Podcasts about govexec

As Trump's White House sees things, the General Services Administration should take on substantially all of the responsibility for managing the federal government's acquisitions of goods and services.Frank Konkel, editor-in-chief for GovExec's publications including us, and WT's editor Nick Wakeman broke the story on May 21 of how GSA is planning to absorb major IT contracts run by the National Institutes of Health and NASA.That and GSA's other moves down the consolidation path are the starting and ending points for this episode featuring Frank, Nick and Ross Wilkers that covers the wide spectrum of changes across the entire GovCon ecosystem happening as they recorded.The Federal Acquisition Regulation overhaul effort and what today's world of government-industry engagement looks like were also on their discussion agenda, among other items.WT 360: Clear themes to note from the emerging structural changes to acquisitionWT 360: Our EIC Frank Konkel on GSA, Google and the government as a single whole customerIndustry awaits significant disruption as GSA works on contract takeoversGSA prepping plans to move NASA SEWP and NIH contract vehicles under its managementInside GSA's AI strategy: Using the tech while learning how to buy itGSA's procurement chief details administration's acquisition reform plansANALYSIS: GSA's new procurement strategy begins with consumer techGSA, Salesforce agree to major Slack discounts for governmentTrump orders structural changes to rules covering $1T in federal spendingThe acquisition rule (re)writers really want you to have your sayTrump administration releases first wave of acquisition regulation changesRewrite of market research rules aims to give agencies more flexibilityFAR overhaul: The challenges in tackling federal procurement's 5,000-page beast

Google set off quite the reaction when the tech giant's offer to discount its cloud-based productivity suite at 71% for all federal agencies was accepted by the General Services Administration, on behalf of those agencies.Frank Konkel, editor-in-chief for all GovExec publications including WT, went under the hood of that agreement and joins our Ross Wilkers for this episode to take listeners there as well.As Frank explains: this pact unique because it essentially treats the federal government as a single whole customer. The agreement also foreshadows more like it to make certain commercial technologies more accessible for federal agencies.Naturally, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency also feature in the conversation between Frank and Ross.

Few doubt that quantum computing will have a tremendous impact on the tech world and beyond.But as NextGovFCW's emerging technology reporter Alexandra Kelley explains in this episode, it is important to look beyond the buzzwords and assumptions."Alexa," as we and other GovExec colleagues call her, walks Editor Nick Wakeman through some common misconceptions that include why just using the term “quantum” is imprecise. Some active use cases involve quantum sensing and quantum telecommunications, which are built on quantum physics principles.Alexa is tracking post-quantum cryptography and investments at the Energy, Commerce and Defense departments to build the infrastructure that would enable full-scale quantum computing.Quantum information sciences represent enormous potential that is attracting both government and private sector investment. Quantum also is one technology area where the federal government of the curve with investments, infrastructure and a variety of initiatives.AWS unveils its quantum chip prototype, OcelotMicrosoft debuts new superconductor chip designed for quantum computingDARPA taps Microsoft, PsiQuantum for scalable quantum computer researchIndustry group calls on Trump to appoint a quantum czarAgencies look to automation software to usher in next phase of post-quantum securityFY2025 NDAA angles to enhance DOD's AI and quantum sciences capabilitiesSenators introduce quantum reauthorization bill with little time left in this CongressMicrosoft and Atom Computing unveil 24-qubit quantum machineNIST approves 14 new quantum encryption algorithms for standardizationMicrosoft and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory bring AI to quantum chemistry research

Many questions about talent in public sector often center around the hiring process and what happens after the offer letter is signed, that being the onboarding phase.Where technology fits into agencies' efforts at making the entire lifecycle more seamless is the focus of this episode featuring Jill Jones and Yoko Jolly, respectively chief strategy officer and federal market leader at CrossVue.In talking with our Ross Wilkers, Jones and Jolly also offer their perspectives on how agencies are addressing the challenge of scaling the tech they use for human capital management.(The survey mentioned in this episode was produced by Market Connections, which is owned by WT's parent company GovExec)

The ongoing White House transition is unprecedented because before Donald Trump's (re)-election in November, Grover Cleveland's win in 1892 was the last time a president was voted into office with a gap between terms. David Berteau, president and CEO of the Professional Services Council, and his team are fielding many questions on the transition from government contractors they represent as one of their leading trade associations.In this episode, Berteau explains to our Nick Wakeman and Ross Wilkers what contractors are asking the PSC team about and all the key indicators that matter to industry when a new administration moves in.Some priorities are poised to carry over like the CMMC cybersecurity standard, but time will tell if others continue on. The Biden administration also has priorities to work on as it moves out and Berteau goes over those as well.(We recorded this conversation before the final 2025 National Defense Authorization Act's text was released. The reading list below includes coverage of it from our GovExec colleagues.)FY2025 NDAA angles to enhance DOD's AI and quantum sciences capabilitiesFY2025 NDAA targets spyware threats to U.S. diplomats, military devicesCould Biden's recent strategy to streamline government hiring be scuttled under Trump?Trump teams to deploy throughout government after reaching agreement with the Biden administrationOMB releases federal tech impact report as Biden admin winds downHow the federal CIO is prepping for the presidential transition‘Shock the system': Startups and DOGE take over Reagan forumDefense officials hopeful incoming administration keeps funding cutting-edge tech

Much of the world shut down on July 19 after cybersecurity company CrowdStrike distributed a faulty software update that essentially rendered 8.5 million Microsoft Windows computers useless.David DiMolfetta, who covers cybersecurity at our partner publication NextGovFCW, led the bulk of GovExec's coverage of the aftermath even though the outage was not technically a cyber situation. But all that happened does bring up questions about network vulnerabilities and resilience.In this episode, David tells our Ross Wilkers all about how federal agencies are working to recover and learn from an event that was truly historic in scale.Blue screens of death were everywhere on July 19 and the entire situation was weird. As David explains, the scale of the outage is leading agencies to re-examine how they approach cyber and keeping tech assets healthy.Summer-only sessions helped blunt CrowdStrike outage impact on US schoolsCrowdstrike IT outage linked to update using new threat detection systemHow the CrowdStrike outage carved out new opportunities for hackersBiden briefed on CrowdStrike IT outage as multiple federal systems impacted

Generative artificial intelligence is only the newest example of how federal agencies have different comfort levels with adopting new technologies and in this instance, intelligence agencies appear to be bolder in charting their path forward.Frank Konkel, editor-in-chief for GovExec's publications including us, wrote a deep dive article earlier this month that includes his conversations with some intelligence community leaders on where their agencies are at in Gen AI.In this episode, Frank tells our Ross Wilkers all about what they told him and what else he found in putting together that story to explore what IC agencies are up to in Gen AI and their grander visions for the technology.As you will hear from Frank, they want to go fast and also be thoughtful about mitigating some of the risks in doing so.The US intelligence community is embracing generative AIThe CIA is taking a ‘crawl, walk, run' approach to GenAI2023 was just the start of generative AI's rise, government and industry leaders sayProceed with caution: Industry advises a careful approach to generative AI3 in 4 Americans Worry AI Will Take Their JobsCIA Awards Secret Multibillion-Dollar Cloud ContractPentagon awards $9B cloud contract to Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Oracle

The NASA SEWP Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) vehicle aims to help federal agencies access funding for IT products and solutions, and under SEWP VI, the contract will include enterprise-wide ITC/AV services and program-level ITC/AV services. As technology evolves, leaders are increasingly focusing on the confluence of people, processes, and technologies. In this podcast episode, GovExec's Studio 2G will sit down with Joanne Woytek, SEWP Program Director at NASA to discuss the evolution of the SEWP GWAC and how people, processes and technology can shape the future of how public sector services are delivered to better meet the needs of the public sector.

This week, Bonnie joins the GovExec's AI Spotlight Series hosted by George Jackson for a roundtable discussion on the DoD's role in AI with Tyler Sweatt from Second Front Systems, Jason Preisser from DARPA, and Alexis Bonnell from AFRL. Together, they explore the transformative potential of AI, focusing on AI adoption, process innovation, and the cultural shifts that need to happen within the DoD to leverage AI capabilities. Tune in for an insightful conversation on how AI can revolutionize the defense space, if we let it. TIMESTAMPS: (4:25) How do we increase acquisition speed? (6:02) The unsexy reality of government's use of AI (8:49) Why the department still operates from an industrial age approach (12:13) How to cheat time in procurement (18:10) Why we need to focus on governance and attention as a currency (20:05) Three key decision-making traits to push innovation forward (27:22) Integrating AI with mission and people at scale (30:20) Why the DoD needs to guide industry LINKS: Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/ Follow Tyler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylersweatt/ Follow Alexis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexisbonnell/ Follow Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-r-preisser-05878220/ Follow George: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-jackson-70b37b2a2/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ GovExec: https://govexec.com/

Google's cloud environment now has license to host secret and top secret data, which is a must-have for the company in its pursuit of large opportunities at defense and intelligence agencies especially.Frank Konkel, editor-in-chief for GovExec's publications including us, had a front-row seat to that announcement and at Google's flagship cloud conference April 9-11 in Las Vegas.In this episode, Frank joins our Nick Wakeman and Ross Wilkers to explain what Google's receipt of that key security authorization means for both the tech giant itself and the larger cloud computing landscape with respect to federal.Google had much to share at its Cloud Next conference and Frank had much to talk about with key government and industry leaders there: conversations on all things cloud and artificial intelligence that he provides a glimpse into for Nick and Ross.Google is now authorized to host classified data in the cloudGoogle Public Sector ‘hitting our stride' in government market, CEO saysGoogle centers public sector strategy on alliances with integratorsGoogle Bets Big on Government Business with New DivisionPentagon Awards $9B Cloud Contract to Amazon, Google, Microsoft, OracleCIA makes awards for intelligence community's next massive cloud contract

Season 3, Episode 49. In this special episode of All Quiet, Tyler joins Alexis Bonnell (CIO and Director of the Digital Capabilities Directorate, Department of the USAF), Bonnie Evangelista (Acting Chief Digital and AI Officer for Acquisitions, DoD), Jason Preisser (Director of Mission Services Officer, DARPA), and George Jackson (VP of Events, GovExec) for GovExec's AI Spotlight webinar series. This episode highlights the DoD's role in the emerging AI landscape in government and some of the ways AI is already being utilized in their work and mission activities.What's Happening on the Second Front:AI Adoption and Technological Challenges in the DoDImproving Government Processes with AICultural and Operational Shifts in DefensePersonal Experiences and Perspectives on AIConnect with Tyler:LinkedIn: Tyler Sweatt Website: secondfront.comCatch 2F's Offset Symposium replay here. 

Over the past several months, there's been a lot of attention paid to an organization's workplace culture, particularly in terms of the on-going debate over the future of work. But at a time where it feels we're going from one crisis to another, it is important for leaders to consider what kind of workplace culture their promoting in their organization, and whether it will help their employees to adapt and thrive in spite of what crisis looms next over the horizon. That's why I invited Shaara Roman to join me on this episode of my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast to discuss her book, “The Conscious Workplace: Fortify Your Culture to Thrive in Any Crisis”. Shaara is a seasoned executive, having held leadership roles in CGI, Fannie Mae, NRECA, and Visa, before founding her own workplace culture consulting firm, The Silverene Group. Her writings and insights on workplace culture have appeared in numerous publications, including like CEOWorld Magazine, SHRM, HR.com, HR Executive, Authority Magazine, and GovExec. Shaara's upbringing also gives her a unique insight into different cultural norms and how to bring people together, growing up in India, Nigeria, UK, and Greece before settling down in the US. Some of the topics Shaara and I discuss in this episode include: The four types of organizational culture found in today's workplaces, and how one of the common ones is more problematic than we might realize. The impact Millennial and Gen Z will have on leadership and the mindset change that's going to be needed to keep organizations agile and responsive to the evolving talent landscape. The blindspot many leaders have about how certain actions of theirs are inadvertently transforming the workplace culture, and often times, not for the better. How a leader's own innate sense of purpose drives an organization's sense of community and belonging. https://open.spotify.com/episode/4IeRwMV60qDnQj1XVY9O9K?si=3Hohqme8QhaQUCnDntlKqQ Noteworthy links: Buy Shaara's book “The Conscious Workplace” on Amazon.* Learn more about Shaara's work - silverenegroup.com *sponsored link that helps to support this podcast. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

In this episode of Management Matters we host part 8 of the Academy-GovExec TV  series on Artificial Intelligence featuring Academy Fellows, Jerry Mechling, Theresa Pardo, and Alan Shark,  as well as Brenda Bannan, moderated by GovExec's George Jackson. Imagine the controversy some 40 years ago among engineering school faculty who expressed concern that the standard hand-held slide rule might be replaced by sophisticated hand-held calculators. In some schools and colleges, they were banned for use during exams or major university entrance tests. Today, we see similar discussions and debates with the advent of generative AI (GAI) and, in particular, the popular ChatGPT. And given the allure and capabilities of GAI, the issues are much more difficult, and the consequences are potentially far more serious. .Support the Podcast Today at:donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190Music Credits: Sea Breeze by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.e

In this episode of Management Matters we host part 6 of the Academy-GovExec TV  series on Artificial Intelligence featuring Academy Fellows, Dan Chenok and Amy-Edwards Holmes, and Virginia Huth, moderated by GovExec's George Jackson.  This episode focuses on the impact of AI on the internal operations of government itself and includes discussion on government rulemaking, regulations, and implementation guidance.Support the Podcast Today at:donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190Music Credits: Sea Breeze by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.e

In this episode of The Federal Innovator Podcast, hosts George Jackson, vice president of events at GovExec, and Dr. Jennifer Sample, managing director at Accenture Federal Services, are joined by Amer Helmy, federal identity, credential, and access management manager at the U.S. Department of Labor, and Rayan Farooq, identity and access management lead at Accenture Federal Services, to discuss how emerging technologies are helping the federal government advance digital identity services. Check out what they have to say by listening to the full episode!

On this special bonus episode of "The Federal Innovator Podcast," host Troy Schneider, President of GovExec 360, sits down with government leaders and industry experts to discuss how generative AI impacts the federal government. In this episode, Troy is joined by Dr. Lynne Graves, Chief of the U.S. Air Force's Artificial Intelligence Division; Pritha Mehra, Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President for the U.S. Postal Service and Dr. Viveca Pavon-Harr, Director of Applied Intelligence Discovery Lab at Accenture Federal Services. Tune in to learn more about how you can leverage generative AI to create value for your agency!

In this episode of Management Matters we host part 5 of the Academy-GovExec TV  series on Artificial Intelligence featuring Academy Fellows, Martha Dorris, Greg Giddens, and Jerry Mechling, moderated by GovExec's George Jackson.  This fifth episode focuses on how government can use AI to improve its communications and increase the public's trust in government.Support the Podcast Today at:donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190Music Credits: Sea Breeze by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_

In this episode of Management Matters we host part 4 of the Academy-GovExec TV  series on Artificial Intelligence featuring Academy Fellows, Alan Balutis, James-Christian Blockwood, and Alexis Bonnell moderated by GovExec's George Jackson.  This fourth episode focuses on how government can use AI in an ethical manner while enhancing public trust in government.Support the Podcast Today at:donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190Music Credits: Sea Breeze by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_

In this episode of Management Matters we host part 3 of the Academy-GovExec TV  series on Artificial Intelligence featuring Academy Fellows, Alan Shark, Kimberly Walton, and Reginald Wells moderated by GovExec's George Jackson.  This third episode focuses on how public sector leaders can grow an AI-ready workforce both through retraining the current workforce and growing the next generation of workers.Support the Podcast Today at:donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190Music Credits: Sea Breeze by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_

With the amount of data in our world increasing, federal leaders are investing time and effort into building architectures designed to deliver better services. As new frameworks begin to emerge, how will these data architectures address the age-old challenge of data silos?  In this episode of The Federal Innovator Podcast, host, George Jackson, vice president of events at GovExec, is joined by Dave Mooney, services management section chief, cybersecurity division, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Dr. Jennifer Sample, managing director at Accenture Federal Services, to discuss how contemporary data frameworks are changing the way government agencies operate.

In this episode of Management Matters we host part 2 of the Academy-GovExec TV  series on Artificial Intelligence featuring Academy Fellows, Dave Wennergren, Stan Soloway, and David Bray, moderated by GovExec's Troy Schneider.  This second episode focuses on how public sector leaders will use this AI to interpret data, act on it, and build government for the modern age. Support the Podcast Today at:donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190Music Credits: Sea Breeze by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_

In this episode of Management Matters we host part 1 of the Academy-GovExec TV  series on Artificial Intelligence featuring Academy Fellows, Jim Williams, David Bray, and Alan Shark, moderated by GovExec's George Jackson.  This first episode focuses on how AI can best be used by government agencies to interact with the public when offering services.  Support the Podcast Today at:donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190Music Credits: Sea Breeze by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_

New technologies are causing the physical and digital worlds to converge, creating an increasingly interconnected world where government decision-makers can deliver on their missions at speed and scale. In this episode, hosts Michael Thieme, Managing Director for the National Security Portfolio at Accenture Federal Services and George Jackson, Vice President of Events at GovExec, are joined by esteemed guest, Jill Marlowe, Digital Transformation Officer for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to discuss the intersection of emerging technology and federal research.

Trust in government in the United States has dropped drastically since the 1960s, hovering as low as 20% in some recent surveys. Srikant Sastry, leader of Cherry Bekaert's Advisory Services and Ed DeSeve, Coordinator of the Agile Government Center at NAPA (and Senior Advisor at GovNavigators) join the show to talk about their recent op-ed in GovExec titled, "Trust in the federal government is in a tailspin. Here's how agencies can rebuild it."Show Links:Commission on PPBE Reform Interim Report Circular A-11Agile Government Center FrameworkTreasury Seeks Greater Data Sharing in Interagency Plan to Curb Improper Payments

Adam White and Jace Lington talk with James-Christian Blockwood about his recent Government Executive article on civil service reform. They discuss current proposals to make more civil servants removable at will as well as ways to build a nonpartisan, professional federal workforce that protects the interests of the American people.Show Notes: Let's Rethink the Management of our Civil Service, GovExec, April 28, 2023Partnership for Public Service, Website"You Report to Me” Gray Matters Podcast with David Bernhardt, May 10, 2023“Do Public Sector Unions Make Government Unaccountable?” Gray Matters Podcast with Philip K. Howard, January 24, 2023From Merit to Expertise and Back: The Evolution of the U.S. Civil Service System, Joseph Postell, Gray Center Working Paper, February 6, 2020Restoring Accountability to the Executive Branch, Philip K. Howard, Gray Center Working Paper, February 6, 2020Quick Actions to Improve Recruitment, Hiring, and Accountability in the Federal Workforce, Jeffrey Salmon, Gray Center Policy Brief, March 2021Civil Service: Pulling In or Pushing Away, Sally Katzen, Gray Center Policy Brief, August 2020Jimmy Carter and Civil Service Reform, Stuart E. Eizenstat, Gray Center Working Paper, May 22, 2019This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5816490/advertisement

Earlier this month, the federal government ended its COVID-19 public health emergency after three years. Nationwide, Americans likely may not notice the changes in the way the government treats the pandemic, but health insurance will not cover COVID-19 vaccines and  treatment in the same way. Federal employees participating in the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program will see similar changes to their coverage because of the end of the public health emergency. Kevin Moss is a senior editor with Consumers' Checkbook. Checkbook's Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees is available now. He's also a GovExec contributor and his latest post is “Fed Health Care Changes and the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.” He joined the podcast to discuss the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program and the ways that it is changing because of the end of the public health emergency.

The debt ceiling hangs over federal employees as an unprecedented default could come as soon as the first week in June. Negotiations remain ongoing as President Joe Biden attends the G7 summit in Japan this week, but Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that the two sides are still far apart. Still, both sides remain optimistic that a deal will be struck before a default. GovExec reporter Eric Katz joined the podcast to talk about the debt ceiling negotiations and how they continue to affect federal employees. *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive

The General Schedule was enacted into law in 1949 and remains to this day.  Of course, much has changed in government since 1949 and the changes to the General Schedule have not kept up with the time. Our guests today write that the GS system has been described to them by feds as trying to work while wearing cement shoes.  Doris Hausser and Kimberly Walton are former federal human capital senior executives. They are both Fellows of the National Academy of Public Administration, where they serve on the Standing Panel on the Public Service. They're also co-authors on the latest in a series of posts on GovExec addressing the challenges that face government modernization headlined “The General Schedule System Needs An Upgrade, Now.” They joined the podcast to discuss their post and the General Schedule. *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive

Despite this week being Public Service Recognition Week, the professional civil service remains under threat. The conversation around bureaucracy remains fairly toxic, the courts have knocked down agencies' abilities to executive some laws and public figures continue to talk about the end of the administrative state.  Dr. Donald F. Kettl is professor emeritus at the University of Maryland and former dean of its School of Public Policy. He is the author of many books, including the upcoming Bridgebuilders: How Government Can Transcend Boundaries to Solve Big Problems. He is a GovExec contributor and the author of a post headlined “The Gathering Storm Threatening the Civil Service.” He joined the podcast about his post and the threats to public servants.

A pair of big-ticket programs focused on health care for veterans, soldiers and their families is the focus of this newest WT 360 Info Session series of episodes that bring together reporters from across the GovExec media team.FCW's executive editor Adam Mazmanian and NextGov reporter Edward Graham join our Nick Wakeman and Ross Wilkers to update the current situation regarding the ongoing electronic health record integration programs at the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments.On the surface, both programs appear to be going on very different tracks. But nothing in the world of government technology at this scale we're talking about is simple.Mazmanian and Graham explain where both departments are looking to go with their EHR programs, how they got there and the roles of the companies involved in each. The common thread between them is in how both adopting variants of Oracle Cerner's electronic health record.Leidos is the lead contractor for DOD's EHR program with Oracle Cerner, Accenture, Henry Schein One and 35 other supporting businesses as teammates. Oracle Cerner is the prime for the VA EHR program with Leidos and Accenture included as teammates.

Earlier this year, the White House announced a series of projects that agencies are undertaking as part of an effort to reshape how government delivers services by focusing on citizens' experiences like retirement and other life events. With the Biden management agenda's focus on customer experience, that will mean getting service to as many people as possible… in whatever ways are available.  Aaron Boyd is a Senior Editor at GovExec sibling site Nextgov. He's also the author of a post on Nextgov headlined “The Low-Tech Side of Biden's Push to Improve the ‘Life Experiences' with Government.” which is part of a series exploring the Biden administration's push to improve citizens' interactions with government. He joined the podcast to talk about his series and CX in the Biden administration. *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive  

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With a workforce of approximately 60,000 Social Security Administration administers retirement and disability benefits. But, union officials representing the agency's workforce have noted  burnout and poor service delivery at SSA. The union has also called for more funding for the agency in the wake of inflation and national economic conditions. GovExec senior reporter Erich Wagner covers the federal workforce. He joined the podcast to talk about the Social Security Administration's workforce concerns. *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive

A common complaint about the security clearance process is the incongruity between the timelines promised to applicants and the actual timeline of the process. But, new reporting benchmarks are underway right now, with the potential to make things clearer. Lindy Kyzer is the editor of ClearanceJobs.com, a former Defense Department employee and a GovExec contributor. Her latest post on our site is headlined “Say Good-bye to the Security Clearance Status Quo.” She joined the podcast to discuss her post and the way the clearance process may change. *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive

Military matters lead the agenda for this latest in WT 360's series of Info Session episodes that bring together reporters from across the GovExec media team with our own Nick Wakeman and Ross Wilkers.Lauren Williams and Marcus Weisgerber of our partner publication Defense One jump in to share what they heard and wrote about at Sea-Air-Space, a Navy-focused trade show and one of a handful of the defense industry's largest conventions. The topics there represent key areas of interest for government contractors.The group also goes over the impacts of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse and other banking sector difficulties on the industry. Also up for debate are the emerging cybersecurity rules and practices for companies and where L3Harris Technologies' acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne stands. The JADC2 networking construct also gets discussed and how the military is moving on its integration of commercial cloud computing.Click here and go to page three to see the Defense Department's rendering of the Joint All-Domain Command-and-Control vision. It is exactly as complicated as we said it was.

Last August, Congress enacted the Inflation Reduction Act, which included billions of dollars for IRS modernization. Last week, the tax agency released “Internal Revenue Service Inflation Reduction Act Strategic Operating Plan,” outlining the ways that the agency plans to use the money, including hiring thousands, upgrading capacity and other changes. GovExec reporter Eric Katz is covering the IRS. He joined the podcast to analyze what's in the strategic plan and how it will affect the agency.

Governmentwide DEI efforts have faced a fair amount of criticism and such programs at the Defense Department are no different. Critics of DEI – often using the term "woke" – have most recently tied it to military recruiting and readiness concerns at the Pentagon, though officials dispute those claims. Kevin Baron is Executive Editor at GovExec sibling site Defense One. He joined the podcast to discuss readiness and DEI efforts at the Pentagon. *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive  

Nearly anyone who has dealt with it agrees that the federal hiring process is broken. Years of court fights, legislative fixes and special interests have produced a hiring system that frustrates hiring managers and applicants alike. There may be ways, however, to modernize the hiring process.   Angela Bailey and Jeffrey Neal are both former Chief Human Capital Officers for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as current fellows of the National Academy of Public Administration. They're also co-authors on the latest in a series of posts on GovExec addressing the challenges that face government modernization, “The Federal Government Can Expand Opportunities for Veterans and Simplify Hiring, Too.” They joined the podcast to discuss veterans preference, hiring and how the two things can intersect to further workforce modernization.  *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive

Earlier this month, the Office of Personnel Management outlined some goals and initiatives federal employees can see from FEHB plans coming next year. Included in the carrier call letter are some added fertility benefits.  Kevin Moss is a senior editor with Consumers' Checkbook. Checkbook's Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees is available now. He's also a GovExec contributor and his latest post on our site is headlined “Feds Can Expect to See Improved Fertility Coverage from FEHB Plans in 2024.” He joined the podcast to discuss fertility coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.  *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive

A security clearance is a key part of many jobs in the federal government and in the federal contracting world. Not only does it give someone access, but it also can help a job seeker's financial prospects.  Lindy Kyzer is the editor of ClearanceJobs.com, a former Defense Department employee and a GovExec contributor. Her latest GovExec post is headlined “National Security Compensation Sees a Significant Increase.” She joined the podcast to discuss compensation and security clearances. *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive

President Joe Biden released his budget last week and re-emphasized his want for the federal government to become a “model employer” that can compete with the private sector in the race for talent. The budget document contains a series of other workforce and customer service provisions backing up this goal, including a pay raise proposal for federal employees. GovExec senior reporter Erich Wagner covers the federal workforce. He joined the podcast to discuss the workforce provisions in White House fiscal 2024 budget request released last week. *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 50 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare Part D plans. With the passage of last year's Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, reforms to Medicare Part D will be enacted, so everyone – including federal annuitants – enrolled in the plan will have to pay attention to the changes. Kevin Moss is a senior editor with Consumers' Checkbook. Checkbook's Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees is available now. He's also a GovExec contributor and his latest post site is headlined “How Changes to Medicare Part D Will Impact Federal Annuitants.” As part of our #MoneyMonday series, he joined the podcast to discuss the changes to Medicare Part D. *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive

Earlier this month, the Biden administration announced that the national public health emergency will expire on May 11. Enacted in early 2020, the cessation of the declaration will also sunset many of the policies designed to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus that has killed 1.1 million Americans in three years. GovExec reporter Courtney Bublé has been covering the pandemic since it began in 2020. She joined the podcast to discuss the end of the emergency declaration. *** Follow GovExec on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/government-executive

President Joe Biden gave his Second State of the Union address on Tuesday night, touting his economic record as president, proposing programs supporting veterans and mental health and declaring that “Today, COVID no longer controls our lives.” On Tuesday night after the speech, GovExec Daily recorded live with GovExec reporter Courtney Bublé, GovExec Daily's Adam Butler and GovExec editor at large Tom Shoop to discuss Biden's address.    *** Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

During a conference last week in Texas, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, said in her remarks  that over-classification is a problem that ”undermines critical democratic objectives.” Her comments come as two special counsels have been assigned by the Justice Department to examine the mishandling of classified documents by President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.  GovExec reporter Courtney Bublé is covering the classification story and Haines' comments regarding classification. She joined the podcast to talk about document management. *** Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

  The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted much of the government workforce to a remote work reality over the last few years. Agency officials need to learn how to balance remote work in whatever constitutes the new normal that the U.S. work culture is settling into. Workers love working remotely, so how can that be leveraged for human capital strategy? Bob Westbrooks is the former Executive Director of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, an independent committee within the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. He has experience as the Deputy IG at the Small Business Administration and is the author of the GovExec post headlined “Remote Work: Transitioning from a Social Distancing Measure to a Human Capital Strategy.” He joined the podcast to talk about his post and remote work. *** Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec

Six years ago, the election of Donald Trump as president sparked a wave of federal employees becoming dues-paying union members. In the years of Trump's presidency, the White House brought forward a plan to merge OPM and GSA, stepped up rhetoric about “deep state bureaucrats” and rolled out a series of executive orders making it easier to fire federal workers and clamping down on unions' role at federal agencies. It has been, in short, a roller coaster. Senior reporter Erich Wagner is the reporter behind the GovExec feature story headlined “State of the Unions: A New Normal." He joined the podcast to talk about the state of organized labor. *** Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec Read Erich's story here: https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2023/01/federal-employee-unions-new-normal/381812/

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into the spotlight like it has not been before. The agency's role in messaging, guidance and research has been criticized across the political spectrum and across academia, politics and analysis. Recently, the Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report titled Building the CDC the Country Needs with recommendations for modernizing the agency.  Courtney Bublé is a reporter here at GovExec. She joined the podcast to discuss the CSIS report and the future of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. *** Follow GovExec on Twitter! https://twitter.com/govexec