The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
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Getting environmental permits for major infrastructure projects can be its own heavy lift. As the Trump administration looks to increase projects that produce domestic mineral production, there's an organization that can make that easier and faster. Joining me with more on the work of the Permitting Council is Acting Executive Director, Manisha Patel. 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.
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.
As the Trump administration cuts budgets and programs across the government, it has passed over a little known but highly effective program in the Department of Energy that catalyzes private investment in critical energy infrastructure. Here to tell us more about what's happening in the Loan Programs Office, Holland and Knight's Taite McDonald. 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 most successful federal shared services initiative came more than 20 years ago. The Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management led the effort to consolidate the number of government wide payroll providers from 22 to four. As part of Federal News Networks's 25th anniversary celebration, the E-payroll consolidation initiative has been named a top moment in the last 25 years, and executive editor Jason Miller joins me to tell us why. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Americans want to know who makes the decisions about how much money the federal government spends and what it spends that money on, and right now it doesn't seem like they trust whoever that is with the checkbook. To answer these questions, Brookings' vice president and director of economic studies, Ben Harris, 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.
Congressman Gerry Connolly made a big impact for his constituents in Congress, but he also made a big impact on the people who got to work with him every day. Here to share a glimpse into that daily environment is one of his former staffers, Wendy Ginsberg. 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.
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.
In early executive orders centered on procurement, the Trump administration set due dates for agency and industry responses. Those assignments are due this week. Here with insights on what we might see in those papers is the Acting president of the Professional Services Council, Stephanie Kostro 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 bringing back mandatory overtime for employees who process disability and Pension Claims. The VA is reducing a backlog of unprocessed claims, but Department officials say the extra hours are needed to complete this work more quickly. Some impacted VA employees say the mandatory overtime could lead to burnout federal news networks. Jory Heckman joins me with more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A new survey from MITRE says that a majority of non-traditional defense contractors face barriers of inflexibility and complexity in the acquisition process. As DoD tries to bring more innovation and flexibility into its stable of contractors, what really needs to change to make this possible? The senior vice president and general manager for MITRE National Security Sector, Keoki Jackson joins me to answer that question. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The long-awaited Intellectual Property Guidebook was finally released last month. Although this project was started under the previous administration, It's especially timely as the Pentagon rethinks acquisition strategies that better support sustainment. Here to help us make sense of the 80-plus pages, Haynes Boone procurement attorney Dan Ramish. 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.
Much of Virginia's economy relies on federal spending, whether through civilian agencies or military installations and operations. As that spending is reduced and federal workers and contractors in Virginia lose their jobs, the Commissioner of Virginia Works, want you to know about state resources that can help you pivot to new opportunities. Nicole Overly 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.
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 use of the signal app by senior leaders in the Trump administration has garnered plenty of attention...but was it illegal? One group suing the government says yes. Here to explain why is the interim director of American Oversight, Chioma Chukwu. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The stock market's current volatility might be spooking some TSP investors, but there are some other big issues that they should be considering as they consider how to allocate their funds. Certified financial planner Art Stein of Arthur Stein Financial joins me with how he thinks tax rates and inflation will affect the Thrift Savings Plan's various funds. 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.
The Pentagon's new rules to encourage faster software procurements require contractors to provide a software bill of materials and have it certified by an independent third party. With insight on what it will take to make that vision a reality, former head of cybersecurity for the Department of Energy and CEO of Netrise, Tom Pace 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 is quietly closing the window for public comment. Plus it will take more than a new policy to get certified s bombs. Those stories are much more ahead during this hour of the federal drive, but first, the Trump administration is backing a plan to increase Homeland Security spending by $67 billion over the next decade. That includes 6.2 billion to ramp up hiring at Customs and Border Protection. But the Congressional Budget Office projects considerable uncertainty about CBP ability to actually meet those hiring targets, federal news networks. 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.
Much of the President's agenda and actions to support it has been implemented so far through temporary measures like Executive Orders. The reconciliation bill currently making its way through the House is the first opportunity to codify those changes into law. Here with insights into what's in and what's out of this important legislation, WTOP's Capitol Hill Correspondent, Mitchell Miller. 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 Administrative Procedures Act provisions for public comment ensure Americans can weigh in on proposed changes to federal rules and regulations. The Trump administration is finding new ways to skirt the requirements. Joining me to discuss what this means for transparency and public involvement is POGO's Effective and Accountable Government team associate, Janice Luong. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Random numbers help us secure everything from bank accounts to classified servers. And yet, that essential layer of security can be spoofed. New research from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory uses quantum computing to generate organically random numbers that can't be hacked. Joining me with more details is the director of Oak Ridge's Quantum Science Center, Doctor Travis Humble. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
