Podcasts about federal news network

Two decades ago, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said the space agency has become too dependent on outside contractors, hollowing out some of the skills the agency needs in-house to oversee and evaluate programs. Similar concerns rose to the top when NASA kicked off its Vision 2040 project in 2018. Now it's NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's turn to pave over this well-known ground. In this week's federal report, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller writes about why this latest attempt to refocus and reinvigorate NASA's workforce may be different. 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.

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.

The National Institutes of Health continued to lean into the use of artificial intelligence last year. The NIH has now initiated more than 100 AI pilots over the last few years. Those efforts ramped up as the health agency also navigated staffing cuts and other turmoil in 20-25. For more, Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday 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 last year has been marked by record numbers of federal employees retiring from service. Making the decision to retire is never simple, and the considerations for federal employees are unique from any other group. Luckily, there are uniquely qualified advisors available, including our guest for this episode: Tammy Flanagan. She joins us to talk about changes to the retirement process and how she and her colleagues at Retire Federal can help assess retirement readiness.  Learn more about Tammy Flanagan's work: Retirement Planning column for Government Executive: https://www.govexec.com/topic/retirement-planning/Work on Federal News Network: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/tag/tammy-flanagan/Retire Federal: https://www.retirefederal.com/Join us for AFSPA's Annual Meeting: https://events.zoom.us/ev/ApdnelInxPpOrUWwrwRtWQHK6tRGvr-131W5CrN1-ZmfJrNFNBRT~AoT4rcYlVLw2IItcnh0s9MRHkhw0RCH8bwljb9hCwAKV7cePVcMYvKyCRgSubmit questions for AFSPA Live: https://forms.office.com/r/ePv8DKMtvdSee more upcoming AFSPA events: www.afspa.org/events 

One of the key highlights of the Defense Department's recent memo on multi-factor authentication for unclassified and secret networks is the clarification that DoD Public Key Infrastructure — not the common access card itself — is the department's primary authenticator. Previous policies would often go back and forth between describing the CAC or PKI as DoD's primary credential, creating confusion. Plus, the memo finally introduces passwordless authentication methods designed to give service members faster, more flexible access to systems. For more, Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis spoke with Alex Antrim and Adam Oliver, senior solutions engineers at Yubico..See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Transportation Department is pushing back against the old adage, “if it ain't broke, why fix it?” Instead, DOT is looking at all of its technology systems and infrastructure and asking how they can drive better outcomes, particularly through modernization. For more on how Transportation is modernizing many of its legacy systems, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller caught up with Pavan Pidugu, the chief digital and information officer at the Department of Transportation, to learn more.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 Postal Service typically sees its best financial results in the first quarter of each fiscal year. That's because of the year-end holiday season and sometimes a surge in political mail. But USPS is starting this fiscal year with a $1.3 billion net loss. It posted a rare net profit for the same period last year. The American Postal Workers Union says USPS should focus on affordable services and improved service to win back customers. Federal News Network's Jory Heckman spoke with APWU President Jonathan Smith. 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 is in shutdown mode, but most DHS employees are continuing to work through the lapse in appropriations. Many DHS personnel will also have to work without pay until the White House and lawmakers negotiate a funding deal. For more, Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday joins meSee 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 locked itself into another decadeslong lease this time for privatized military barracks, expanding a housing model that has posed significant challenges for military family housing for decades. A Senate lawmaker now warns that the 50 year agreement will limit the Pentagon's ability to change contract terms and hold private companies accountable for inadequate living conditions. 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 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.

Data from the Department of Veterans Affairs shows it cut health care hiring times by more half. The Trump administration directed agencies to speed up time-to-hire governmentwide. But a closer look at the VA's data shows that it's using different metrics than it's used in the past. For a closer look at the numbers … 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 full impact of continuing resolutions is hard to pin down for the Defense Department, but a government watchdog says the funding lapses consistently lead to delays, higher costs, added administrative work and operational disruptions — including a facilities sustainment contract at Joint Base San Antonio that more than doubled after CR‑related delays. They also disrupted training and exercises and forced financial staff to rework budgets to navigate CR limits instead of supporting the mission. For more, Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis spoke with Rashmi Agarwal, a director on the Government Accountability Office's defense capabilities and management team.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command stood up a new cyber directorate last August to take a more comprehensive approach to cybersecurity across the enterprise. The office is zeroing in on three priorities: speeding up zero‑trust adoption, strengthening secure software practices and bringing cutting‑edge defensive technologies into the fight. For more on why Navwar created the directorate and where it's headed, Federal News Network's Jason Miller spoke with Rachel Bondi, the deputy director for the cyber innovation unit and CTO for mission systems afloat, at the West Conference in San Diego.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Central Intelligence Agency is lifting the veil on some acquisition reform priorities. Earlier this week, the CIA announced a new acquisition framework that focuses on speed and innovation. The agency says it wants to better harness cutting edge commercial technologies. 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.

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 IRS is notifying back-office employees that they will temporarily cover frontline filing season work through this summer. Training for these detailed employees will begin nearly a month after the start of this year's tax filing season. The agency's taxpayer service division lost a significant number of employees last year. The IRS also fell short of its hiring goals this 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.

Next week, the Army plans to debut what's meant to be a “generational” change in the way it provides food to soldiers. At Fort Hood, Texas, the service plans to launch its new “campus style” dining concept, a model that could eventually replace legacy dining facilities around the world. But to do it at just one installation, the Army had to overcome some significant bureaucratic and acquisition hurdles. If it's successful, the service will need to figure out how to remove those hurdles entirely. Details from 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.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to get the rollout of a new multi-billion-dollar Electronic Health Record back on track, after pausing the project for three years. The VA is planning for its new EHR from Oracle-Cerner to go live at 13 sites in 2026. It'll start with four sites in Michigan in April. Unlike previous deployments, the upcoming go-lives to take place in waves. Since 2023 the project has been on pause while the VA addressed outages and productivity declines at sites that adopted the new EHR. For a closer look at this project, Federal News Network's Jory Heckman spoke with VA's Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence. 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 preparing to roll out several major cybersecurity policy updates in the coming weeks and months. At the top of the list is a new national cybersecurity strategy. But there are several other cyber developments worth watching. For more on that, 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.

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.

A fiscal watchdog group says the Trump administration's Golden Dome missile defense initiative could cost as much as $3.6 trillion over the next 20 years, far exceeding the White House's projected $175 billion. The group also argues the effort faces “insurmountable” technical hurdles and that it is likely that Golden Dome will simply not work. For more, Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis spoke with Gabe Murphy, policy analyst at Taxpayers for Common Sense.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The long-journey of getting agencies to adopt shared services for back office functions like financial management or human resources has quietly made real progress over the last decade. But a new report by the Government Accountability Office shows agencies have yet to solve some of the long-standing challenges to adopting shared services. For more on what GAO found and where shared services is heading next, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the nation prepares to mark America's 250th birthday, the National Archives is taking some of its most treasured records on the road. It's also unveiled a newly renovated flagship exhibition, giving visitors an immersive, high-tech look at 250 years of U.S. history. To learn about these endeavors and other activities slated for the occasion, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Grace McCaffrey, Acting Executive of External Affairs and Communications at NARA.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 launched a service-wide survey of all existing contracts to determine where limited access to technical data is hindering soldiers' ability to maintain and repair their own equipment. 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.

A short-term partial government shutdown is over after House lawmakers have reached a deal to fund much of the federal government. A majority of agencies now have funding through the end of the fiscal year. That's except for the Department of Homeland Security. It's under a two-week stopgap spending bill, buying lawmakers more time to negotiate additional guardrails on federal immigration operations. 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 Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from the Open Government Partnership, an international initiative the U.S. helped create nearly 15 years ago. Administration officials say the OGP was ineffective and waste of money. But critics of the move say it's another example of the Trump administration backsliding on transparency and accountability. 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 Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to shift more of its health care workforce to facilities facing a growing veteran population. That's the latest from the VA's long-awaited agency reorganization. That also means drawing down staffing levels in places where the veteran population is shrinking. 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 Air Force has quietly eliminated all in-person and virtual hearings for Special Access Program (SAP) appeals, replacing them with a paper-only process. It's still unclear whether the Air Force will allow individuals to submit written responses instead of a personal appearance. It is also possible that decisions will rely entirely on existing security files, with no opportunity for individuals to respond, which would be a loss of due process. For more. Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis spoke with Dan Meyer, partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC..See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A coalition of unions and nonprofits is challenging cuts to staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In a new lawsuit, they allege the workforce reductions violate laws that restrict the Department of Homeland Security from making sweeping changes at 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.

For more than 30 years, Washington has churned out idea after idea to boost federal agency performance. We've seen everything from the Clinton administration's Reinventing Government push, to the Bush administration's PART reviews, to the Government Performance and Results Act. Now, a group of former senior federal executives, calling themselves We the Doers, say there's a better way, drawing on more than 88 years of combined service. For a look at what they're proposing, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller spoke with Maureen Klovers and April Harding, the group's co-founders.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 effort to cap the fees charged by value‑added resellers appears to be slowing down. The General Services Administration has put out a new request for information, and that pause is giving some vendors relief that the agency is taking more time to understand the market. For more on what the RFI signals and how industry is reacting, 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.

After a year of talks with industry on how to improve the program, FedRAMP is turning inward. Leaders of the government's cloud security assessment program say they're increasing their engagements with federal agencies and the Office of Management and Budget as they continue to work toward a faster, less costly version of the program, called “FedRAMP 20 X.” But they say they've already made significant improvements, and with a smaller budget. Here's Federal News Network's Jared Serbu 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.

After spending five years and tens of millions of dollars developing a new travel management system, the Defense Department abruptly scrapped the effort in 2023 and reverted to the legacy Defense Travel System it was meant to replace. A government watchdog looked into why the program failed and how the Pentagon can avoid repeating the same mistakes. For more, Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis spoke with Vijay D'Souza, Director of GAO's Information Technology and Cybersecurity.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The IRS says it's ready for this year's filing season which began on Monday. But the agency faces a slew of challenges. A looming government shutdown would limit its ability to serve taxpayers. The agency also missed several key hiring goal for the filing season and is scaling back expectations for how many calls from taxpayers it will answer. 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 hits keep coming for federal consulting contractors. First, the Trump administration questioned the value of these types of contracts, leading to a significant reduction in existing deals and the slow down of awards of new solicitations. Now the Treasury Department is taking aim specifically at one of the biggest vendors. Treasury cancelled all 31 of its contracts with Booz Allen Hamilton. For more on why Treasury is taking these actions and what it means for the consulting market more broadly, 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 Department of Veterans Affairs is officially lifting a hiring freeze on its health care workforce after shedding tens of thousands of positions last year. But the VA which saw its first-ever workforce net decrease is unlikely to hire its way to a higher headcount than what is currently has. Senate Democrats say VA facilities are still facing strict staffing caps as the department moves ahead with its reorganization. Federal News Network's Jory Heckman 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.

For government oversight and accountability officials, 2025 was a year of deep change and uncertainty. President Donald Trump fired inspectors general, removed the heads of independent agencies, and sought to reduce the level of internal oversight within government. But members of the oversight community say their job is more important than ever as they prepare for challenges both near and long term. Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday reports.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 Department of Veterans Affairs is getting ready to award what's likely to become one of the biggest service contracts in government history, possibly a trillion dollars over the next decade. It's the follow-on contract vehicle for the private sector health care services VA started paying for under the MISSION Act. Officials say it'll bring more rigorous management to the department's role as a health care payer. But members of Congress have questions — and say they were left in the dark about the contract, right up until the moment VA issued the RFP last month. Details from 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.

While Congress is largely backing the Defense Department's efforts to overhaul its acquisition system, lawmakers are pushing back on some of the Pentagon's reform requests. They are also concerned that the department's workforce cuts will cripple its ability to implement the reform agenda. 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.

Congressional appropriators are one step closer to reaching a comprehensive spending deal for the rest of the fiscal year before a stopgap spending bill expires at the end of the month. They've released the final four spending bills needed to fully fund the federal government. The bill spares many agencies from deep budget cuts. 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.

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.

Transportation Security Administration employees will continue to have a union after a new court ruling. That's because a federal judge blocked TSA's latest attempt to dissolve a 2024 collective bargaining agreement that covers some 47,000 airport screeners. Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday joins me with more on the case and what comes next.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 8(a) small business contracting program is coming under the microscope of its biggest user. The Defense Department is joining a growing list of agencies auditing the use of sole source contracts through the 8(a) program. For more on what DoD's decision to launch the audit means for the future of the 40-year-old 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.

It's no secret that the Department of Homeland Security has big goals when it comes to law enforcement recruiting. But DHS's inconsistent hiring practices could trip up the department's ambitious targets. That's according to a new report from DHS's inspector general. For more on the findings, 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 has long tried to simplify and reform the reserve duty status system, which has become too complex and has created pay and benefits inequities. Lawmakers are now pushing to streamline the system. 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.

More than half of the Social Security Administration's frontline employees are earning less than what's necessary to afford a basic standard of living in their communities. That's according to a new report by Strategic Organizing Center, a research partner for the American Federation of Government Employees. SSA employees say that amid workforce challenges the agency is unable to keep up with the needs of beneficiaries. 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 week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam kick off 2026 with Terry Gerton, former President and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration and the new host of The Federal Drive on Federal News Network. Terry reflects on her transition from leading a major good-government institution to hosting a daily federal news program, and what it takes to deliver clear, fact-based conversations amid constant policy churn.Listen along as we learn how The Federal Drive decides what matters most to federal employees, why listener feedback often shapes coverage in unexpected ways, and what Terry is watching most closely in 2026, from congressional dynamics to the growing role of the courts in federal governance.Show Notes:Listen to the Federal Drive with Terry GertonDoD accelerates FAR overhaulNew EO targets the defense industrial baseOMB brings back the Presidential Rank AwardsFed100 nominations are due January 14!What's on the GovNavigators Radar:Jan 13: House Oversight and Government Reform Hearing: Curbing Federal FraudJan 20: Martin Luther King Jr. DayJan 21: Scoop News Group Government Efficiency SummitJan 27: ACT-IAC Acquisition and Innovation Forum Jan 28: IBM Think Gov 2026Jan 30: ACT-IAC CX Summit: The Next Chapter