Podcasts about federal news network

The Department of Veterans Affairs is eliminating a pay bump for thousands of its employees. The VA approved a special salary rate under the Biden administration, giving HR professionals a 15% pay increase. The department approved the pay increase to address persistent underfunding across its HR workforce, and it was about the same time that VA surged healthcare hiring to treat more veterans under the toxic exposure PACT Act. Federal News Network's Jory Heckman has more on the current situation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal employees received a new recruiting pitch recently from the Department of Government Efficiency. Multiple Feds in recent weeks have received an unsolicited invitation to interview with the US DOGE Service. 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.

Gig Eagle, the Defense Department's AI fueled talent management platform is quietly transforming how the military taps into talent. Originally built to match reservists with short term gigs across the Defense Department, the platform now supports over 13,000 users, including active duty service members and civilians. The Defense Department is now laying the groundwork for a broader national security talent marketplace, and it will soon be able to tap into talent within academia, industry and other government agencies for more Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis spoke to Brigadier General Michael McGinley, who serves as the Director of the Gig Eagle agile talent ecosystem initiative.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A 2019, executive order was a significant landmark in the nation's regulation and management of artificial intelligence technologies in the government, but it was just the first of many, among other things, that first executive order on AI focused on building research and development and the nation's AI workforce. And on those topics, it shared a lot in common with five subsequent orders on AI. That first order is one of 25 significant moments Federal News Network is marking this year as part of our 25th anniversary. Federal News Network's Jared Serbu has been writing about it this week, and he's here 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 IRS is looking to do more with less under the Trump administration's budget proposal next year, they would still face major spending cuts and staffing reductions, and they would have much more work to do if Congress passes the one big, beautiful bill that passed the House last month. 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.

President Donald Trump is reforming government wide cybersecurity policies in a new executive order released Friday, Trump kept in place many of the cybersecurity policies of his predecessors, but he also directed some major changes. Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday is here to break it all down.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 announced its sweeping Transformation Initiative, but more than a month later, Congress still hasn't received any details about the plan. Army leaders were on the Hill last week to testify on their 2026 budget and Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis has more on the state of the conversation.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 feels better than ever about the future of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program. DoD is close to solving two big obstacles to getting CMMC off the ground, more than six years after first introducing the data security program. For more on what comes next for CMMC, Federal News Network's Executive Editor Jason Miller joins me with an update.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A lawsuit claims the Department of Health and Human Services relied on flawed data to slash more than 10,000 jobs. Attorneys representing seven former HHS employees say the department knew it had flawed personnel data when it carried out a reduction in force on April 1. The lawsuit states RIF notices contained lower performance ratings than what employees actually received or incorrectly listed them as working for certain offices or geographic locations. Federal News Network's Jory Heckman spoke with the partners and co founders of the civil service law center, Jessica Samuels and Clayton Bailey.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 closing in on some promised reforms to its risk management framework. That's the process officials use to assess cyber risks and certify systems as safe for DoD networks. By the end of July, officials expect to release an outline of a simpler, reworked process for industry feedback. Among the objectives eliminate redundancies in the system and make it more realistic to conduct real time security assessments instead of just point in time ones details now 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.

Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter's vision for the Defense Innovation Unit was to connect commercial start ups with the Defense Department at a time when the relationship between the two was fraught, and as Silicon Valley was driving technological advances, while the Defense Department was falling further behind. Over the past decade, DIU showed the Pentagon can move faster, but a lot more work needs to be done to transform DoD into a truly innovative organization. Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis is here with the 25th anniversary story. 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 proposing changes that would make it easier to fire federal employees. The Office of Personnel Management, in a proposed rule is looking to create ways to remove employees in a matter of days if they no longer meet the suitability and fitness standards required to join the federal workforce. Critics of the plan say this would rein in due process rights for federal employees accused of wrongdoing. Joining me with more on this story is 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.

The Trump administration is zeroing out the Technology Modernization Fund for next year, but that doesn't mean its coffers will be empty as part of a newly released fiscal 2026 budget detail, the White House is proposing a new funding model for the TMF. For more on what that model would look like and other IT budget tidbits, 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.

Service members stationed at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam have been forced to live in hazardous conditions with mold growing on the walls, black rusted pipes covering the ceiling and exposed electrical wires dangerously dangling. Meanwhile, the Defense Department is moving billions of dollars from the service's facilities and restoration accounts to fund the southern border mission. Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis is here with a report.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, a federal judge criticized the way Office of Personnel Management officials allowed DOGE to access sensitive OPM databases. The judge is now considering issuing an order that would restrict how DOGE can access those systems in the future 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.

Keeping the military prepared and ready won't mean anything if they can't turn their computers on. A new report from the Association of Defense Communities and Converge Strategies highlights the importance of protecting America's electricity grid when it comes to the country's military readiness. The report includes a framework for defense stakeholders to understand electric grid risks in their regions and explore national defense opportunities that a stronger transmission infrastructure backbone presents. For a glimpse into that, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with one of the report's authors and a principal at Converge Strategies, Will Rogers.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 calling on agencies to hire federal employees more quickly, and soon it will ask candidates applying for federal jobs how they will adhere to its government efficiency agenda. The Office of Personnel Management rolled out a new governmentwide hiring plan last week, and Federal News Network's Jory Heckman is here with the highlights. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Small business advocates are sounding alarm bells over the Small Business Administration's fiscal 2026 budget request, the White House is proposing to eliminate several long standing programs that support the development of small businesses, including the Women's Business Centers, and score for more on the potential impact on small businesses if the Trump administration cuts funding for these programs. Federal News Network's Executive Editor Jason Miller talked to Bridget Weston, the CEO of Score.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The widespread layoffs unfolding across the federal government present a prime opportunity for foreign spy agencies. The foundation for defense of democracies, recently uncovered a likely Chinese intelligence operation targeting former Feds through fake recruiting websites. For more on this scheme and what to watch out for Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday spoke with FDD, Senior Analyst for emerging threats, Max lesser.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered immediate changes to the DoD household goods moving program, mainly to deal with the department's current struggles in implementing the new global household goods contract. But there's a new effort in the works that could make some significant changes to how often service members have to move in the first place. Hegseth is framing the latest initiative as a cost cutting move, but it could also offer members of the military more geographic stability in the coming years. Federal News Network's Jared Serbu 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.

The Trump Administration has rescinded a rule related to the Hatch Act that now allows federal employees to wear campaign paraphernalia. That is only if the items are not in support of a person who is actively running for office. That may be confusing as potential candidates don't seem to ever stop campaigning in this era of influencer and branding. For some explanation of this move and what it could potentially mean for the Hatch Act overall, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Michael Fallings, Managing Partner at the law firm Tully Rinckey.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 wrapping up its what you did last week exercise, but it has one final ask of its civilian workforce, Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis is here 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 proposed cuts to federal benefits that House lawmakers have tee'd up are top of mind for many employees, but that's not the only legislation on the table that could bring changes for the federal workforce. Democrats and Republicans have introduced legislation some of which would actually increase benefits for federal workers. Here with more 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.

President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Social Security Administration, says that he doesn't anticipate widespread layoffs for the agencies workforce but he does expect employees to become more productive as SSA pursues artificial intelligence tools to streamline the work. The new SSA commissioner says AI tools will help the agency answer more phone calls, and that officials from the Department of Government Efficiency will lead these upgrades. Here with more, 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.

The Pentagon is shifting money away from permanent change of station costs, service member pay and benefits and infrastructure repairs to fund the southern border mission. With more on what that means for Pentagon missions and operations Federal News Network's Anastasia, Obis 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 Energy Department headquarters is one of 11 federal properties the Trump administration is being urged to sell by the Public Buildings Reform Board, a small independent agency Congress created in 2016. The board and the Biden administration didn't always agree on how to downsize federal real estate, but its members say they're getting full support from the 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.

The Defense Information Systems Agency is losing nearly 10% of its civilian workers as part of the Pentagon's broader effort to downsize its workforce. But DISA leaders say the downsizing is actually a chance to take a look at their priorities. Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis has 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 House narrowly passed its budget reconciliation bill early Thursday morning. In the process, lawmakers removed one of several provisions impacting federal retirement benefits, still several other proposals to cut benefits for feds remain in the bill as it now heads to the Senate. Here with more details 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.

We begin this morning remembering the life of Congressman Gerry Connolly, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee who died yesterday morning. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer last fall and said he would not seek re election next year. His colleagues are remembering him as a longtime advocate for the federal workforce and for modernizing government. Federal News Network's Jory Heckman is here with me now to speak more about Congressman Connolly's impact.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 largely been spared from the deep workforce cuts happening in other parts of the government. But TSA's, new leader says the Trump administration is open to big reforms, including potential privatization. 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 Office of Special Counsel says it thinks agencies should be able to fire their probationary employees for pretty much any reason and at any time. OSC s new opinion is a total reversal of its stance on this issue from just a few months ago, but attorneys representing fired probationary employees say that the OSC even issuing an opinion oversteps its authority, joining me 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 has reversed course on recent reforms of the Hatch Act. The Office of Special Counsel says it's returning to the status quo for two major changes announced last May. Here with more on what this means for federal employees Federal News Network's 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 Defense Department is a step closer to having a new official at the top of its huge personnel enterprise, Anthony Tata. President Trump's nominee to be Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and readiness is up for consideration by the full Senate after earning the approval of the Armed Services Committee. The Undersecretary position has been chronically vacant over the past several administrations, and Tata faces stiff opposition from Democrats over what they see as divisive political views, but he's promising to play a unifying role in his new Pentagon post Federal News Network's Jared Serbu has details on Tata's priorities and some of the challenges he'll face.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Agencies are facing a tight timeline to move to completely paperless retirement processing. The Office of Personnel Management is putting the finishing touches on a multi year modernization project, which they say should dramatically improve long standing challenges in retirement processing. But some question how much of a difference the effort will really make. 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.

In 2002, the creation of a key leadership role transformed how agencies manage what many say is the federal government's most critical asset, its people. The Chief Human Capital Officers Act established both the CHCO role and the CHCO Council to ensure effective management of the government wide workforce. But challenges in human capital still persist. 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.

Quantum Computing remains an area of research and development, but US officials are concerned adversaries could steal sensitive data now and decrypt it in the future. As quantum technology progresses, agencies are now exploring how to incorporate post quantum cryptographic standards into their technologies. Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday is here with the latest.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A second group of consulting contractors is coming under the General Services Administration's microscope. A new set of 10 vendors have until this Friday to submit data analysis and options for potential savings on their existing consulting contracts to GSA and agency customers for review. For more on GSA s continued effort to reshape federal consulting contracts. 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.

More signs that the Defense Department's multi billion dollar contract to overhaul household goods shipments is not going well. As peak moving season gets underway, at least one military service is temporarily walking away from the global household goods contract and thousands of moves that were supposed to be handled by Home Safe the new vendor are headed back to DoD's legacy moving system. Federal News Network's Jared Serbu has been following the GHC saga for the last several years, and he's with us now for an update. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Among attorneys who deal with federal employment and fairness issues, our next guest might be unique. She was a long-time member of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Director of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights. And a member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Before all of that, she was general counsel to two large federal labor union. For a look at how things stand, Federal News Network's Tom Temin caught up with Susan Tsui Grundmann .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 preparing for significant cuts to its workforce after hiring surged under the Biden administration, the VA is setting a goal of cutting 15% of its workforce. That would mean 10s of 1000s fewer employees. Secretary Doug Collins told lawmakers he hasn't finalized the plan yet, and the cuts could be higher or lower than that goal. 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 Trump administration summarily replaced Cameron Hamilton, the Acting Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency last week after he spoke against eliminating the agency in front of Congress. For more on what's happening at FEMA, 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.

As the Defense Department's civilian workforce continues to shrink, defense agencies are turning to automation and artificial intelligence to offset the impacts of workforce reductions. Federal News Network's Anastasia Opus joins me now to share 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 Defense Department's latest effort to obtain secure software kicked off a 90 day sprint this week to develop a framework and an implementation plan under the software fast track, or SWFT initiative. The Pentagon's goal with SWFT is to replace the reliance on the risk management framework and give the military services and defense agencies easier access to secure software. For more on this DoD initiative, 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.

The Trump administration's 2026 budget request would cut spending across several department of homeland security components, but lawmakers on Capitol Hill are pressing DHS for more details on those proposed reductions for the latest 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 Trump administration wants to end what it sees as a culture of everyone gets a trophy in the Senior Executive Service. A new proposed rule from the Office of Personnel Management would require agencies to significantly limit how many senior executives receive the highest ratings in performance reviews. Federal News Network's Drew. Friedman 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.

This year's tax filing season is over, but the IRS is setting mandatory weekend overtime hours for some employees that's to get ahead of a backlog of tax returns flagged as having possible errors in them. Those tax returns need employees to manually review them before they're processed. The IRS faces this workload as it prepares to cut tens of thousands of employees from its workforce. 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 Marine Corps is DoD only military service that's managed to pass a financial statement audit. But the way it's gone about it isn't the sort of thing you'd want to do over the long term. The current process is expensive, time consuming, and filled with manual work arounds, but officials say they recognize those issues, and the next step is to make those successful audits more sustainable details now 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.

For one reason or another, many more federal employees have flocked to the second round of the deferred resignation program. Some say the offer coming from their agency rather than OPM, felt more legitimate. Others want to leave on their own terms, rather than being pushed out in a reduction in force. But many are still choosing to stay in their jobs. Here with more on our 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.

The Pentagon's purge of Diversity Equity and Inclusion personnel actually began in 2024 following a provision in the annual defense policy bill that mandated changes to the department's dei workforce while the Trump administration finalized the cuts, Congress laid most of the groundwork well before this administration took office for more Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis spoke to the Government Accountability Office's Managing Director, Cathleen Berrick.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio's sweeping reorganization plan would break up the Department's Bureau of cyberspace and digital policy, even though it has yet to celebrate its fourth birthday. Cyber policy experts, though, say the bureau should be retained as one integrated organization. Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday has more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.