Federal Drive with Tom Temin

The Defense Logistics Agency's five-year IT modernization journey reached an important milestone earlier this summer. DLA moved its catalog system off a 35-year-old COBOL based system and onto a new modern platform. For more on the agency's latest IT modernization achievement, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller caught up with Adarryl Roberts, DLA's chief information officer.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new Pentagon pilot program will give some active-duty service members a way to preserve their fertility before deployments, hazardous assignments or long periods away from their families. Starting September 14, eligible troops can be reimbursed up to $10,000 a year for egg freezing, or $500 for sperm freezing, under a three-year program created by Congress. The Defense Health Agency will use the pilot to assess participation, costs, administrative burdens and whether fertility preservation has an impact on military readiness and retention. 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.

Congress may be out of session, but the clock is still running on fiscal 2027 funding. As lawmakers look toward spending deadlines and a crowded legislative agenda, this year's primary elections are also offering clues about who may wield influence in the next Congress. Bloomberg Government deputy news director Loren Duggan is here with a look ahead.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal retirement is full of choices involving pensions, health benefits, Social Security and the Thrift Savings Plan. Many employees don't discover the consequences of those decisions until after they've made them. retirement expert Tammy Flanagan joins me now with some perspective on how to prepare.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 moved hundreds of employees and family members out of the Middle East earlier this year. As those evacuations approach a key deadline, many families are still waiting to learn where they'll serve next and how to plan the months ahead. John Dinkelman, president of the American Foreign Service Association, joins me now to discuss the impacts of this on the workforce and the State Department.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 Foreign Service families are used to uncertainty. But months after evacuations from parts of the Middle East, many are still waiting for answers that affect jobs, schools, and where they'll be living next The biggest retirement mistakes usually happen when people make important decisions without fully understanding the consequences, and often before an employee leaves government Congress may be on recess, but the campaign for governing power is still underwaySee 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 asking Congress for broad new authority to directly sell military real estate, lease it back when it needs to and reinvest the cash from these sales into a number of defense priorities. 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 intelligence community just launched a shared classified jobs portal. ICJobs is just like USAJobs, but for those with top-secret security clearances. The goal is to help the intelligence community put the right talent in the right work roles. 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 Commerce Department recently announced plans to take minority equity stakes in companies receiving federal support. It's a sign of how government is taking a more direct role in developing strategic technologies. Joining me now to discuss the opportunities and risks is Joel Fetter, managing director at Clark Street.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Technology doesn't stop at national borders, and increasingly neither can regulation. A new U.S.-U.K. effort to coordinate oversight of tokenized finance highlights the challenge of creating rules for markets that are still taking shape. Joining me to discuss it is John Kearney, director of product management at MyComplianceOffice.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than many institutions can adapt. For Congress, the challenge is deciding where government should step in and where it should stay out while the technology's full impact is still emerging. Joining me to discuss that challenge is Congressman Don Beyer of Virginia's 8th District.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 Who says the federal government should own part of a private company? That's no longer a theoretical question As government takes a bigger role in shaping emerging technologies, Congress is trying to write rules for one that's changing faster than the legislative processFinancial regulators usually write rules for existing markets. Tokenized finance is forcing governments to coordinate rules for one that's still being builtSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Pentagon wants to steer up to $244 million to Palantir through March 2027, with the possibility of additional funding through the end of 2028. But a draft memo obtained by Federal News Network doesn't spell out exactly what the money would pay for or which programs it would support.The Defense Department says the memo is part of a broader effort to use industry expertise to speed up defense production. But one government watchdog raised questions of transparency and whether the directive could lead to sole-source contracting without enough consideration of competition. 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.

Following a year of sweeping staffing reductions, the Trump administration is laying the groundwork for agencies to ramp up recruitment efforts. The Office of Personnel Management has directed agencies to begin assembling “annual staffing plans” for fiscal 2027. The guidance places a particular focus on hiring technologists and early-career talent. 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 VA says people remain responsible for decisions affecting veterans' benefits and healthcare, even as artificial intelligence becomes more common behind the scenes. But for veterans, trust depends on understanding how decisions are made and who answers when something goes wrong. Joining me now to share what that transparency could really look like is Benjamin Krause, founder of Krause Law.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A housing problem, a benefits problem, or an employment problem may actually start as a legal problem. The challenge for many veterans is recognizing that early enough to get help before the consequences spread. We'll talk about a new effort to close that gap with Ron Flagg, president of the Legal Services CorporationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When military orders arrive, families may have only a short time to make one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. Whether to buy, rent, sell or hold a home can have consequences long after the move is complete. For perspective on making those choices, I'm joined by Mike Meese, president of Armed Forces Mutual.TAGSee 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 Military families don't get to choose when they move. That can make buying a home one of the toughest financial decisions they'll face Getting help starts with recognizing the real problem. For many veterans, that problem turns out to be a legal one As AI becomes more common at the VA, veterans want to know how decisions are made and who's accountable for themSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The yearslong North Korean remote IT worker campaign has infiltrated hundreds of companies. Now, the FBI has confirmed at least one of those individuals was found working for a federal agency. Experts say the widening campaign points to an emerging gap in national security vetting. 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 Small Business Administration finalized new rules for the 8(a) business development program in record time. In 60 days, SBA went from proposal to reviewing more than 100 comments to final regulation that will transform the 73-year-old program. For more on what's in the new 8(a) regulations and why some experts remain concerned about the program's long-term viability, 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.

OPM has played a central role in shaping federal workforce policy over the past 18 months. At the same time, the agency itself has undergone substantial staffing reductions. A new GAO report examines what those changes could mean for OPM's ability to carry out its mission and support other agencies. Joining me to walk through the details is Dawn Locke, director in GAO's Strategic Issues team.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal agencies depend on public comments when they write and revise regulations, but many citizens and subject-matter experts have little experience participating in the process. A new effort aims to help people understand how agencies evaluate comments and what makes them useful. Here with more is Colette Delawalla, founder of the Stand Up for Science Foundation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The HHS Office of Inspector General is seeking public input on how fraud-and-abuse laws affect payments to clinical-trial participants. The effort could help determine whether existing rules strike the right balance between protecting patients and supporting medical research. Joining me now is Spencer Turnbull, Chief of the Industry Guidance Branch at HHS-OIG.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 Clinical trials need participants. Regulators are examining whether existing rules on participant compensation are helping or getting in the way Government asks for public input all the time. Most people don't know what to do with that invitation OPM has spent the past year helping reshape the federal workforce. A new GAO report looks at what's happened inside OPM itselfSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal employees are getting more details on what to expect if they appeal an adverse action. That's after the Office of Personnel Management finalized an overhaul to the government's avenues for challenging agencies. Here to break down the latest from OPM's guidance, 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 recent lawsuit could shape how federal agencies document artificial intelligence in the procurement process. Trax International Corporation recently alleged that the Army's AI tool used to determine a contract award hallucinated and weakened the company's bid. While it might be hard for the contractor to prove that the error actually mattered to the outcome, legal experts say the case could become the first to test how much information agencies may have to disclose about their use of AI during bid evaluations. 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 defense community is watching a wave of new technologies arrive at a remarkable pace. The conversation has increasingly shifted from what to buy to how quickly new capabilities can become useful in the field. Those issues will be front and center at the Professional Services Council Defense Conference this fall. Here with a preview is PSC executive director Jim Carroll.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 beginning to enforce restrictions involving Anthropic, and defense contractors are starting to see the practical effects. Companies are receiving certification requests from customers across government, but those requests don't always match. For contractors, that can make compliance more complicated than it sounds. Here with more is Ryan Frazee, partner at Mayer Brown.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. military has more access to battlefield information than at any point in its history. Yet commanders and their staffs still face limits on time, attention and communication. As AI becomes more common in operational environments, the goal is to help them focus on what matters. Here with insights on how that's playing out in real time is Ian Kalin, CEO of TurbineOne.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 Military commanders have access to more information than ever before, but can they make sense of it fast enough to matter? Contractors trying to comply with the Pentagon's Anthropic restrictions are running into an unexpected problem: not everybody is asking for the same paperwork. Defense leaders aren't short on new technology. They're trying to figure out what it takes to field it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NASA's successful demonstration of laser communications during the Artemis Two mission marked a turning point for a technology that has been in development for years. It proved that optical communications can support human spaceflight operations, sending high-resolution imagery and scientific data as four astronauts traveled around the Moon. Nikki Desch is the project manager for the Orion Artemis Two Optical Communication Payload System at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She talked about the capabilities 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 Army's decision to consolidate its official social media accounts is raising concerns well beyond public affairs. Small businesses that rely on LinkedIn, X and other platforms to track contracting opportunities, connect with program offices and learn about new requirements say they could lose a key entry point into the acquisition process. The move comes as Army leaders continue urging nontraditional companies and commercial firms to do business with the service. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen has more on what this could mean for the defense industrial base.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal spending transparency has been a bipartisan goal for nearly two decades, and USAspending.gov was built to help taxpayers follow the money. But a new report from the Project on Government Oversight suggests that much of the accountability challenge begins after dollars leave federal agencies and move through states and other intermediaries. Joining me to explain what government can and can't see today is Sean Moulton, senior policy analyst at POGO.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Much of today's civil service debate focuses on giving presidents greater control over the federal workforce. But if you go back to some core conservative principles, the case for a professional, merit-based civil service becomes stronger, not weaker. Joining me to make that case is Christopher Walker, professor of law at the University of Michigan.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 Washington debates the future of the civil service, one legal scholar argues that a professional career workforce is more consistent with conservative principles than many people think The federal government can track an award from Washington to a state government. Following it the rest of the way is often where the trail goes cold. Before heading home for August, the Senate cleared a few items that could have lasting consequencesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Pentagon's independent weapons testing office has pulled decades of unclassified annual reports from its public website, arguing that artificial intelligence would allow foreign adversaries to combine publicly available information into detailed assessments of U.S. military vulnerabilities. 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 Trump administration pledged to shift the Federal Emergency Management Agency away from a “bloated, DC-centric dead weight.” But FEMA's regions, not its Washington headquarters, bore the brunt of workforce cuts that happened without any strategic planning. That's according to the latest Government Accountability Office report on FEMA's workforce challenges. Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday joins me for 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 Most people don't think about cybersecurity when they turn on the tap, but the same remote connections that help utility operators monitor and maintain critical systems can also create opportunities for cyber attackers Some contractors got CMMC certified early, investing before they had to. Now that implementation is on hold, they're asking whether moving first still paysSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Government often relies on industry to invest ahead of future requirements. The recent pause in CMMC implementation is raising questions about how contractors weigh risk, cost and the value of moving first. Here with one company's perspective are Angie Lienert and Jeremiah Jensen of IntelliGenesis.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Keeping water systems running requires remote access for monitoring, maintenance, and vendor support. Securing those connections has become a growing priority for utilities that rely on operational technology every day. A new NIST guide offers practical approaches for doing that. Here to discuss it is CheeYee Tang, an electronic engineer at NIST.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.