately reverse the decision. For more, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Rob Stewart, SAVE International immediate past president.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The choice to claim Social Security benefits early or delay them comes down to balancing immediate income against long‑term security. That decision often hinges on factors people can’t know for sure, especially how long they’ll live. Here to walk through what people should be weighing is Thiago Glieger, a certified financial planner with RMG Advisors.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton As America approaches its 250th anniversary, a new book points back to one of the founders’ most important ideas, prevention Some of the biggest fiscal problems facing the government aren’t surprises, they’re warnings we’ve chosen to live with There’s no perfect answer to when to claim Social Security, but there are real consequences to getting it wrong See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The latest social security trustees report doesn’t break new ground, but it does move up the timeline for when the trust fund starts to run out of money. And it raises a basic question: if we’ve known this was coming, why hasn’t anything changed? Joining me to walk through the politics and the process of fixing social security is the Executive Vice President of Policy at the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Brett Loper.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When you think of Benjamin Franklin, you probably think invention or diplomacy, but Dr. Barry Davis says Franklin’s real legacy may be something more fundamental: the idea that a free society survives by acting before problems become crises. That concept shaped how early American institutions were built, and it still has relevance for how we think about public systems today. Dr. Davis joins me now to share his new book, "The Preventioneers."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The White House is accelerating the governmentwide transition to post-quantum cryptography. In a new executive order, President Trump directs agencies to meet hard deadlines for adopting the PQC algorithms that will protect data from a future quantum computer. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Senate Armed Services Committee is holding a hearing today to consider four nominees for senior Pentagon and intelligence positions, key jobs given that the Defense Department is managing a record $1.5 trillion budget request with big plans for its space and intel capabilities. The four nominees are Jay Hurst, tapped to be the Pentagon's comptroller; Matt O'Malley, nominated as the deputy overseeing defense acquisition and sustainment; Roger Mason, who would lead the National Reconnaissance Office, the spy agency that builds and operates America's intelligence satellites; and Erich Hernandez-Baquero, who would become the Department of the Air Force's top official for space acquisition. Today's hearing helps move the needle on the many national security vacancies that persist across the Trump administration. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen joins me with more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says it’s entering a new era, one that resets how it regulates and enforces Nuclear technology is moving fast, regulation has to keep up Better decisions depend on data, but only if people can actually use itSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new reform push at ATF aims to reduce friction for lawful businesses and owners, while concentrating enforcement on willful violations. The challenge is maintaining that balance as expectations around safety and accountability remain high. Joining me to discuss ATF's shift in focus is the ATF director, Robert Cekada.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Time at the International Atomic Energy Agency gave Anna Bradford a broader view of how countries approach nuclear safety and innovation. Now back at the NRC, she joins me to share how she’s applying those lessons as the U.S. navigates a new phase of reactor development.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re starting a new monthly series focused on how federal data works in the real world. Episode one looks at a Federal Data Field Guide aimed at helping users sort through different datasets and put them to work. Joining me now are Denice Ross and Chris Marcum.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The wait is over for more than 1,400 vendors. NASA’s SEWP program office awarded spots on its sixth iteration of its governmentwide technology contract. In all, NASA made more than 2,100 awards under this governmentwide acquisition contract for IT products and services. For more on the SEWP VI awards, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me with details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the summer wildfire season gets underway, federal wildland firefighters are facing an increasingly difficult situation on the job. Three out of four respondents to a recent survey say they have considered quitting within the past 12 months. That comes as the frontline workers face increasing burnout and low morale. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton For years, commercial drones have been limited by how far operators can actually see them, that's about to change As drones take on a bigger role in the airspace, the rules around them are getting more complicated but also more coordinated than you might expect Electric aircraft are coming. The rules that will allow them to fly aren’tSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s not just drones pushing aviation into new territory. Electric aircraft are edging closer to commercial use, but certification is still the gatekeeper. The FAA is trying to adapt existing rules while building a longer-term framework that can scale with new designs and risks. Joining me to explain that tension is Derrick Collins, Director of GAO’s Physical Infrastructure team.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new FAA framework could allow drone operators to fly beyond visual line of sight, opening the door to expanded use in infrastructure inspection, agriculture and emergency response. The shift would move drone operations closer to routine use across the national airspace. Joining me to explain the impact and the integration challenge is former senior executive in the FAA’s National Security Division, Jose Martinez.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As drone operations expand, regulation could easily fragment across FAA, DHS, DoD and others. Instead, there’s growing coordination to manage both safety and security across that system. Katie Inman, a Partner at Holland and Knight, walks us through how that’s taking shape.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Every year, agencies award billions of dollars in grants and other federal funding to finance infrastructure projects across the country. But few of those dollars come attached with cyber requirements, despite repeated warnings that foreign hackers are targeting power utilities and other critical infrastructure. A new report from the Institute for Security and Technology is now offering Congress and the Trump administration several options for factoring cybersecurity into federal funding. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday spoke with IST’s senior vice president for policy, Nicholas Leiserson.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Marine Corps has a new plan to grow the force by as much as 5% by 2032. The service hopes adding thousands of Marines will spell success in future wars. One lieutenant general says that goal is a step in the right direction to fix earlier versions of its force design plans. For more about this new goal and more context on changes ahead for the Marine Corps, Federal News Network DoD reporter Rachel Cohen joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Scientific breakthroughs don’t run on short timelines, but federal funding is starting to A lot of science policy doesn't fail, it just never makes it through the system Security at major events now depends on how well government and contractors operate as one systemSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Behind the scenes of mega-events, contractors are running key pieces of event infrastructure, from cyber systems to communications. That’s raising new questions about coordination, accountability, and who’s responsible when decisions have to happen fast. Joining me to walk through how that works is CEO of the Professional Services Council, Jim Carroll.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal funding and independent universities have long worked together to drive American innovation. But with support becoming less predictable, universities say the strain is showing in both research activity and the talent pipeline. Joining me to explain the impact on future discoveries is the president of MIT, Dr. Sally Kornbluth.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The interagency process is designed to coordinate decisions across government, but it can also become a choke point for science and technology policy. Understanding where that process breaks down is key to getting ideas into action. Joining me with his observations and recommendations is the Director of Science Policy and Advocacy at the Stand Up for Science Foundation, Cole Donovan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The public’s overall view of civil servants is trending upward along with increasing public support for a nonpartisan federal workforce. Those latest findings come from a new report from the Partnership for Public Service. The nonprofit is also picking up on a continuing trend of many Americans disapproving of the Trump administration’s cuts to federal funding and the federal workforce. For more on the survey results, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman spoke with Paul Hitlin, Senior Research Manager at the Partnership for Public Service. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump announced restrictions on executive pay and stock buybacks as part of the administration’s push to speed procurement and revitalize the defense industrial base. Now lawmakers are looking to codify his executive order into law. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton A new House task force is taking aim at everything from free speech to federal programs and for a lot of organizations, the level of scrutiny may be surprising A stretch of Capitol Hill work is shifting from debate to decisionsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Several issues that have been building in Congress around foreign policy, intelligence authorities, affordability, emerging tech and federal funding are now in windows where action is possible. The timing is different for each, but the possibilities are clear. Here to point out the progress and the obstacles is deputy news director for Bloomberg Government, Loren Duggan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new House Oversight task force is investigating how organizations handle issues like free speech, DEI and federal funding. With hearings now underway and a tight deadline, the focus is shifting from policy debates to how these decisions are made and documented. Here for a look at what that process actually looks like are Kim Hamm and Carlos Uriarte, co-chairs of Morrison Foerster’s congressional investigations practice.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the best of "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Bringing more students into public service starts with giving them a way in and a reason to see themselves thereNASA is testing a faster way to recruit top engineering talent inside the federal hiring guardrailsFederal financial management has always been a no‑fail mission. The past year has added new pressure to a workforce already stretched across competing demandsAs AI reshapes work, a new program is showing what it takes to keep upSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Small Business Administration is expanding its scrutiny of socio-economic contracting programs to now include a review of the women-owned small business program. SBA is giving these firms until late June or early July to respond to a survey and provide the agency with “personal and business tax returns for the last three years.” For more about this new audit and an update on SBA's continued scrutiny of the 8(a) program, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is battling one of the worst Ebola outbreaks on record, calling on its workforce to help contain its spread overseas. But the CDC is dealing with last year’s staffing cuts and still lacks permanent leadership in many of its roles. Further, Internal surveys show employees responding to the outbreak are also dealing with low morale. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Even as defense spending rises, many investments are still going into high-cost, limited systems, raising questions about whether the U.S. is building the right mix to sustain a prolonged fight. Here to share her analysis is senior defense policy analyst for the Center for Defense Information at POGO, Virginia Burger.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Even with increased funding and production, rebuilding key missile stockpiles could take years, creating a gap between current demand and available supply. We get a closer look now from Mark Cancian, senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.Read the report here: https://www.csis.org/analysis/rebuilding-us-missile-inventory-multiyear-project See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Even with new money in place, DHS contractors are still dealing with delays, restart friction, and gaps left by the shutdown showing how long it can take for funding to translate into real execution. Here to walk us through how the Department is responding is CEO of the Professional Services Council, Jim Carroll.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A long-awaited HR modernization project is taking a big step forward. The Office of Personnel Management has awarded a nearly $400 million contract to Oracle. The vendor is expected to deliver a governmentwide IT platform to consolidate and replace the more than 100 HR systems currently in use across agencies. For the latest, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman sat down for an exclusive interview with Jason Parman, OPM’s principal deputy associate director for HR Solutions and OPM Director Scott Kupor.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Suicide prevention training is meant to protect service members, but the Pentagon can’t fully track who’s completing it or whether it’s helping Life insurance is one of those benefits people tend to carry, but not always understandIt’s being pitched as a simple way to build wealth early, but whether it works may depend on how it fits real lifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Suicide prevention depends on reaching people early, but the military doesn’t always have clear visibility into whether its training is being completed or making a difference. A recent GAO review highlights gaps that go beyond compliance. We hear more from Rashmi Agarwal, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management at GAO.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A lot of people have life insurance, but that doesn’t always mean they know what it’s meant to cover or whether it would actually do what they expect. For federal employees, those questions often start with FEGLI and follow them into retirement. Here to help us sort through some key decision points is Tammy Flanagan, principal at Retire Federal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So‑called “Trump Accounts” are being described as a way to give kids an early start on saving, but the real questions are how much value they deliver, and where they actually fit among the choices families already have. Here to help us sort out the considerations is the president of Armed Forces Mutual, Mike Meese.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Agriculture Department’s sweeping plans to relocate employees are coming into focus. Employees are starting to receive their relocation notices. In the coming weeks, they must decide whether to move to keep their jobs or quit the agency. At one impacted component staff are being offered incentives if they stay or go. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office has been in a period of transition lately. Several years after its creation, Pentagon leaders decided last year to fold the CDAO into the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering. Before that, the CDAO reported directly to the deputy secretary of Defense. Andrew Mapes is the acting principal deputy chief digital and AI officer. He talked with Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis about the realignment and how it’s positioning CDAO to deliver AI capabilities at scale.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Everybody studies government contracting, the open question is whether anyone outside the system can actually move itFederal contracting is heading into a different kind of environment, more controlled, more structured and less forgiving Sovereign AI, systems built by national governments that run on their own data, infrastructure and rules is hard, expensive and absolutely necessarySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As countries race to adopt artificial intelligence, the challenge is building capability they actually control, without falling behind or over‑relying on outside providers. Alan Webber, Program Vice President - National Security, Defense and Intelligence at IDC, tells us what it takes to get that right.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A series of changes across policy and regulation are reshaping the federal marketplace at the same time. Together, they point toward a system with tighter requirements and sharper expectations around performance and accountability. Here to help us understand the combined impact on the contracting community is Managing Partner at Centre Law and Consulting, Barbara Kinosky.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s no shortage of analysis about how government contracting works and where it’s broken. What’s harder to pin down is who actually has the leverage to change it. The Baroni Center at George Mason is trying to move from research to influence, and Mike Derrios says that only works if you’re plugged directly into how the system really operates.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Army is warning that an amendment in the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the 2026 defense policy bill could discourage technology companies from building data centers on military installations and jeopardize the service’s modernization efforts. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At most agencies, probationary employees left their jobs at a higher rate than other federal workers in 2025. That’s according to analysis of about two dozen agencies in a new report from the Government Accountability Office. Early last year, agencies implemented mass terminations of employees on their probationary period, who have limited job protections. For a look at how those separations panned out, Federal News Network's Drew Friedman spoke with GAO's director of strategic issues, Dawn Locke.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The rollout of Schedule Policy/Career and a proposed government-wide nondisclosure agreement are putting new pressure on how federal employees think about their jobs from security and accountability to what they’re willing to say out loud. The effects are starting to show up in real ways across agencies. John Hatton of NARFE connects the dots for us.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton When the rules change, people will change how they work Agencies are doubling down on AI upskilling, but new research suggests they may be solving the wrong problem Congress is at a pivot point on reconciliation and the defense billSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Questions about the future of another reconciliation package are rippling through Congress, with implications for how and when lawmakers take up the annual defense policy bill. Mitchell Miller joins us with the latest from Capitol Hill.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s a growing push to build new skills across government, especially in AI. But if the surrounding systems don’t support that learning, the investment may not translate into performance. A new body of research is challenging how agencies think about the problem. Here to share those findings and recommendations is he Upskilling Lead in the Administrative Modernization Program at Oregon State University, Dr. Priyanka Dave.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New data from Democrats on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee shine fresh light on just how rough its been for many small business contractors over the last 15 months. A new report from Senator Ed Markey, ranking member of the committee, found since January 2025 when President Donald Trump took office, agencies have reduced spending by 19% and thousands of small firms have left the federal market. For exclusive details on this new data and what it means for federal small business contractors, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The emergence of artificial intelligence-driven cyber threats is forcing a shift in how agencies manage software vulnerabilities. In a new directive released this week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency laid out how agencies should prioritize the highest risk vulnerabilities on their networks. For more, Federal News Network Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new report on Medicaid fraud starts from the ground up, built with input from the people who depend on those services every day. It lays out ways to tighten oversight while preserving access to home and community‑based care. Here to walk us through the problem and the solutions is Leslie Ford, Senior Fellow with the Able Americans program at the National Center for Public Policy Research.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton ARPA‑H is testing a model to make research faster, more repeatable, and less dependent on where or with whom you workA lot of health AI isn’t where you think it is and it’s not overseen the way you might expect The people who rely on Medicaid helped design a plan to curb fraud without putting their own care at riskSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The limits of biomedical research often come down to access, tools, networks and where the work happens. ARPA‑H is piloting a system meant to level that out while improving reliability. Here to tell us how this will all work is Dr. Paul Sheehan, program manager for IGOR at ARPA‑H.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From administrative decisions to care management, health AI tools are influencing outcomes in ways patients may never see. But many of those systems fall outside the usual oversight framework, and that can leave gaps in accountability and increase the risk of errors or inconsistent standards. Here to discuss her recent diagnosis of this space is the Bipartisan Policy Center's Maya Sandalow.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The House Armed Services Committee is pushing back against President Donald Trump’s executive order that removes collective bargaining rights for civilian workers in the defense department. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The General Services Administration, the landlord for much of the federal government, says none of the owned or leased buildings it has data on meet the minimum occupancy standard set by law last year. But GSA is reexamining the data it’s collected so far. Among its concerns, the data doesn’t differentiate office space from rooms where employees aren’t working. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This moment in the labor market looks stable on the surface, but underneath it’s driven by caution and constrained choices. Workers are holding on rather than moving on. My guests are Matt Terry from The Economist Enterprise and Brendan McCarthy from Nuveen.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Bringing more students into public service starts with giving them a way in and a reason to see themselves there Federal hiring problems may start with how the jobs are defined What looks like stability in today’s workforce may actually be caution, as more people choose to stay put in an uncertain economySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Efforts to improve federal hiring and pay often run into the same problem. The system that defines jobs has stayed largely the same, even as the work itself has changed. Here to walk us through the problem and a path to modernization is Gabe Menchaca, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Niskanen Center.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new program at Arizona State University is connecting students to federal service while they’re still in school, through a model that blends coursework with hands‑on experience. It’s part of a broader effort to strengthen the talent pipeline and widen access to government careers. Shannon Portillo, Director of ASU's School of Public Affairs, is here to give us more information about the initiative.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More details are emerging about the practical implications of Schedule Policy/Career. New guidance from the Office of Personnel Management comes as agencies face a looming deadline to formally reclassify thousands of career federal employees … in effect, those reclassifications will strip workers of long-standing civil service protections. Here with the latest, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congress just passed fiscal 2026 appropriations for most of the Department of Homeland Security in May. But lawmakers are already moving forward with crafting a 2027 budget for DHS. The House Appropriations Committee’s homeland security spending bill pushes back on some cuts proposed by the Trump administration. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cyber threats are moving beyond data and into the systems people depend on every day, including water and wastewater infrastructure. A new GAO report finds persistent vulnerabilities, shaped by uneven resources, aging systems, and limits on federal oversight. Here to break down the findings and recommendations is Dave Hinchman, director of information technology and cybersecurity at the Government Accountability Office.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seafood isn’t usually top of mind at the Agriculture Department, but that’s starting to change. A new Office of Seafood is meant to help grow domestic production and connect producers to markets using USDA’s existing tools. Mike Illenberg is acting director of the office, and he's here to tell us how they're getting started.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry GertonThe government wants more of your seafood to come from U.S. waters and it’s standing up a new office to help make that happen A long-running federal river program delivers real returns, but now it’s on the chopping block The systems that keep water flowing are more connected than ever and more exposed to cyber risks than most people realizeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For more than two decades, the Army Corps of Engineers has worked with partners to change how dams are operated, reducing flood risk and boosting local economies along the way. A new analysis says the returns are significant, but funding is now at risk. Jim Howe of The Nature Conservancy explains what the program actually does and what could be lost.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More details are emerging about the practical implications of Schedule Policy/Career. New guidance from the Office of Personnel Management comes as agencies face a looming deadline to formally reclassify thousands of career federal employees … in effect, those reclassifications will strip workers of long-standing civil service protections. Here with the latest, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Postal Service, on the verge of running out of cash early next year, is pricing out a wide range of possible reforms that, if passed by Congress, could address the agency’s long-term financial problems. One of them would be eliminating its regulatory agency, which must approve USPS requests to raise stamp prices. USPS expects to run out of cash early next year, but is relying on some extraordinary measures to push back that financial cliff. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As agencies look for ways to operate faster and more efficiently,  The Army’s medical logistics community is embracing telemaintenence. It’s a bit like telemedicine, except for medical equipment. That’s meant the most experienced medical logisticians can now lend their expertise from a distance, in ways that let equipment get fixed in hours instead of days. Wes Ladlee is the chief of Army Medical Logistics Command’s maintenance support office. He talked about the improvements with Federal News Network’s Jared Serbu.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton After a marathon markup, the House has shaped its version of the NDAA, but the final outcome is still very much in play Congress and multiple administrations keep coming back to one idea, use more fixed‑price contracts to control costs and improve outcomes. But putting that into practice is more complicated than it sounds When agencies are under pressure to move quickly and enforce the rules, they still have to document how they make decisions, and one recent case suggests SBA didn’tSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fixed‑price contracting is often treated as the answer to cost control in federal acquisition, and it works when requirements are clear and outcomes are known. But as agencies try to apply that model more broadly, they keep running into the reality that many projects don’t start with that kind of certainty. Here with a perspective from the industry side of the table is Brian Miller, president of BMNT.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A recent case involving the suspension of an 8(a) contractor is raising questions about how agencies document their decisions. An SBA appeals judge sent the case back, saying the record didn’t meet even basic requirements. So the issue, for now, isn’t whether the agency was right, it’s whether it showed its work clearly enough to justify the action. Zach Prince, partner at Haynes Boone, joins me now to talk through what happened.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The House has moved its defense policy bill out of committee, mixing acquisition changes with broader policy fights. But with the Senate still to act and negotiations ahead, this version is far from final. And what shows up in this bill will shape how agencies buy, manage, and oversee work across government. We have the President of the Professional Services Council, Stephaie Kostro, here to walk us through the headlines.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lieutenant General Paul Stanton is redefining the concept of team work at the Defense Information Systems Agency. The director of DISA says the interdependency of technology systems and the speed of artificial intelligence are driving this change. WIth more on what DISA’s new approach to team work is going to look like, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The House Armed Services Committee adopted an expansive right-to-repair amendment Thursday over the objections of the committee’s chairman and several Republicans, setting up another major fight with industry over the Pentagon's access to technical data and software. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The appointment of an acting DNI brings up bigger questions about how the intelligence community is led and coordinated. That includes what kind of experience the role demands and how long an acting structure can hold. Here with insight on what has to go right is former FBI special agent and national security expert, Rich Kolko.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Congress makes headway on ICE and CBP funding, but not much else There’s a new temporary selection to lead U.S. intelligence and it’s a good moment to look at what that job demands and how the process works A proposed NDA for federal employees is drawing attention to how information moves inside government and who feels safe sharing itSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After late-night votes and a contentious markup, Congress is inching forward on some of its highest-profile priorities, including ICE and CBP funding and the annual defense authorization bill. Regular appropriations for 2027 are also moving through committees. Loren Duggan, Deputy News Director for Bloomberg Government, joins me now to walk through where things stand. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A proposal to create a governmentwide nondisclosure agreement for federal employees is raising new questions about transparency and accountability. The administration says it reinforces existing rules, but critics warn it could have a broader impact on how employees communicate and report concerns. That tension between policy and behavior is at the center of the debate. Joe Spielberger of the Project on Government Oversight joins me now to break down the possible outcomes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Forest Service is offering separation incentives to employees ahead of an agency reorganization that will move hundreds of positions across the country. The Forest Service told employees in a recent email that it will offer Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP) to employees impacted by the agency’s upcoming reorganization. The Agriculture Department announced in March that the Forest Service would move its headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Agencies will soon get their first set of marching orders from President Donald Trump’s executive order on artificial intelligence from earlier this week. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is expected to issue at least one binding operational directive as soon as today to direct agencies to secure large language models. For more on the BOD and other changes expected from the AI EO, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For federal employees and retirees, inflation is changing the math on everything from retirement income to basic savings strategy. Some of the choices that feel conservative, like leaning on the G Fund or sitting on cash can fall behind over time. Art Stein joins me to walk through how inflation is affecting federal financial security.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton CMMC has moved from planning to enforcement and contractors are feeling it When it comes to inflation, playing it safe isn’t always the safest investment moveSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After years of preparation, cybersecurity requirements for defense contractors are now being enforced in real time. That shift is exposing gaps between what companies thought was ready and what actually meets the standard.Here to walk through what he’s seeing inside the defense supply chain is Emil Sayegh, CEO of Cybersheath.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration has taken the final step to make Schedule Policy/Career a reality. Close to 8,000 career federal employees will be moved into the new employment category with limited job protections. The move is meant to boost workforce accountability, but has also drawn sharp criticism. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The White House is moving toward a voluntary process for reviewing frontier artificial intelligence models for cybersecurity risks. The review process is laid out in an AI security executive order executive order signed out this week. The order also sets the stage for new governmentwide cybersecurity directives. Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me now with more details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Getting from a patent to a product is still where many ideas get stuck Building more missile defense capability means rebuilding the industrial base behind it New research suggests some of the states most closely tied to the federal government may not be the ones you expectSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For years, rankings of state dependence on federal spending have focused largely on government transfers. A new study from the Pioneer Institute takes a broader view, incorporating everything from Social Security and Medicare to defense spending, military payrolls and disaster assistance. The results challenge some conventional assumptions, placing Maryland and Virginia among the states most dependent on federal dollars. To learn more, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Liam Day of the Pioneer Institute.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Even with the Bayh‑Dole framework in place, moving a federally funded discovery into the market still depends on licensing, capital and timing. A new report highlights where those steps break down and how researchers and entrepreneurs work through them. Here to share their own journey through the innovation ecosystem are Dr. Eric Fossum and Dr. Sabrina Kemeny.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new production center in Alabama reflects a larger effort to expand U.S. munitions capacity, but the real story runs through suppliers, hiring and how quickly that system can respond to demand. As the Pentagon looks for more surge capability, industry is working through the constraints that shape what’s possible. Tim Cahill, President of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, is here to discuss what that means on the ground.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Enrollees in the government’s health insurance programs will soon face tighter requirements when adding family members to their plans. A new final rule from the Office of Personnel Management will expand the verification process for insurance enrollees. It’s an effort to reduce spending on ineligible participants. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After upheavals across the federal workforce, and hundreds of thousands of public servants leaving their jobs, grassroots organizations have been rising to meet the moment. One of those groups is called FedsForward, which has been building tech-enabled tools to help civil servants navigate career change. Federal News Network's Drew Friedman recently caught up with Karen Lee, a co-founder of FedsForward.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The House is trying to give the “Rule of Two” more legal weight, even as it pushes agencies to move faster on acquisition. One effort tightens expectations. The other opens the system up. Former GSA administrator Emily Murphy is here to walk us through what these changes might mean for the daily work of buying for the government.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Helping disaster survivors recover is one of FEMA’s most visible missions. A new GAO review looks at how well that assistance actually lines up with what survivors need on the ground Telehealth expanded quickly, oversight is still catching up Two changes moving through the House would reshape how agencies buy, from who gets a shot to how fast decisions get madeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An HHS inspector general audit found that targeted system edits and clearer coding guidance could have prevented a share of improper Medicare payments tied to virtual visits. Here to talk us through what those fixes would change and how CMS is responding, is Assistant Regional Inspector General for Audit Services at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Kari Lowery.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Delivering disaster assistance at scale is one of FEMA’s toughest operational challenges. A GAO review looks at where the system struggles to match survivor needs after major disasters, and Chris Currie, Director in the Homeland Security and Justice team at GAO, is here to walk us through the details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The National Institutes of Health is leaning into artificial intelligence to gather insights from a vast amount of health data. And the hope is that shift will let the agency conduct research more quickly and offer new tools to support clinicians. Susan Gregurick is associate director for data science at NIH. She talked with Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman about how AI is helping to unlock insights across disconnected systems.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is hiring again. With Atlantic hurricane season officially underway, FEMA is trying to fill hundreds of open positions. But that comes after the agency lost roughly 5,000 employees since last January. For the latest, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal agencies have expanded their use of artificial intelligence beyond early experimentation, but maturity varies widely from one organization to another. Some have moved toward operational use, while others are still working through basic implementation. That uneven progress is shaping how much of that activity actually turns into results. Here to break down her recent findings and take a look at the future is Valerie Wirtschafter of the Brookings Institution.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton There’s more AI activity inside federal agencies than ever before, but the results aren’t always easy to see A simpler way to file taxes ran into a complicated system around it Retirement changes the rules for your portfolio, what worked while you were building savings can start to create real risk once you begin drawing it downSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The move from saving to spending introduces a different kind of risk, where timing matters as much as returns. That shift can change outcomes quickly, especially in the early years of retirement. Certified financial planner Thiago Glieger of RMG Advisors, joins me to walk through those risks and how to plan for them.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Direct File had to fit into an ecosystem that includes private tax prep companies, state system and IRS capacity. Even with positive user feedback, that environment created friction that could shape what comes next. Gabriel Zucker, Fellow at the Economic Security Project, joins us to walk through a new report that details what happened with Direct File and what lessons future reformers should learn.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Agriculture Department is relocating employees at many of its component agencies. That includes staff at the Food and Nutrition Service which carries out SNAP and other food assistance programs used by tens of millions of Americans. But many FNS employees say they would sooner quit than jobs than relocate, according to an internal poll conducted by their union. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The regulations for grants management are getting their second major rewrite in two years. The Office of Management and Budget has three main goals in its proposed rewrite of 2 CFR 200, including improving the transparency and accountability of grant awards. Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now to discuss what the proposed changes say and would mean for agencies.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Congress returns after the Memorial Day holiday recess, the things they left on the desk are still there and how lawmakers use the next two months could shape funding, oversight and the runway agencies have heading into fall. We'll get the details from WTOP's capitol hill correspondent, Mitchell Miller.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry GertonThe to-do list for Congress is filled with regular, and not so regular, order The Coast Guard has plenty of tools to assess waterway risk, the challenge is making them work together Fraud detection is getting more data‑driven and the Justice Department is raising expectations for how that work gets doneSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Looking at risk one tool at a time can leave gaps in how the full system is understood. That’s prompting a closer look at how assessments are connected—and how they guide choices. For a look at how those pieces could work together differently, I'm joined by Susan Resetar and Eric Cooper of RAND.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The DOJ’s new FOCUS initiative puts a spotlight on the quality behind data‑driven fraud claims, encouraging closer engagement with analysts who can show their methods hold up. That shift could change what kinds of cases make it forward and what organizations need to be ready for when they do. Here with more insight into how these cases are proceeding is Tom Suddath, partner at Reed Smith.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

House lawmakers want to ensure any incidents involving Defense Department artificial intelligence systems are quickly reported. The House Armed Services Committee’s mark up of the 2027 defense authorization bill would establish a protected disclosure program for AI systems at DoD. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal employees may soon see opportunities to move up the career ladder more quickly. The Office of Personnel Management is proposing to eliminate a required waiting period for federal promotions. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reports of an Iranian‑linked group contacting U.S. troops using their own personal data points to a shift in cyber conflict from networks to people. It’s direct, personal and hard to defend against. Ron Zayas, CEO of Ironwall, joins me with what that means for service members and the federal workforce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry GertonThe same data that’s out there about you can also be used against you and now it is For military families, the pressure isn’t just external, it shows up at home As AI reshapes work, a new program is showing what it takes to keep upSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New survey data shows military families facing sustained financial and daily life pressures from childcare to employment that are starting to affect stability and readiness. As demands on the force grow, those strains are getting harder to ignore. Kathy Roth‑Douquet of Blue Star Families joins me with what the latest numbers show.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As AI reshapes how work gets done, a new, hands‑on program is showing how veterans can build real, usable skills and do it quickly. It’s a practical take on the Labor Department’s push for AI fluency, with results already taking shape. Mika Cross and Ted Adair join me to walk through what participants are learning.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is getting bipartisan praise for its resumed rollout of a new Electronic Health Record; a multibillion-dollar project that has run into myriad problems since it began under the first Trump administration. The VA rolled out the system to new sites last month after a three-year pause on deployment. Groups representing VA employees, however, say the latest facilities to adopt the new EHR are dealing with problems. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Agencies will soon have new requirements for logging cybersecurity data to better secure their systems and data against ever increasing threats. The Office of Management and Budget’s new memo outlining these changes is one of several ways the Trump administration is recalibrating cyber defenses as the threat of artificial intelligence-fueled cyber attacks increase.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry GertonNASA is testing a faster way to recruit top engineering talent inside the federal hiring guardrails Even as agencies try to bring in new talent, a lot of current employees are making tough decisions about pay, retirement and whether to stay Federal financial management has always been a no‑fail mission, the past year has added new pressure to a workforce already stretched across competing demandSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NASA is testing a new way to bring engineers and technologists into the agency more quickly. The idea is to move faster while still working inside federal hiring rules. Here to tell us how the program will work is NASA Chief Human Capital Officer, Kelly Elliott.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Workforce strain and technology changes are reshaping how federal financial management gets done. That’s affecting everything from daily decisions to long-term accountability across agencies. Here to share more about the future of federal financial management are Ann Ebberts, CEO of the Association of Government Accountants and Rich Brady, CEO of the Society of Defense Financial Management.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Budget uncertainty, pay debates, and retirement delays are shaping real decisions for federal workers right now. That’s affecting whether people stay, leave, or retire—and how stable the workforce feels day to day. John Hatton, staff vice president at NARFE, joins us to explain what’s driving those challenges and what they mean for the workforce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal employees may soon have to start signing non-disclosure agreements. The Office of Personnel Management has unveiled a governmentwide NDA template for agencies. It’s an attempt to stop government documents from being leaked to the press. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Federal Risk Authorization and Management Program is making a simple word change that will hopefully put to rest some long-standing confusion about the cloud security program. Under the new rules, cloud services the program has approved will be dubbed “FedRAMP certified” instead of “FedRAMP authorized.” Nicole Thompson is the security director for FedRAMP at the General Services Administration. She talked about the latest changes with Federal News Network’s Jason Miller. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Even as a legal challenge unfolds, a new DEI order for federal contractors is already being enforced through the contracting proces .DoD’s ability to protect classified information held by its contractors depends on a system under growing strain Some of the most important parts of disaster response happen long before anything goes wrong and often with help from contractorsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hurricane season is starting, and FEMA is looking at changes to how it responds. That puts new attention on the people and capacity behind the scenes and how ready they are before a crisis begins. Here to discuss how contractors work with federal agencies to plan for disaster response is the President of the Professional Services Council, Stephanie Kostro.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The administration’s latest DEI directive is moving ahead on two tracks, into federal contracts and into federal court. While a lawsuit raises questions about its scope and authority, agencies are pressing forward with new clauses and compliance expectations. Dan Ramish, Partner at Haynes Boone, explains where things stand and what contractors can’t afford to wait on.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

GAO says the agency responsible for overseeing classified work at defense contractors is falling short of its mission, with gaps in inspections, staffing and risk prioritization. Joe Kirschbaum of the Government Accountability Office explains how those weaknesses affect security and what changes matter most now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The General Services Administration’s Federal Acquisition Service updated its organizational structure to better reflect how agencies buy and vendors sell. The new setup features five new portfolios called: Assist, Centralize, Create, Deliver and Optimize. Each is bringing together sometimes disparate services and moving FAS out of its previous organizational structure that centered on category management. For more on what drove this reorganization, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller caught up with Laura Stanton, the acting commissioner of GSA’s FAS.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Department of Health and Human Services is shrinking cash awards for its top performers. In its place, the department is shifting a majority of its bonus budget to cover “special act” awards with eligibility criteria that are less well-defined. This is all part of a governmentwide push to limit the number of top scores federal employees get on their annual performance reviews. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The inspector general system has weathered political pressure before, but this moment is testing how durable it really is. Even so, the day-to-day work of audits, investigations, and accountability continues. Former FDIC Inspector General Jay Lerner is here with perspective from inside that system.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry GertonThe federal watchdog system was built to be independent by design, a former inspector general tells us why that design still matters Existing ethics laws weren’t written with prediction markets in mind A week that didn’t end the way Congress plannedSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Political prediction markets allow traders to profit from future events tied to public decision‑making. But as oversight systems come under strain, POGO says that structure creates risks current ethics laws were not designed to address. Janice Luong, a policy analyst at the Project on Government Oversight, walks us through how those markets work and where guardrails fall short.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Both chambers were lining up for votes, then packed up and left town early. From sudden funding fights to shifting priorities, it turned into a week of surprises on Capitol Hill. Joining me to walk through what happenedand what comes next is Loren Duggan, Deputy News Director for Bloomberg Government.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Memorial Day, and coming up today on "The Best of The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton," A military widow turned profound loss into a decade of service. Now she’s receiving high honorsA PCS move can test a family’s finances, routines and support systems all at once A military family is sharing lessons from their decades‑long journey with autismSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration is looking to overhaul federal employees’ avenues for appealing adverse personnel actions. As that gets underway, former officials from the Merit Systems Protection Board are warning of significant consequences for the civil service. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lawmakers are renewing their efforts to give service members the ability to fix their own equipment after popular right to repair provisions were stripped from the 2026 defense policy bill following strong industry pushback. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Cyber isn’t just about defense anymore. Governments increasingly assume they’ll use offensive cyber tools as part of state power Even as AI gets better at finding digital weak spots, it doesn’t eliminate the human role in cyber conflictSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Security teams have long chased known vulnerabilities, but AI is accelerating how new ones are discovered and exploited in a world where cyber operations are already part of state competition. Here to walk through how that changes the balance between attackers and defenders is associate professor of the practice of cyber studies at the University of Tulsa, Justin Miller.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Offensive cyber operations have moved from the margins of national security into the core of how governments plan for conflict, deterrence and competition. That shift means agencies are building cyber capabilities into standing strategy and industry is increasingly expected to design, operate and protect systems with the assumption that cyber operations are a normal feature of state behavior. Kat Sommer of NCC Group is here to share more of their recent findings and recommendations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From the overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulations to the push for consolidation and centralization, these three requests for proposals demonstrate how agencies are implementing and accepting the Office of Management and Budget’s prioritization of reforming federal technology and acquisition management. In his reporter's notebook, executive editor Jason Miller writes about how the RFPs from Commerce, Treasury and GSA are demonstrating the changes happening. Jason joins me now to discuss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Department of Health and Human Services carried out widespread layoffs a year ago. Now it’s sending out a second wave of reduction in force notices. HHS says these are more targeted layoffs, targeting employees it missed when their offices and programs were eliminated last year. All of this is happening as HHS embarks on a hiring surge. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Having expertise doesn’t always mean the system knows what to do with it After a tough year for federal senior executives, new leadership at SEA is looking at what comes next A PCS move can test a family’s finances, routines, and support systems all at onceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Air Force has spent years building China‑related expertise. But researchers find the personnel system doesn’t always reward or retain that specialization. That leaves a gap between what strategy calls for and how careers actually play out. Dr. Miriam Matthews and Cristina Garafola from the Rand Corporation join us with their analysis.TAGSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal senior executives are coming out of a demanding year, with mission changes, retirements and rising expectations across agencies. That pressure is reshaping how SES leaders approach their roles and forcing a reset inside the organization that supports them. Dr. Michelle Sutter, executive director of the Senior Executives Association, joins us to talk about what comes next for SES leaders and how SEA is adjusting.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

PCS moves can put real strain on military families from unexpected costs to the impact on careers and kids. Sarah Roder, Director of Partnerships and Member Engagement at Armed Forces Mutual, joins us to explain where families get caught off guard and what helps smooth the transition.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has launched a sweeping review of the military legal system, directing the Pentagon’s general counsel to convene a special review panel that will conduct what he described as an “ongoing, long-term, departmentwide review of all aspects of the military legal system.” The review faces numerous challenges — and the panel’s structure will determine whether it leads to meaningful reform. For more, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Ira Rushing, an associate at the Tully Rinckey law firm…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some adjustments to financial security, retirement payments and insurance options for feds are in the beginning stages of consideration in Congress. Four recent bills that House and Senate lawmakers have introduced over the last few weeks aim to tackle a range of benefits issues across government. Here with details, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The latest use of the Defense Production Act expands federal tools to support domestic energy capacity across the supply chain. It does not compel action, but it opens a path for financing and program support. Whether that translates into projects will turn on agency follow-through. Scott Johnson, of counsel at Foley & Lardner, is here to share with us how that would work.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Getting the rules right early can shape both safety and growth of emerging technologies The administration is leaning on the Defense Production Act to shape supply chains through federal support, not mandates Some of the biggest cyber risks to the military don’t start inside government networksSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

By opening its Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Program to new partners, the Pentagon is trying to reduce vulnerabilities across the supply chain. As those risks extend beyond government systems into the private sector, partnership becomes central. How that model works and what success looks like is at the center of my conversation with Terry Kalka, director of the Defense Industrial Base Collaborative Information Sharing Environment at the Defense Department Cyber Crime Center.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new GAO assessment looks ahead at emerging technologies where early decisions could shape how they’re used and how they’re governed across government. We talk through what those trends are and what Congress and agencies need to be thinking about now with GAO Chief Scientist Dr. Sterling Thomas.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The State Department is directing managers to go back and revise recently submitted annual performance evaluations to give employees lower scores. That’s all part of recent governmentwide guidance limiting the number of top scores that federal employees can receive. Impacted employees say these changes could disrupt the collaborative nature of their diplomatic work. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Navy is ensuring its officers at the highest levels understand how artificial intelligence works as it adopts and integrates it into its warfighting functions. The Naval Postgraduate School is at the center of those efforts, providing both the courses and the technology to drive that learning. For more on what NPS is doing, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller caught up with Randy Pugh, the vice provost for warfare studies, the director of the Office of Warfare Studies and the lead of the AI task force.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Growth across federal contractors averaged about 15% in 2025, according to Deltek’s latest Clarity report, but that growth is showing up alongside new pressure on margins, controls and visibility Federal contractors are doing more than delivering programs, they’re helping the government respond when conditions change quickly Challenging a GAO protest stay override may be getting clearer, but not any easierSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Deltek’s new Clarity report, based on 2025 data, shows a widening divide inside the federal contracting market. The firms growing fastest aren’t just adding revenue, they’re maintaining tighter controls and fewer hidden risks at the same time. Kevin Plexico, senior vice president of information solutions at Deltek, explains what the data shows about balancing speed and scrutiny across the market right now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As hantavirus cases draw renewed attention, contractors are part of how the government builds capacity in public health emergencies, especially with large gatherings like the World Cup on the horizon. At the same time, a new Pentagon memo is putting more pressure on how contractors account for facility costs. Jim Carroll, CEO of the Professional Services Council joins me to connect those dots.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When a contractor files a bid protest at GAO, the award usually pauses while the protest is reviewed. But recent court decisions are clarifying when agencies can override that stay and how closely judges will examine those decisions afterward. Here to help us understand the complexity of this contingency is Zach Prince, partner at Haynes Boone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the military services to reduce the number of Permanent Change of Station moves by 50%. The Air Force, in partnership with RAND, then took a closer look at how longer assignments and fewer moves would impact budgets, readiness, retention and the career development of Airmen. To understand more about RAND's findings, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Lisa Harrington, senior operations researcher at RAND and Kelly Atkinson, political scientist at RAND. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal agencies doubled their number of AI use cases over the past year. That’s according to the latest inventory maintained by the Office of Management and Budget. There are now more than 3,600 use cases documented across the government. Gregory Barbaccia is the federal chief information officer and chief AI officer. In a conversation with Jason Miller, Barbaccia gave us an update on Federal News Network’s 2026 A-I and Data Exchange.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel’s 2025 annual report surfaces nearly 200 recommendations on where IRS communication and services continue to break down. Philip Hwang, national chair of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel at the IRS, explains what taxpayers are still struggling with and how their feedback helps to shape what changes next.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton A tied vote, a stalled reconciliation package and big questions about how laws actually get finished Reorganization plans can look clean on paper and turn out far messier in real life The IRS’s service picture may be improving, but taxpayers are still running into real frictionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A year ago, the Interior Department pitched a sweeping reorganization as a way to save money and streamline operations. What the evidence actually shows about how that played out is the focus of my conversation with Tim Whitehouse, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congress is wrestling with the big questions, but it’s the details that are slowing everything down. That tension between ambition and execution shows up across the agenda and it’s shaping what happens next. Here to bring us to speed on the details is WTOP's capitol hill correspondent, Mitchell Miller.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The growth of shared services for grants across government has climbed steadily over the last five years. Through the Grants Quality Service Management Office, 29 agencies are using standardized technology services to help award more than $1.2 trillion a year. With more on how the Grants QSMO plans to further drive standardization into grants management, Federal News Network’s executive editor Jason Miller joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Agriculture Department employees are suing Secretary Brooke Rollins over what they are calling “coercive” religious messaging. The lawsuit comes in response to an Easter message that Rollins sent to 100,000 department employees. Plaintiffs say her email implies an “in-group” religion at USDA and that those who don’t agree may face “negative consequences.” Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton" Environmental change can turn rare risks into immediate problems and the Army Corps of Engineers is stepping in to manage the consequences “Testing new technology is one thing, making it work in the field and getting people to trust and use it is another Some of the most important environmental policy work doesn’t happen in legislation it shows up in how agencies act, spend and measure resultsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Testing new technology is one thing. Making it work in real conditions and earning trust is another. USDA’s new National Proving Grounds Network is designed to close that gap, testing emerging agriculture technologies on working farms and ranches so they can move from idea to adoption. Here to explain how that model is taking shape is Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics and Chief Scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Scott Hutchins.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shaping environmental outcomes isn’t limited to writing legislation. In many cases, it comes down to knowing how federal decisions actually get made, through regulation, procurement, data and funding choices that shape behavior across the system. That’s the approach being taught to climate professionals by Mai Sistla, Senior Climate Policy Advisor at the Aspen Policy Academy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Glacier‑related flooding is becoming more frequent and more dangerous in parts of the country, prompting the Corps to step in with targeted mitigation efforts. We hear how that work is unfolding on the ground, from Mike Records and Daryl Downing with the Army Corps of Engineers on site in Alaska.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s grant processes are about to get a little more transparent. That’s because a new law requires FEMA to publish a dashboard of public assistance claims stemming from federal disasters. That requirement comes as the administration and Congress consider broader reforms to FEMA. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Department is proposing a sweeping rule that would significantly expand the government’s scrutiny of foreign ownership and influence across the defense industrial base, requiring tens of thousands of uncleared contractors to comply with security requirements historically applied only to companies handling classified information. For more, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Scott Freling, co-chair of Covington’s Government Contracts practice, and Heather Finstuen, partner at Covington & Burling.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A joint effort bringing together Navy medicine, the Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA and academic researchers is reshaping how the government studies human performance under changing gravity. The focus is building durable capability for longer, more demanding missions. My guests are Rich Folga and Dr. Michael Schubert. Dr. Schubert is Professor in the ENT Department at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Mr. Folga is Aerospace Medical Research Device Program Manager, Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton" The Army is testing whether rail networks can carry medical evacuation in modern warfare What happens to the human body when missions become longer, more demanding and harder to support from Earth? As federal missions grow more complex, technology transfer is getting a credential meant to sustain expertise and credibility over timeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Using allied rail systems in Europe, the Army is testing how rail evacuation could expand medical capacity during large‑scale conflict. Here with more details on what's being tested by this exercise is Col. Crystal Belew, Commander of the 519th Hospital Center.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Federal Laboratory Consortium has introduced a professional designation designed to strengthen how federal labs move research into real‑world use by building recognized, transferable expertise. The goal is to create a clearer marker of credibility for agency leadership, industry partners and the workforce itself. My guest is Andy Myers, technology transfer lead at the Kansas City National Security Campus.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Postal Service generally pays its own bills through its own revenue. That’s been the way it has operated for more than 50 years. But the agency is floating the possibility of Congress stepping in to provide more financial assistance to keep the agency from running out of cash early next year. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

House Republicans are demanding more information about the costs of settlements for federal employee disputes with their agencies. A new letter from leaders on the Oversight committee argues that agencies are settling too often, instead of fighting cases they could likely win. But the letter is also coming under scrutiny from federal employment attorneys. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the federal government takes on more financial risk, a GAO review of government‑wide grants management points to staffing limits, data mismatches and unclear roles that complicate how funds are awarded and overseen. The findings suggest persistent operational challenges that accounting fixes alone haven’t solved. Jeff Arkin is director of strategic issues at the Government Accountability Office.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Managing disaster risk is about how risk is understood, priced and communicated across the system The size of the federal grants system is well known, how well it’s set up to manage that scale is another question Receiving federal funds now comes with a different kind of risk calculus for granteesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A tougher federal anti‑fraud posture is changing how grants and contracts are scrutinized, especially when routine compliance decisions come under review after problems emerge. We’ll look at where scrutiny is showing up, who’s being held accountable and what recipients are expected to get right with Michael Anderson, counsel at Smith Anderson.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Insurance pricing plays a powerful role in signaling where disaster risk is increasing and where the federal government is increasingly exposed when coverage breaks down. We’ll examine a proposal that would bring the federal government into the reinsurance market, how that could affect those signals and what questions leaders should ask before shifting risk further upstream. Professor Ben Collier of the University of Wisconsin is here to guide us through those questions.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee was originally scheduled to sunset in September 2025. But the pandemic watchdog has an ongoing mission; it’s overseeing another broad tranche of funding. The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act signed into law last year will keep the PRAC up and running for at least another 8 years and tasks the committee with keeping tabs on the budget reconciliation bill. Ken Dieffenbach is PRAC’s executive director. He talked with Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman about the committee’s ongoing work. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A Trump-appointed advisory committee is urging sweeping overhauls at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The FEMA Review Council approved its final report to the president last week. The group’s report do not include earlier, draft recommendations that would have cut FEMA’s workforce by up to 50 percent. Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me with the details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry GertonIf you feel unsure about retirement, you’re asking the right question Innovation has expanded choice in consumer finance, but it’s also exposed limits in how well regulation keeps up and who ends up bearing the risk Fixed‑price contracts assume stable requirements. Federal missions rarely cooperate, and the friction between the two is back in focusSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From fintech tools to new credit models, consumer finance has changed faster than the regulatory framework around it. Todd Zywicki says that gap is a central focus of the new Institute for Consumer Financial Choice at George Mason University, which is designed to bring more empirical research into consumer‑finance policy debates.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For many federal employees, retirement planning stalls at the same point: uncertainty about whether the numbers, timing, and assumptions really hold up. Instead of chasing certainty, there’s a better way to assess readiness. Joining me to explain how feds can evaluate retirement readiness using structure rather than stress is Certified financial planner Thiago Glieger.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal execution increasingly turns on how risk is managed across contracts and capabilities. Recent policy signals are testing whether existing structures can absorb that pressure. Here to break down the root issues is Stephanie Kostro, president of the Professional Services Council.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Military spouses were on Capitol Hill last week to push lawmakers to support legislation aimed at expanding access to capital and Small Business Administration resources for military spouse entrepreneurs , The effort's advocates say this could help address the persistently high military spouse unemployment rate and improve military retention. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Office of Personnel Management is being urged 'not' to shut down the Combined Federal Campaign. More than 40 Democrats penned a letter to OPM, warning that ending the CFC would be “disastrous” for the organizations that rely on it. The letter comes as the Trump administration is signaling a possible decommission of the decades-old program. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When GI Bill abuse surfaced years ago, veterans’ benefits kept flowing to schools that met higher‑education standards but failed veterans themselves. Now, as accreditation standards are back under review, advocates say lessons from that era still haven’t fully been applied. They’re pushing to give Title 38, the veterans’ benefits law a clearer role in determining which schools qualify for GI Bill dollars. Joining me to explain how those changes could better protect veterans before harm occurs is Vice President for Veterans and Military Policy at Veterans Education Success, Will Hubbard.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton From the battlefield to the benefits system: how government decisions during war echo long after service ends Veterans have seen this story before and they’re paying close attention to what comes nextCongress is heading into a busy legislative stretch, even as larger questions hang over its futureSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At stake in the Bagram bombing case is whether contractors retain broad immunity when supporting military operations and how much legal distance the government can place between itself and the work it assigns. The outcome could shape how the Defense Department handles oversight and risk‑sharing in future conflicts. I talked with Lisa Himes, of counsel with Rogers Joseph O’Donnell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lawmakers return for a packed two‑week work period, with several major bills queued up for action. At the same time, unresolved redistricting fights around the country are raising longer‑term questions about the shape and capacity of the next Congress. Loren Duggan, managing editor at Bloomberg Government, joins us to sort through both the immediate agenda and what’s coming next.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The number of contract awards to 8(a) small businesses are down across the government. But Native American, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian-owned companies are feeling the brunt of the downturn. The Small Business Administration also has slowed down the approval of new applications to the 8(a) program. SBA hasn’t processed an application since August. All of these concerns drove the Native American Contractors Association to finally speak up about the impact of the Trump administration’s actions on their communities. For more on this latest in a growing number of concerns about the 8(a) program, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

IRS employees temporarily reassigned to cover frontline work during this year’s filing season will stay on these assignments a while longer. The agency is asking IT and human resources staff to stay on temporary details for another 120 days. Most impacted staff have been in training and are now addressing a backlog of amended tax returns. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cyber spending often focuses on new platforms and advanced defenses. But experience shows those investments fall short when organizational practices, training and accountability don’t evolve alongside them. Here with a perspective on why people remain central to effective cyber security is Senior Director, Civilian Experience and Policy Research at ForsMarsh, Nicole Togno. Cyber spending often focuses on new platforms and advanced defenses. But experience shows those investments fall short when organizational practices, training, and accountability don’t evolve alongside them. Here with a perspective on why people remain central to effective cyber security is Senior Director, Civilian Experience and Policy Research at ForsMarsh, Nicole Togno.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From emergency alerts to disaster communications, the systems that keep the public informed depend on secure communications networks. Here to explain how the FCC is approaching cybersecurity through the lens of public safety and why preparedness matters as much as regulation is Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission, Zenji Nakazawa.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry GertonWhat does the FCC have to do with cyber security? You can buy better tools, but that alone won’t get you to perfect cyber securitySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Department has struck deals with some of the nation’s largest technology companies to deploy their advanced artificial intelligence capabilities on its classified networks. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is urging water, power and other critical infrastructure organizations to prepare to operate without internet and other technology services. That’s the overarching goal of a new initiative unveiled by CISA this week. The agency says organizations need to be prepared to operate through IT outages and other challenges during a geopolitical crisis. For more, Federal News Network Justin Doubleday joins me. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Public Service Recognition Week often thanks people for what they do. This year, one national effort is asking something harder: how the country understands public service in the first place A new executive order makes fixed‑price, performance‑based contracts the default across the federal government Customer experience modernization sounds straightforward, until agencies try to execute itSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At a moment when trust in government is closely tied to how work actually gets done, the National Academy of Public Administration is treating recognition as more than a ceremony. We’ll talk about why NAPA is making “Celebrating the American Public Servant” a year‑long effort and what they’re learning about durability, trust, and service across every level of government with James‑Christian Blockwood, president and CEO of the Academy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal leaders are under growing pressure to improve how the public experiences government, even as they manage compliance, security and aging systems. We'll explore where agencies are encountering the most friction and what’s helping them move from intent to execution with general manager for U.S. federal government at Granicus, John Boerstler.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new executive order makes fixed‑price, performance‑based contracts the default across the federal government, requiring extra justification and senior approval when agencies want to do something else. That shift could reshape how contracting officers plan, justify and manage major programs, according to Senior Fellow at the George Mason University Baroni Center for Government Contracting, Emily Murphy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal hiring managers will soon have a new tech resource at their disposal. The Office of Personnel Management has just rolled out “USA Class.” It’s an AI tool that can generate federal position descriptions. With the new resource, OPM is hoping it can relieve some hiring burdens for HR staff. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The State Department has concluded its widespread reduction in force nearly a year after it began. The department is officially separating hundreds of Foreign Service officers who received reduction in force notices last summer. The department tried to part ways with these employees before, but has kept on paid administrative leave since July 2025. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Public Service Recognition Week comes at an uneasy moment for the federal workforce after cuts, restructuring and tighter performance rules. So what does “recognition” actually mean right now? For a lot of employees, recognition isn’t about awards, it’s about trust, respect and whether their work still matters day to day A conversation with a 2026 Sammies awardee whose federal research reshaped an entire industrySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Public Service Recognition Week is usually about gratitude. This year, it follows workforce reductions, sharper accountability rules, and renewed debates about capacity and morale. Scott Kupor says recognition, in this moment, is less about ceremony and more about how the government expects people to do their jobs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A Sammies award this year recognizes USDA research that improved animal health and food productivity through genetics. Dr. Paul VanRaden joins us to explain how long‑term public investment delivered results for the dairy industry and for the broader public.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Government Accountability Office is facing a budget cut from House appropriators for the second year in a row. GAO would need to cut roughly 1,000 jobs under a bill being advanced in the House Appropriations Committee. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At the State Department, a growing demand for passports has led the Bureau of Consular Affairs to rethink its customer experience strategy. In 2025, the bureau issued more than 27 million passport books and cards. That’s a one-year record. Matt Pierce is the deputy assistant secretary of State for passports. As he told Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman, the department is managing to hold processing times at record lows – despite that record volume.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton An IBM settlement is reshaping how contractors look at DEI compliance For some new retirees, the paperwork may be done, but the money still hasn’t arrived Public Service Recognition Week is about honoring federal work as it exists now, this year’s Sammies tell that story in a different waySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Public Service Recognition Week is often about celebration, but it also serves as a moment to reflect honestly on how federal work is actually being done. This year, the Partnership for Public Service narrowed the Sammies awards to just four recipients. Michelle Amante joins me to talk about why that matters and what these awardees represent about public service right now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thousands of federal employees retired at the end of the last fiscal year expecting a smooth transition, only to find themselves waiting months for their first retirement payment. That delay can turn careful planning into real stress, especially when questions about savings, TSP withdrawals and Medicare decisions all come at once. Federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan is here with wise advice on how retirees can steady themselves when the timeline doesn't go as planned.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A recent settlement involving IBM has drawn broad attention across the federal contracting community, drawing attention well beyond the specifics of a single company. For many contractors, the case raises questions about how workplace initiatives intersect with long‑standing employment and contracting rules. Joining me with more details is Sheila Abron, Partner at Fisher Phillips and Chair of the Firm’s Government Contracting, Compliance, and Reporting Practice Group.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than 100 Environmental Protection Agency employees were disciplined last year, after signing a “declaration of dissent.” Many of those employees are now pursuing formal legal remedies, alleging unlawful retaliation. Here with the latest, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Space Force is getting ready to bring part-timers into its force as it continues to build a personnel model radically different from other services. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Washington, a vote doesn’t always mean resolution. In some of the biggest congressional fights, decisions can leave everyone bruised, with new conflicts already taking shape. WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller joins us with a look at what Congress has settled and what it hasn’t.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on 'The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton'Congress already strips pensions for some crimes, a new bill would expand the list In government, offering your best professional advice doesn’t guarantee it will be taken or that it will be risk‑free A vote doesn’t always bring closure on Capitol Hill, why some of Congress’s biggest fights don’t really end when the gavel comes downSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal News Network has been reporting on the fallout from EPA’s decision to discipline employees who signed a declaration of dissent. Now, we’re turning to how that call was made, despite internal warnings about legal risk. It highlights a familiar tension across government: what happens to career expertise when agency leaders choose another path. Here to discuss his reporting on this issue is Kevin Bogardus from E&E News.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Under current law, Members convicted of certain corruption offenses can forfeit their pensions, while other serious misconduct is treated differently. A bipartisan bill aims to close those gaps by including violent crimes and sexual misconduct involving staff. Supporters say the goal is accountability, not punishment by press release. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, who co‑sponsored the bill, joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Department of the Navy is one the biggest users of the Defense Department’s Gen AI.mil platform. The Navy designated the generative artificial intelligence tool as an enterprise service in just five days after evaluating it. It also told all employees to use it for controlled unclassified information and Impact Level 5 (IL5) data by April 30 or yesterday. But just giving sailors, marines and civilians access to the large language models and saying “use it” without any training is not a recipe for success. For more on how the DON is ensuring its employees are gaining real benefits from AI tools, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me with details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New essay questions on many federal job applications asking candidates how they would advance the Trump administration’s policies, are optional, according to the Office of Personnel Management. Unions challenging the questions in a lawsuit say many job applicants can’t skip over the essays and can’t submit their applications without answering them. The questions are appearing on a growing number of federal job applications. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton A court ruling protected the Institute for Museum and Library Services, but the fight isn’t over Markets have felt shaky for months, but the returns tell a very different story How shared experience plays a role in helping people reset under sustained stressSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Markets have been noisy for months. But when you look past daily swings, many TSP funds are firmly in positive territory, highlighting the gap between headline volatility and how markets actually price information. Certified Financial Planner Art Stein is here to help explain the disconnect and how investors should respond.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sustained stress is a reality for many veterans, first responders and federal employees. New data from the Veteran Tickets Foundation looks at how shared live experiences help people reset and reconnect, particularly when formal systems move slowly or unevenly. Federal News Network's Eric White caught up with Chief Strategy Officer for Veteran Tickets Foundation, Steve Weintraub, to get more insight.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A federal court has blocked administrative efforts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services. But the administration’s latest budget proposal would eliminate its funding anyway, putting legal clarity and budget reality on different tracks. Joining me to walk through what the ruling does, what it doesn’t, and what happens next is President of the American Libraries Association, Sam Helmick.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

GAO has flagged fraud risks in federally funded, state‑administered programs for years, from weak data sharing to inconsistent controls. Many of those vulnerabilities persist, not because agencies lack awareness, but because of how responsibility, capacity, and oversight are structured. We’ll talk about what prevents known risks from turning into management change with Seto Bagdoyan, director of forensic audits and investigative service at the Government Accountability Office.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

GAO has flagged fraud risks in federally funded, state‑administered programs for years, from weak data sharing to inconsistent controls. Many of those vulnerabilities persist, not because agencies lack awareness, but because of how responsibility, capacity, and oversight are structured. We’ll talk about what prevents known risks from turning into management change with Seto Bagdoyan, director of forensic audits and investigative service at the Government Accountability Office.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new report is shedding light on how Department of Government Efficiency staffers gained access to sensitive Treasury Department payment systems last year. The Government Accountability Office found Treasury gave DOGE staffers access to data without following IT security rules. Privacy watchdog groups say GAO’s report may be the tip of the iceberg on DOGE’s access to sensitive government data. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Army’s newest AI project ARIA, or the Rapid Implementation of Artificial Intelligence initiative, is organized around three lines of effort that Army leaders say will ultimately merge into one. For more, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Deputy Under Secretary of the Army David Fitzgerald, who breaks down those efforts in part two of the conversation we began on Tuesday. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Extreme weather is forcing federal agencies to rethink who bears the risk when long‑term cleanup work is overwhelmed Cutting contracts can promise quick savings, the harder question is where the cost actually landsFor families with loved ones behind bars, missing information often means carrying risks they can’t see or controlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Families of incarcerated people depend on timely, accurate information to make decisions about safety, health and contact, but when that information is missing, the risk shifts directly onto them. Those gaps raise a larger question about why transparency for prison families hasn’t been treated as a core government responsibility. Here to share that impact is Heather Pirtle, president and founder of FIRST Network.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As natural disasters grow more frequent and intense, new EPA Inspector General findings suggest some federal facility Superfund cleanups may fail when conditions overwhelm existing remedies; pushing environmental and health risks into surrounding communities. We’ll discuss what that means for EPA staff, partner agencies and prevention planning before disasters strike, with Erin Barnes‑Weaver, deputy assistant inspector general for evaluation at the EPA Office of Inspector General.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A recent review of IRS contract cancellations found hundreds of millions of dollars in potential savings, but far less clarity about how those decisions shifted impact onto service delivery and workloads. The findings raise questions about how agencies assess who absorbs the risk when decisions are made quickly. I'm joined by LaToya George from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Top Treasury officials are telling Congress that the IRS pulled off a remarkable feat, carrying out a busier-than-usual filing season with a much smaller workforce. But the Trump administration is still pursuing further workforce and budget cuts for the IRS next year. Officials overseeing the IRS say the agency’s long-anticipated investments in technology are paying off and its adoption of artificial intelligence and automation tools means the agency can do more with less. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman joins us with more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From bartender to elevator mechanic and meat cutter to wood worker, more than 100 federal job titles are about to be swept into broader workforce categories. The Office of Personnel Management is undertaking a new effort to trim down the 600-plus federal job series that exist across government. This first round of consolidation will impact about 5,000 federal employees. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Some of the federal government’s most trusted public data tools aren’t being maintained the way they once were Good policy still depends on numbers the public can trust and on systems built to sustain them Fraud doesn’t always slip through the cracks, sometimes it walks straight through the front door of a federal programSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An analysis from USAFacts finds that many of the government’s most important public datasets are no longer being updated or maintained as expected. The findings underscore how staffing, continuity and organizational attention shape whether federal data remains usable at all. Here to break down what’s changing and why is Richard Coffin, chief of research and advocacy at USAFacts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Economic indicators are meant to bring clarity to decision‑making across government and the economy. But the systems that produce those numbers are operating under growing strain, from volatility to skepticism to capacity limits. A new cross‑institution effort aims to strengthen how federal data are produced and protected over time. We’ll discuss that work with John Sabelhaus, Senior Fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new acquisition structure has been taking shape within the Army. It shifts the focus away from managing individual programs and toward overseeing portfolios of capabilities. Senior leaders now known as portfolio acquisition executives oversee capability areas, while the offices responsible for individual programs have been rebranded from program executive offices to capability program executives. Dennis Teefy is project manager for command and control applications, within the new Capability Program Executive for Command and Control Information Network. He talked with Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis about the new structure and how it’s changing things.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Army recently launched a new initiative aimed at rapidly delivering artificial intelligence tools to soldiers. Dubbed Project ARIA, short for Army Rapid Implementation of Artificial Intelligence; the effort will initially focus on three areas, including automating the Army’s planning, programming, budgeting, and execution, or PPBE, process, building a “model armory” and improving supply chain management. The Army will partner directly with top AI firms to deliver solutions in months rather than years. For more on the project, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Deputy Under Secretary of the Army David Fitzgerald. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As unpaid DHS contractor invoices stretch back nearly nine months, companies supporting critical homeland security missions say workforce stability and operational readiness are increasingly at risk. With Congress still weeks away from funding relief, the question is how long that capacity can be sustained. Here to break down those impacts is Stephanie Kostro, president of the Professional Services Council.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Unpaid bills at DHS are testing how long critical homeland security missions can hold Modernizing preparedness law means asking whether long‑standing systems are built to last over time Around the world, governments are adapting to sustained pressure and not waiting for stability to returnSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Modernizing preparedness law requires more than updating language or refreshing authorities. It means confronting where coordination, capacity and accountability have fallen short under stress as threats have evolved. Here to walk through some key considerations is U.S. policy and advocacy officer at the Global Health Technologies Coalition, Alex Long.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Drawing on experiences from governments across the globe, a new trends report focuses less on prediction and more on how public institutions respond when resources are tight and systems are under strain. We’ll talk about what those shared lessons suggest for decision‑making ahead with the executive director of the Center for Government Insights at Deloitte, Bill Eggers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Agriculture Department is expanding its reorganization plans; moving hundreds of additional employees from its component agencies out of the Washington DC area. Food Safety and Inspection Service employees working at its headquarters are being asked to move to states like Iowa and Georgia. USDA is also doubling down on reassignments that began under the first Trump administration. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump’s pick to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is withdrawing from consideration. Sean Plankey was first nominated to serve as CISA director last March. But after a long wait in the Senate, Plankey says he needs to step back, leaving the cyber agency without a permanent director for the foreseeable future. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The budget resolution and reconciliation process are absorbing much of Congress’s attention, staff time and political oxygen. That focus is crowding the calendar for core governing work, including upcoming appropriations, must‑do bills, and pending confirmations. Here to break down how the current focus reshapes the rest of the legislative calendar is Deputy News Director at Bloomberg Government, Loren Duggan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the United States prepares to host the World Cup and the Olympics, attention is turning to how federal agencies plan for passenger experience and tourism capacity. A recent House‑passed aviation bill highlights those connections in a tangible way. Representative Dina Titus from Nevada joins me now to discuss the issue.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton When Congress focuses on one big fight, something else usually stalls A court decision has strengthened the CFPB’s footing as debates over its future continue Updating aviation consumer protections is one piece of a broader question about how the federal government prepares for large‑scale travel and tourism demandsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A recent court ruling requiring continued funding of CFPB gives the organization room to keep carrying out its mission despite ongoing pressure from the White House and Congress. We’ll examine how the decision affects the bureau’s day‑to‑day operations and longer‑term outlook, with Senior Counsel at Ballard Spahr, Alan Kaplinsky.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A pay raise for federal employees in 2027 is looking even further out of reach. The House Appropriations Committee has advanced spending legislation that makes no mention of a federal pay raise next year. That aligns with the White House’s omission of a civilian raise in its budget request from earlier this month. Here with the latest, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Defense Department employees have become the latest to lose their protections provided under collective bargaining agreements as the Trump administration continues to strip workers of their union rights at agencies with national security missions. But unions say they have represented federal workers for decades, have successfully challenged similar efforts in the past and will continue to fight the move. For more, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Ira Rushing from the Tully Rinckey law firm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

OPM’s request for more granular FEHB health data and the Postal Service’s suspension of employer pension contributions raise separate issues, but they share common questions about privacy, authority and long‑term trust in benefit structures. John Hatton joins us with NARFE’s perspective.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USPS leaders have warned Congress about financial strain, rising costs and the possibility of service reductions, concerns that show up first in rural delivery. That stress now collides with growing demands on the mail system, including election‑related responsibilities. Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski representing Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, joins me with her thoughts on the challenges facing the postal service.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Transportation Security Administration has quietly been advancing big changes to the private contractor security screening program. TSA says the goal is innovation and a better passenger experience. It comes against the backdrop of Trump administration efforts to privatize more TSA operations. For the latest, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nearly seven months into the fiscal year, the Small Business Administration is considering moving the small business contracting goal posts for agencies. In a document sent to agencies in March, SBA detailed several new factors it will consider as it grades agency efforts to contract with small businesses. For more on this new methodology and why SBA's plans are causing concern among small business experts and on Capitol Hill, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me to discuss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congressional scrutiny of the Department of Defense’s clearance backlogs comes as the Pentagon again asks civilian employees to volunteer for temporary immigration‑support deployments. Together, the moves highlight growing strain on the defense civilian workforce and the systems that support it. We’ll unpack both with Dan Meyer, national security partner at Tully Rinckey.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Three former FBI agents fired last fall are now bringing a class‑action lawsuit, arguing their removals crossed a line with consequences beyond their own cases. What the legal challenge could mean for agents working controversial investigations and for the Bureau itself is the focus of our conversation with former FBI agent David Sundberg.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton A new strategic plan signals how the Office of Special Counsel sees its responsibilities evolving over the next five years The outcome of one lawsuit could shape how future FBI investigations are handled Two Pentagon workforce decisions are raising new concerns about capacity and consentSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Office of Special Counsel occupies a complicated place in the federal system; part protector, part enforcer and increasingly, a test of trust for career employees. As demand rises and scrutiny intensifies, OSC is formally defining how it sees that role over the next five years. My guest is Charles Baldis, senior counsel and designee to the acting special counsel at the Office of Special Counsel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After major staffing reductions under the Trump administration, the federal workforce is at a 15-year low. But now, some agencies are reversing course and talking again about expanding recruitment opportunities. That comes as administration officials are also pushing for hiring reforms, like technical assessments and pooled recruitment. For the latest on agency hiring prospects, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman sat down with vice president of government affairs at the Partnership for Public Service, Jenny Mattingley.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The federal government’s landlord and its human resources office are embarking on plans to share the same headquarters. The Office of Personnel Management and the General Services Administration are moving together under one roof. This is the latest example of agencies in the Washington, D.C. area moving out of headquarters that aren’t meeting minimum occupancy requirements recently set by law. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Advanced computing and AI are reshaping nearly every sector, but access to those capabilities remains uneven. The National Science Foundation is launching a new effort aimed at broadening who can use advanced computing. Dr. Erwin Gianchandani joins me from the National Science Foundation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The real challenge with AI and advanced computing is closing the gap between where the technology exists and who can actually use it Quantum computing is a national priority, but who’s actually in charge? A major environmental decision is now locked in, with lingering questions about the process behind itSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The federal government’s national strategy for quantum computing lays out broad goals, but a new GAO review finds gaps in coordination, accountability, and performance measurement across agencies. We’ll walk through what’s missing and what updating the strategy could change with Candace Wright, director for science, technology assessment, and analytics at the Government Accountability Office. Read the report here: https://files.gao.gov/reports/GAO-26-107759/index.html?_gl=1*1u44tf*_ga*MTc1Mjk3OTI1MC4xNzQ2NjUwOTc0*_ga_V393SNS3SR*czE3NzQ2MjcyOTMkbzQ4JGcwJHQxNzc0NjI3MzAyJGo1MSRsMCRoMA.. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The National Nuclear Security Administration has finalized a site‑wide environmental impact statement for Los Alamos, shaping the lab’s path for years to come. Reviewers say the process raises important questions about how impacts were evaluated and what assumptions were made and how those choices may ripple through future oversight and planning. Joining me to explain where process missteps might affect future implementation is Dr. Dylan Spaulding, a senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For perhaps the first time since the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act became law in 1994, the Office of Management and Budget is holding agencies accountable for how they buy commercial items. What’s different now is that OMB wants agencies to prove they’re meeting the spirit and intent, not just the letter, of the law. For more on how OMB is raising the bar, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The challenge of delivering capabilities to warfighters at a faster rate is hardly a new problem for the Defense Department. But with the rise of artificial intelligence and cloud services, there may be no better opportunity to shift the timetable and accelerate delivery. For more on how at least the Marine Corps is cutting down the time it takes to deliver capabilities, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller talked to David Raley, the chief digital business officer of the Marine Corps Community Services, about a platform that is cutting down the time to delivery to as little as 15 minutes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Budgets don’t just fund programs. They tell the workforce and industry what the government values most Political transitions test how disciplined contractors really are about risk, compliance and decision‑makingSometimes even a solid argument isn’t enough to save a bid protestSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Court of Federal Claims agreed that the Navy mishandled affiliate past performance in a major procurement, then rejected the protest on procedural grounds. The Noblis decision is a cautionary tale about record discipline, expert evidence and the limits of post‑hoc fixes. Here to walk us through the case is Zach Prince, partner at Haynes Boone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Periods immediately after an election are often defined less by new rules than by unanswered questions. For government contractors, that uncertainty can create real legal, contractual, and operational risk long before policies change. Joining me to talk about how contractors can prepare for political transitions without overcorrecting is partner at Jenner and Block, David Robbins.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Looking at the president’s defense budget request, the story isn’t just how much money is there, but what the administration is asking the Pentagon to lean into. Meanwhile, shutdown‑related delays at DHS are testing contractor resilience in real time. Jim Carroll, CEO of the Professional Services Council, joins us to walk through the real world impacts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Forest Service is defending its plan to relocate its headquarters out West and shutter most of its research facilities, as part of a major agency reorganization. The agency is looking to move its headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah and close all of its regional offices. The agency is making its case to Congress, but says it will proceed with these plans with or without approval from lawmakers. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Department of Homeland Security has now been in a shutdown for more than two months. DHS officials are warning Congress about growing backlog of contracts, cancelled planning activities, and more impacts as the shutdown drags on. For the latest, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Running for federal office now comes with security costs that were once rare and those costs are rising fast. A new analysis looks at how the growing need for personal and digital security is changing who can realistically run for office, and how campaigns operate behind the scenes. We’ll talk through what that shift means for access, participation, and the health of democratic institutions, with Justin Sherman of the Public Service Alliance.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Congress is building a path to resolution for DHS, even as it opens the next appropriations cycle Congress is often treated like an abstract institution, but it’s also a workplace, with real security pressures and family realities The rising cost of security is reshaping who can run for office — and how campaigns operateSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Behind the scenes on Capitol Hill, concerns about personal safety, logistics and family well‑being shape how members and staff experience the job day to day. We’ll take a practical look at how those very human factors affect focus, capacity, and the ability to do sustained legislative work. Danielle Stewart from the POPVOX Foundation joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

DHS remains the only federal agency operating without a finalized 2026 appropriations bill, leaving Congress to rely on an unusually intricate reconciliation process to reach an outcome. All of this is happening as lawmakers begin shaping 2027 spending plans, layering urgency onto an already stalled debate. We’ll walk through the implications with Capitol Hill Correspondent for WTOP, Mitchell Miller.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration is widening its lens for recruiting technologists to the federal workforce. The Office of Personnel Management has just expanded the Tech Force hiring program to include opportunities for cybersecurity specialists. Here with the latest, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The White House has set a goal to reduce military spouse unemployment by 5%, but there is only so much it can do since it significantly scaled back federal hiring. Now, the Defense Department is stepping in with new efforts to address the issue. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton A new digital catalog is changing how the public can engage with America’s overseas war memorials and records ARPA‑H’s “1 Cure” program is betting that smarter design can expand cancer care to more people, fasterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The promise of ARPA‑H isn’t just speed, but intention, building ambitious research programs around patient impact rather than hype. One of its newest efforts aims to make cancer treatment simpler, more accessible, and easier to deploy. Here to explain the vision behind “1 Cure,” is the Program Manager Dr. Wilfred Ngwa.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For decades, the American Battle Monuments Commission has served as guardian of U.S. military cemeteries and memorials around the world. A new online catalog now extends that mission by making records and collections accessible far beyond those physical sites. We’ll look at who benefits most and what this access makes possible with Charlotte Meunier, museum curator for the American Battle Monuments Commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The IRS is touting its performance during this year’s filing season as evidence that it can still carry out its tax duties despite losing more than a quarter of its workforce under the Trump administration. The agency’s top official says technology improvements at the IRS are making it easier for taxpayers to get help online and that it’s seen a year-over-year decrease in phone calls. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will not offer internships to CyberCorps Scholarship for Service students this summer due to the government shutdown. It’s the second year in a row CISA has withdrawn the internships. But the Office of Personnel Management is rolling out new cybersecurity job opportunities this week. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Many former federal employees are navigating the job market for the first time in years and finding that networking looks and feels different than they remember A proposed federal personnel shift could chill whistleblowers long before anyone gets fired A big refund feels good, but getting more of your money throughout the year may feel betterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many former federal employees are navigating the job market for the first time in years, only to find that the rules around hiring and networking have shifted. Research suggests the process feels more transactional, but that doesn’t mean experience and competence no longer matter. Helping us make sense of the new normal is managing director of business intelligence at Express Employment International, Stephanie Miller.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As agencies begin reclassifying parts of the federal workforce to Schedule Policy/career, the Project on Government Oversight warns that shifts in the rules may carry real consequences for whistleblowers. Their analysis argues Congress, not agencies is the key backstop for ensuring protections apply regardless of classification. Here to walk us through the risks is Joe Spielberger, Senior policy counsel at the POGO.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many federal employees treat tax refunds as a bonus, even though they reflect pay that could have arrived earlier with different planning. In a moment when many families are reassessing work, finances, and long‑term decisions like college, timing and strategy matter. Here to help feds think through both is president of Armed Forces Mutual, Mike Meese.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the Office of Management and Budget decided to remove the specific section on enterprise risk management from Circular A-123, Eric Ueland, the deputy director for management, received some direct feedback. For more on why Ueland says the ERM community’s unhappiness with OMB’s decision is overblown, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now with details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

House Democrats are doubling down on their investigation into the Trump administration’s management of the government’s retirement processing system. That comes as some federal retirees remain without annuities months after submitting their applications. Here with the latest, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton As the Department of Labor faces intense scrutiny over fraud and oversight, its new inspector general is bringing a law‑enforcement mindset to the job GAO finds most of the Pentagon’s joint bases are falling short of facility sustainment goals, raising new questions about readiness and accountabilitySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Department’s joint bases were created to improve efficiency and readiness, but sustaining those facilities has proven uneven. A new GAO report finds most joint bases are funded below sustainment goals, with limited visibility into how resources are allocated and lingering disputes over who pays for what. To walk through the findings and what they mean for readiness, we’re joined by Alissa Czyz, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management at the Government Accountability Office.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From unemployment insurance to workforce programs, the stakes for fraud oversight at Labor remain high. The department’s inspector general says his law‑enforcement experience influences how he prioritizes cases and assesses risk. Anthony D’Esposito, the DOL IG, joins me now to discuss his approach to this important work.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For the Navy, consolidating and reducing its sprawling IT networks has been a decades‑long effort. But in recent years, the pace has picked up. Starting from several thousand networks, the service expects to be down to fewer than 100 by next year. Scott St. Pierre, the Navy’s director of enterprise networks and cybersecurity, spoke with Federal News Network’s Jared Serbu at our recent DoD Modernization Exchange.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is giving employees with disabilities more flexibility to telework as a reasonable accommodation. CDC supervisors will once again be able to grant telework as an interim reasonable accommodation, while employees wait for final approval from the Department of Health and Human Services. HHS rolled out a new policy last year that strictly limited medical telework. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton New technology is changing how federal agencies use personal data and this week, new tools aim to show what responsible use should really look like As federal agencies rethink how data moves, they’re also rethinking how ideas move, especially from the lab to policymakers Big ideas and big missions still live or die on budgets and contracts, and this year’s request raises some important questions about executionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From cross‑agency data sharing to AI‑driven analysis, federal programs now rely on personal information in ways the Privacy Act never fully anticipated. As new APDU resources roll out this week, they aim to clarify how data actually moves, where risks emerge, and what reasonable expectations should look like today. Bethanne Barnes from the Association of Public Data Users joins me to walk through those challenges.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While agencies talk about modernizing data practices and accelerating research, the President’s budget request reveals where execution pressure is likely to land first. From FY27 funding priorities to what Artemis II showed about how complex missions really get done, we’ll break down what matters most for agencies and contractors with Stephanie Kostro, president of the Professional Services Council.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, early‑career scientists will step up to a microphone and have three minutes to explain their research to policymakers, without jargon and with only one slide. The National Lab Research SLAM is designed to move ideas out of the lab and into federal decision‑making faster. Here to tell us what to watch as it gets underway is Antonya Sanders from Los Alamos National Laboratory.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The government paid an estimated $4.5 billion for federal employees not to work under the deferred resignation offer last year. The calculation comes from a new data report from the Partnership for Public Service. The organization’s report calculates other cost expenditures, all tied back to the Trump administration’s overhauls to the federal workforce. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Agencies have long struggled to manage so-called controlled unclassified information, or CUI. Now artificial intelligence is posing new and urgent challenges to how agencies handle, share and protect that sensitive information. But federal executives also see opportunities to use AI to modernize their approach to CUI. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton After a two‑week recess, Congress is back in Washington with a crowded spring agenda and several unfinished fights waiting on the Hill Apportionments rarely make headlines, but they play a decisive role in how Congress’s funding decisions are actually carried out. New analysis is drawing attention to patterns that warrant closer oversight Artificial intelligence may offer federal financial managers something they’ve long lacked: real visibility across programs and paymentsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Instead of another systems overhaul, a new IBM Center report zeroes in on how metadata and AI can illuminate relationships across federal financial operations. That added visibility, the research argues, could help agencies spot improper payments and fraud much earlier in the process. Here to walk us through the key insights is executive director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government, Dan Chenok.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apportionments are a core but often overlooked part of how congressional funding decisions are implemented across the executive branch. A new analysis highlights how deviations from historical or statutory patterns can create downstream risks for agencies, programs, and oversight. Breaking down what to watch for is Cerin Lindgrensavage, counsel at Protect Democracy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lawmakers return to Capitol Hill this week facing pressure to move stalled legislation, navigate internal party tensions and make progress on must‑pass items before the calendar tightens further. We’ll walk through what’s realistically at the top of Congress’s agenda now that members are back in town, with Loren Duggan from Bloomberg Government.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile defense system could receive $17.5 billion in fiscal 2027 after it received a $23 billion down payment last summer. But almost the entire sum hinges on another reconciliation bill. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of Ed Forst’s first priorities as GSA administrator has been finishing what’s been years in the making. In his first 100 days on the job, Forst moved to implement Transactional Data Reporting across all multiple award schedule contracts. To explain what that expansion means for agencies and vendors, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New data from Brookings shows the Greater Washington region is still losing ground on jobs, raising questions about how economic systems tied to federal work are adapting or failing to over time. The region is responding strategically, but so far, those responses haven’t translated into measurable improvement. Here to explain what’s happening beneath the surface is Tracy Loh, fellow at the Brookings Institution.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Artemis II is showing how federal education and operational experience come together in space The Washington DC metro region continues to stand out for regional job losses and new Brookings data shows the recovery still hasn’t materialized Health‑coverage decisions in retirement can shape when and how federal retirees tap their moneySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Once federal employees leave service, decisions about FEHB and Medicare quickly intersect with how they draw income from the TSP. Those choices are easier to manage when they’re coordinated rather than made in isolation. Joining us to connect the dots is federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan, principal at RetireFederal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Several Artemis team members bring military and academic backgrounds that reflect a long‑term federal investment in advanced education. Observers say the mission highlights how institutions like the Naval Postgraduate School translate classroom learning into real‑world mission execution. Joining us from mission control in Housing is science writer with the Naval Postgraduate School, Dan Linehan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration wants to start privatizing more airport security screening operations. The White House’s 2027 budget request would cut jobs at the Transportation Security Administration and shift much of that funding to private screening contractors . For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The federal government currently has both the largest political workforce and the lowest levels of senior career leaders in decades. A new report finds that there are now more political appointees in place under the Trump administration, than any other modern U.S. president. At the same time, senior career leadership staffing has gone down 30%. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton GSA spent more than $100 million on building studies, but an inspector general audit found the agency lacked a consistent way to track whether that work informed decisions HUD’s first‑year reset on fair‑housing guidance is reshaping how landlords, owners, and local governments navigate federal housing rules Small businesses are navigating one of the most turbulent federal contracting environments in decades and the SBA Office of Advocacy is here to helpSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy has released its first‑year report examining how small businesses are responding to rapid shifts in federal contracting and regulatory policy. The findings highlight both strain and adaptation as firms adjust to changing rules and agency practices. We’ll walk through what stood out and what comes next with Chip Bishop, Deputy Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the Small Business Administration.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

HUD’s decision to withdraw long‑standing fair housing guidance is changing how landlords, developers and local governments interpret their federal obligations, even as the underlying law remains the same. The move is raising new questions about compliance, enforcement and how much certainty housing providers can rely on as policy priorities shift. Helping us make sense of that landscape is Gwen Roy Harrison, a principal at Offit Kurman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over a five‑year period, GSA’s Public Buildings Service obligated more than $100 million for building studies, but a new inspector general audit finds the agency lacked a consistent way to track those studies or whether their recommendations informed decisions. We’ll break down what the audit examined, what it found, and what GSA has been asked to fix with Michelle Westrup and Brian Gibson from the GSA Office of Inspector General.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Department is once again facing scrutiny over how it handles sensitive but unclassified information, after a new watchdog review found that widespread problems identified years ago remain unresolved. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The General Services Administration, a former hub of activity for the Department of Government Efficiency is looking to hire hundreds of employees after facing deep workforce cuts last year. The agency’s top leader is also taking on a second job as the acting head of the National Archives and Records Administration. And for its current workforce, GSA is asking employees to provide a daily check-in on where they’re working. For a look at all of this, we’re joined by Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Federal transparency has improved on paper—but GAO says key gaps still undermine accountability and program integrity From AI to DEI to national security, congressional oversight is widening and more agencies are being asked to explain how decisions get made DOGE’s Medicaid data experiment adds a new player to healthcare fraud enforcement, the publicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congress may be struggling to pass legislation, but it’s not slowing down when it comes to oversight. Investigations in 2026 are moving faster, stretching wider, and pulling in companies, universities, and nonprofits that may not see themselves as obvious targets. Joining me to break down what’s driving this moment and what smart preparation really looks like is Partner at Morgan Lewis, Amanda Robinson.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congress and federal agencies have taken steps to improve transparency around spending and programs, but GAO says persistent gaps continue to limit oversight, efficiency and program integrity. From incomplete spending data to FOIA backlogs and missing program inventories, these weaknesses carry real operational consequences. To explain where transparency efforts are falling short and what would make the biggest difference, we’re joined by Jeff Arkin, Director of Strategic Issues at the Government Accountability Office.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

By releasing a sweeping Medicaid claims dataset, DOGE is testing whether broader public analysis can complement government fraud investigations. The move raises questions about accuracy, accountability and whether this approach is scalable or sustainable. I'll walk through the pros and cons with John Barry, senior counsel at Epstein Becker Green.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The departments of Justice, Veterans Affairs and Treasury are among the biggest winners when it comes to increasing their technology budgets for 2027. These and a handful of other civilian agencies are driving the Trump administration’s record $75.7 billion IT request for next year. Here with more details and analysis of the 2027 IT budget request for civilian agencies, is Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration is once again pursuing deep spending cuts for federal civilian agencies, as part of its budget request for next year. Overall it’s proposing a 10% cut to nondefense discretionary spending. The White House is also doubling down on reorganization plans that Congress ignored in a comprehensive spending plans for this year. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than 80% of U.S. critical infrastructure is owned by the private sector, putting public‑private collaboration at the center of the administration’s Cyber Strategy for America. We’ll examine what that partnership needs to look like in practice with John Miller of the Information Technology Industry Council.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton OMB’s latest IT memo echoes years of policy, but signals some important shifts agencies can’t ignore The CAS Board is carrying out a congressional mandate with comments now open The administration’s new cyber strategy bets that coordination, not regulation, drives better security outcomesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Board’s proposal implements 2026 NDAA language aimed at simplifying CAS without losing oversight. With comments due soon, agencies and contractors are weighing how the rule reshapes compliance, audits, and long‑term contract management. We'll walk through the proposed rule and what happens next, with Dan Ramish, a partner at Haynes Boone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

OMB memo M‑26‑10 revisits familiar themes around CIO authority and IT governance, but with sharper expectations for transparency, reporting, and shared responsibility. The question now is what agencies are expected to do differently and how this guidance changes day‑to‑day decision‑making for federal IT leaders. Here to walk us through the key points of the memo is former GSA Administrator and Senior Fellow at George Mason University’s Baroni Center for Government Contracting, Emily Murphy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The White House is proposing a significant military pay raise as part of its massive $1.5 trillion defense budget request. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The odds are not in federal employees’ favor for getting a pay raise next year. The White House’s budget request does not include any mention of a 2027 raise for civilian workers. That’s in contrast with a proposed raise of up to 7 percent for military members. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Another year, another GAO audit unable to certify the federal government’s financial statements. The latest report points to persistent problems that agencies and Congress have struggled to fix, despite targeted improvements in some areas. Joining us to explain what’s stuck and what could change is Dawn Simpson from GAO.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The President’s budget proposal sets the stage, but much of the action is happening elsewhere on Capitol Hill. We begin with a look at how lawmakers are handling overlapping funding challenges and what comes next with Mitchell Miller, Capitol Hill Correspondent for WTOP.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The President’s budget landed on Capitol Hill last week, but left plenty of unanswered questions. We'll take a closer look at how Congress is navigating the budget moment Year after year, the same financial weaknesses keep showing up in the government’s books Federal government shutdowns have become routine, but their impact on public safety is anything but routineSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shutdowns are no longer rare events, and law‑enforcement leaders say that recurring uncertainty creates real risks for public safety agencies that rely on continuity and trust. The National Police Association is throwing its support behind the Eliminate Shutdowns Act as a way to break that cycle. Joining me to discuss why predictability matters so much for policing and public safety operations is Spokesperson for the National Police Association, Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration is opening up more opportunities to expand hiring across government. In less than a week, the Office of Personnel Management has set up an “early-career talent network” and also launched a recruitment effort for project managers. The initiatives come after sweeping reductions to the federal workforce over the last year. Here with the latest, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A patchy federal job landscape is threatening to upend a longstanding cyber talent pipeline. Hundreds of students graduate from the CyberCorps Scholarship-for-Service program every year. But recent and soon-to-be graduates say they continue to face major challenges in finding federal job opportunities. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Rubin Observatory just turned the night sky into a live feed and the universe is far busier than anyone imagined A new ARPA‑H effort aims to change how doctors understand and treat critical illness in real timeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The launch of Rubin Observatory's alert system marks a breakthrough in astrophysics, giving scientists a real‑time stream of changes across the sky, from brightening stars to newly spotted asteroids. It’s one of the final steps before the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, which will scan the southern sky every night for a decade with unprecedented precision. Dr. Bob Blum joins us to share why this moment is so scientifically and cosmically exciting.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When patients become critically ill, their bodies often fall into a dangerous immune response loop that today’s ICU tools can’t fully see or stop. The CIRCLE program aims to give doctors a clearer roadmap by combining new sensors, faster lab insights, and digital models that predict how a patient will respond. Joining me to discuss long‑term promise for ICU care is Dr. Yoram Vodovotz, Program Manager for CIRCLE at ARPA‑H.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Army civilians who have been identified as “surplus” begin receiving automated notices giving them a few days to decide whether to accept a reassignment, retire early or opt in for a buyout, many are making these life-altering decisions with limited information. Here with an update to her story from Monday is Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transportation Security Administration employees are seeing their first paychecks in more than a month. TSA agents are being paid this week despite lawmakers failing to come to an agreement on a Department of Homeland Security spending bill. That means thousands more DHS staff are continuing to work with out pay. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Shutdowns don’t just disrupt agencies, they disrupt household finances, and the data shows it almost immediately A large TSP balance is a success story until Required Minimum Distributions turn it into a tax problem A military family’s decades‑long journey with autism is now helping other families navigate a system that often feels impossible to manageSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal employees may eventually be made whole after a shutdown, but the timing matters. After the most recent missed paycheck, data from USAA shows requests for financial relief spiking among federal workers, highlighting short‑term cash‑flow pressures even when back pay is expected. We’ll walk through what those patterns reveal about how workers navigate fixed bills and uncertainty with Daniel Diaz, spokesperson for USAA Bank.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

April is World Autism Month, and for military families, navigating autism care often means navigating multiple systems at once. Jaime and Tracy Parent have spent more than thirty years raising an autistic child while moving through diagnoses, deployments, school changes and the maze of military and civilian support programs. Their new book, "The Mission at Home," turns that lived experience into practical guidance for families facing the same transitions and gaps in care. We’ll hear from Jaime and Tracy about what they’ve learned and what still needs to change.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal employees often retire with two advantages many Americans don’t have: a steady pension and a sizable TSP. But when Required Minimum Distributions kick in, those income streams can collide, triggering higher taxes and unexpected ripple effects. We’ll look at how that happens and why planning years ahead can change the outcome with Thiago Glieger of RMG Advisors.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More shakeup at the Treasury Department. The department is preparing for targeted layoffs at an office focused on monitoring the stability of the U.S. financial system. And over at the IRS, its IT shop is back in hiring mode. This comes after it permanently reassigned more than 1,200 IT employees to other parts of the agency. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal contractors have been required to comply with the Trump administration’s mandate to remove anything that is considered diversity, equity and inclusion for the past 15 months. But under President Donald Trump’s new executive order, signed last week, vendors face harsher penalties that could include False Claims Act lawsuits as well as possible suspension and debarment. For more on why this new order goes further than previous efforts, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me to discuss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. Strategic Command has awarded a $500 million IDIQ contract to the University of Nebraska’s National Strategic Research Institute to support warfighter‑ready solutions. The award is structured to emphasize speed, flexibility, and direct operational relevance rather than one‑off research projects. Joining me to talk through how these funds will advance STRATCOM's mission is the Director of NSRI, Rick Evans.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton As uncertainty clouds federal research budgets, a new analysis shows how NIH funding ripples through state and local economies nationwide U.S. Strategic Command has awarded a $500 million IDIQ contract to accelerate delivery of warfighter‑ready solutions as defense needs evolve During COVID, SBA moved fast to deliver disaster loans, but GAO says limited access to IRS tax data made oversight harder and increased program riskSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When disaster loan programs scale up quickly, data sharing becomes critical. GAO says outdated systems and manual consent requirements limited SBA’s access to IRS tax data during COVID, leaving oversight gaps even as billions went out the door. Joining me to break down why that matters and where progress has been made is Director for Financial Markets and Community Investment at GAO, Courtney LaFountain.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The National Institutes of Health funding touches far more than major research institutions. A new analysis maps how those dollars support jobs and businesses nationwide. United for Medical Research’s latest report breaks down the geographic reach of that impact and why timing matters as budgets tighten. Joining us to walk through the findings is Caitlin Leach, President of United for Medical Research.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Army has been talking for many years about the concept of a single IT network. But it’s made real, measurable progress recently. The service started with 42 networks, then reduced the number to 19, and then just five over the last few years. At the same time, the Army is moving toward more software-defined networks. Leo Garciga is the Army’s chief information officer. He talked about those initiatives with Federal News Network’s Jason Miller.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.