Podcast appearances and mentions of Drew Friedman

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.

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.

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.

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.

For more than 50 years, the Combined Federal Campaign has been a part of DC life. It's the world's biggest workplace charity, letting government employees steer money straight from their own paychecks to their chosen charities. It's especially important to charities here because so many feds live here. But the campaign is now on life support — threatened with termination by the Trump administration. Why target a beloved institution? Drew Friedman from Federal News Network has been covering the story, and according to her it's more complicated than it looks.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 4th episode: District Bridges DC Department of Behavioral Health DC Board of Elections Mosaic Theater Company Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On this episode, I sit down with Drew Friedman for a deep dive into the wild, rebellious world of the underground comix movement of the 1960s and 70s. It's all covered in his Fantagraphics book Maverix and Lunatix: Icons of Underground ComixWe talk about the artists who broke all the rules Figures like R. Crumb, Vaughn Bode, and Trina Robbins , and how their raw, unfiltered storytelling reshaped comics into something far more personal, political, and subversive. Drew shares firsthand insights into that era's lasting influence and how it informed his own unmistakable style.From his early collaborations with his brother Josh Alan Friedman to his breakout work in publications like RAW and National Lampoon, we track the evolution of his career and the obsessive detail behind his signature caricatures. We also get into his celebrated portrait work, including books like Old Jewish Comedians and his tributes to pop culture legends, where Drew blends satire, reverence, and razor-sharp draftsmanship. It's a conversation about craft, counterculture, and the artists who refused to play it safe, and in the process, changed comics forever.

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.

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.

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Drew Friedman, reporter at Federal News Network and nominee for the ECHO Award for Best Government Management Journalist. Drew pulls back the curtain on what it's like to cover the federal workforce in one of the most turbulent periods in recent memory.The conversation covers the shifting landscape of federal hiring, including OPM's push toward skills-based hiring in the IT space, the latest on Schedule F's successor, and the growing body of litigation challenging the administration's workforce actions, as well as budget issues, and the administration's push to shrink the federal real estate footprint. Drew also reflects on what it takes to keep up with stories this big, and why the Federal News Network team's collaborative approach has been essential to staying on top of it all.Show Notes:New OMB Memo on commercial buyingVote for Drew at the ECHO Awards' websiteWhat's on the GovNaviagtors' Radar:Apr 21: Grants QSMO's Industry DayApr 22: House Oversight Committee Markup on anti-fraud legislation (TBD)Apr 26-29: NASCIO Midyear Conference

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.

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.

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.

With REAL LIFE COMIX: ONLY IN NEW YORK (Cosmic Lion Productions), editors Dean Haspiel and Doug Latino bring together 66 fantastic cartoonists and writers to tell 51 autobiographical comic stories about NYC . . . and I'm among them! We got together to talk about the book & its publishing history, the incredible lineup Dean and Doug have assembled (including ~20 of my past pod-guests — like Roz Chast, Drew Friedman, Jonathan Ames, Karl Stevens, Jennifer Hayden, Ben Katchor, and Moby — and a ton of other great cartoonists!), why no one's made a New York City-centric autobio-comics anthology before, what makes for an "Only In New York" story & why I went with a tough one for my 2-page comic, and why YOU NEED TO SUPPORT THE KICKSTARTER (ending May 8, 2026) to help bring it to print! (Yes, we talk about other stuff, like My Joe Franklin Story, what I've learned on hiatus, what Doug & Dean have learned about editing, the challenges of bringing non-comics-writers into the book, why I don't 'think' comics, my favorite Deadly Sin, and more.) Follow Dean on Bluesky and Instagram, and subscribe to his Substack • Follow Doug on Bluesky and Instagram • More info at our site • Support The Virtual Memories Show via Stripe, Patreon, or Paypal, and subscribe to our e-newsletter

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.

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.

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.

The Trump Administration is about to reclassify tens of thousands of federal jobs so that it can treat them like patronage appointees. This is huge news for your neighbors who may have those jobs, since it will make it a lot easier to fire them for political reasons. But it is also big news for the economy of our city, and, in a way, for the soul of a city that has long drawn people to public service. Drew Friedman from Federal News Network has been covering the story and is here to explain.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this April 2nd episode: Folger Shakespeare Library District Bridges Window Nation Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

The Trump administration says it is open to hiring more federal employees, but with one big caveat. The Office of Personnel Management says that should only happen if agencies can cut down their contractor support. OPM Director Scott Kupor expanded on that idea and many of the administration's other priorities during a House subcommittee hearing this week. 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.

More than 350,000 federal employees left the government in 2025, whether voluntarily or by force. But some positions and agencies were more heavily targeted by the Trump administration, while others saw increases in their numbers. An in-depth analysis of data from the Office of Personnel Management reveals key details of where the federal workforce stands today. Federal News Network's Drew Friedman gets more from Drew DeSilver, a senior writer at the Pew Research Center.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 nearly 10 months since the Trump Administration unveiled its “merit hiring” plan. And the plan has changed a bit since then, along with the administration's overall workforce goals. Strict quotas for workforce reduction are gone, for example. And there's a new emphasis on pooled recruitment for technical jobs. Scott Kupor is the director of the Office of Personnel Management. He shared a progress report with 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.

Federal employees are reporting significantly diminished engagement in their jobs and declining views of political leadership. New survey results from the Partnership for Public Service show major drops in satisfaction and morale during 2025. That's after a year of upheavals across 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 a new opportunity to get help with modernizing their HR functions. A new “HR shared service center” from the Office of Personnel Management launched this week. If agencies opt into OPM's offer, for a fee, they'll get access to a suite of IT tools to streamline their human capital management capabilities. 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 a year of workforce overhauls, the Trump administration is continuing to charge forward with major changes for federal employees. The new Schedule "Policy-slash-Career" classification is on the brink of becoming reality. Revisions to the performance management system will soon take shape. Many of these looming changes come directly from the Office of Personnel Management. At a Federal News Network event last week, reporter Drew Friedman sat down with OPM Director Scott Kupor to hear his take on some of these new policies. Here's an excerpt of that conversation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Errors and inconsistencies in a public list of political appointees are raising concerns over the data's reliability. A new analysis of the so-called “PLUM” book, from the Government Accountability Office, finds that the list of federal executives does not contain all data required by statute. It's also missing key information across several agencies and senior-level positions. Here with the 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.

Agencies may soon make their layoff decisions based on performance, rather than tenure. A new proposal from the Trump administration seeks to reverse agencies' current order of operations when deciding who to remove, or retain, in a reduction-in-force. 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.

Hundreds of former USAID employees and their supporters gathered in downtown Washington, D.C., last week. Their rally marked exactly one year since the agency shuttered, and thousands of staff members were escorted out of their offices. At the rally, former employees called out impacts of the Trump administration's dismantling of USAID, while also considering their path forward. Federal News Network's Drew Friedman was there.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An overhaul of the government's performance management system is coming down the pipeline. New proposed regulations from the Office of Personnel Management would change the annual review process for virtually the entire federal workforce. That includes a plan to limit how many federal employees can be ranked as so called “high performers.” Here with more is 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.

House Democrats are pressing Bureau of Prisons leaders on their plans to address long-time staffing shortages. For years, low staffing at BOP has contributed to operational issues and unsafe conditions across the federal prison system. A letter sent Friday to BOP's Director says the workforce issues have reached a “crisis point.” 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.

Over the last several weeks, lawmakers have been examining several bills that would affect federal employees in different ways. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, in particular, recently advanced legislation that may bring changes to federal benefits and hiring practices. Joining me with a review of these bills is 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 Trump administration is telling agencies to proceed with terminating their collective bargaining agreements if they haven't already a new advisory from the Office of Personnel Management follows two executive orders last year that directed most agencies to cancel their union contracts. That's despite ongoing litigation against the president's orders here with the latest is 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.

To kick off the launch of his recent book, "Heroes of the Comics," Gilbert and Frank were joined by their favorite illustrator, the incomparable Drew Friedman. While sitting and admiring Drew's work adorning the walls of Manhattan's Society of Illustrators, the boys managed to cover everything from Drew and Gilbert's days at "National Lampoon" to Gilbert's Lon Chaney, Jr. obsession to the time a 15-year-old Drew paid a visit to the home of the legendary Groucho Marx. ALSO: "The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant"! Jerry Lewis kvells over Drew's portrait! The triumphant return of Milton Berle's schlong! And Drew reveals why he's Howard Stern's favorite artist!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In just a few weeks, tens of thousands of career federal employees could lose their civil service protections. Positions that get converted to the new Schedule Policy/Career will no longer have the ability to appeal an adverse action or termination. But additional guidance is out, showing some other benefits employees might lose if they are reclassified. 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 Trump administration's newly finalized “Schedule F” policy is making big headlines. But there are also several other significant changes coming for the federal workforce. Three recent proposals look to give the Office of Personnel Management more authority, something that could bring significant changes for 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.

Tens of thousands of career federal employees will soon be made easier to fire. That's after Office of Personnel Management issued a final rule on “Schedule Policy/Career.” Once fully implemented, the new employment classification will exempt many employees from long-standing job 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.

Governmentwide, agencies saw a loss of about 320,000 federal employees over the course of 2025. As he marked one year in office, President Trump called those cuts to the federal workforce “tremendous.” But good government groups are painting a much darker picture of what's to come. 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 Office of Personnel Management is out with more details on how agencies should implement the new “rule of many.” It's a recruitment technique that changes how hiring managers rank and select job candidates. The Trump administration says the “rule of many” will streamline and improve the hiring process. But implementation also depends on agencies' resources and how willing they are to change their approach. Federal News Network's Drew Friedman gets more from 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.

Clearer numbers on the federal workforce are coming into view. That's with the Office of Personnel Management's major update to one of its largest data assets, FedScope. The now renamed “federal workforce data” website aims to deliver information faster, and with more frequent updates. 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.