The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
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With FedRAMP 20x and the 2026 Phase 2 pilot, the government is moving toward automation, machine-readable evidence, and collaborative monitoring. We’ll explore what these changes mean for SaaS providers and how companies can cut costs and timelines without sacrificing security with Irina Denisenko, CEO of Knox Systems. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A case before the Court of Federal Claims highlights how shifting requirements in an ESPC project sparked a costly dispute and what it could mean going forward. 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.
After more than 80 years as the Air Force Aid Society, the nonprofit is rebranding as the Air & Space Forces Aid Society to reflect its commitment to both communities. Here to explain the change, what it means for military families, and how the organization is meeting urgent needs is the CEO of AFAS, Retired Air Force Major General Ed Thomas . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton __ __ 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.
A volatile year across the federal marketplace produced results few expected, with some major contractors posting strong gains while others slipped under the weight of delays and cancellations. New analysis shows how shifting defense priorities, executive‑order signals and program setbacks reshaped the landscape for investors. We break down the biggest surprises and what they signal for 2026 with Paul Murphy, senior contracts analyst with Bloomberg Government. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Abrupt removals of top military leaders are happening with little explanation, raising alarms about accountability and readiness. Virginia Burger from the Project on Government Oversight is here to break down the findings and the path forward. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
IRS Criminal Investigation closed FY 2025 with $10.59 billion in identified financial crimes and a 60% surge in seized digital data. Justin Campbell, Acting Deputy Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation, is here to explain what fueled this record-breaking year and how CI is preparing for the next wave of financial crime. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Deltek’s latest analysis highlights the top federal programs and sectors poised for growth. Here to share what’s on the horizon and how contractors can position for success is Senior Vice President of Information Solutions at Deltek, Kevin Plexico. 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.
States are racing to regulate AI, creating a patchwork that Kevin Frazier warns could stifle innovation. Now, a sweeping executive order asserts federal preemption and launches a litigation task force to challenge state laws. Frazier joins us to unpack the constitutional stakes and whether Congress will finally step in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton __ __ 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.
GAO’s latest high-risk report flags uneven preparedness across states and localities, despite billions in FEMA grants and expanded training programs. We’ll explore what drives these disparities, how performance is measured and the implications of a bigger local role in future disasters, with Christopher Currie, Director, Homeland Security and Justice at the Government Accountability Office. 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.
Pete Hegseth’s visit to Lockheed Martin’s F‑35 facility spotlighted themes like mission readiness, manufacturing scale and at‑home production of critical capabilities. But he's walking a tightrope between encouraging industrial partners and tightening oversight through a new executive order. We'll walk through the challenges with Stephanie Kostro, President of the Professional Services Council. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Coming up today on "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Digital government depends on trust, yet a Gartner survey shows citizens want control over their data and clarity on how it’s used. From lifecycle protection to transparency dashboards, federal agencies face a mandate to rebuild confidence while accelerating transformation. Here to outline the priorities is Gartner Senior Director Analyst, Mike Shevlin. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
With just days left before the January 31st deadline, Congress has passed some key 2026 funding bills—but the biggest and most contentious ones are still waiting. Lawmakers are also wrestling with ACA subsidy talks, a crypto bill that keeps slipping off the calendar and new tensions with Europe over Greenland. For the full picture, we turn to Loren Duggan, Deputy News Director for Bloomberg Government. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
It's Martin Luther King Day, and today on The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton we’re sharing with you some of our recent stories on security issues. We’ll hear from… __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Polygraphs remain a gatekeeper for sensitive roles at agencies like CISA and DoD, but a recent failure involving CISA’s acting director has sparked debate. Are these tests reliable, and what safeguards exist against misuse? Joining us to examine the controversy is Dan Meyer, Equity 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.
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.
Research from Fors Marsh shows recruiting challenges go beyond eligibility to issues of perception and influence. From military campaigns to civilian programs, agencies need new strategies to make service resonate with a generation that expects speed, clarity and authenticity. Dr. Brian Griepentrog, president of Research and Advisory Services at Fors Marsh, is here to share what works and what doesn’t. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The National Strategic Research Institute has launched a year-long study to identify breakthrough solutions for radiation protection, ranging from advanced nanocomposite shielding to medical countermeasures. The effort could pave the way for next-generation gear, including an entirely new protective suit, according to Director, Medical Countermeasures, National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska, Dr. Terry Thiem. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
