The House Appropriations Committee is fed up with the Department of Homeland Security's practice of moving money from other components to fund immigration and customs enforcement operations. Now the committee is proposing new restrictions on DHS ability to transfer funds. The provision suggests some GOP lawmakers are quietly trying to reassert Congress' power of the purse federal news networks. Justin Doubleday is here with more details. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califo...
Jul 03, 2025•9 min
The fallout from the so called peace dividend from the end of the Cold War came to a head in the early 2000s. The signs were all around. They included agencies losing too many protests and a huge increase in agencies depending on contractors to provide services. The solution from Congress was the Services Acquisition Reform Act. As part of Federal News Network's 25th anniversary celebration, we chose the SARA Act as one of the top 25 federal moments over the last 25 years. For more on how the SA...
Jul 03, 2025•10 min
Home renovation was a big trend during the pandemic when everyone was stuck inside and looking to make their home more functional or comfortable. For better or worse, many federal workers may find themselves spending more time at home this summer than they expected, and may find that same renovation instinct kicking in. Here with some advice on which projects are most likely to pay you back is R-M-G Advisors certified financial planner Thiago Glieger. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priv...
Jul 03, 2025•10 min
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau declared a major incident breach in 2023 that affected over 200,000 consumers and 46 institutions. As their Inspector General investigated the event, they found a need for much stronger internal controls. Here with more on their findings and recommendations are Laura Shakarji and Michael Zeitler from the Inspector General of the Federal Reserve Board and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California P...
Jul 03, 2025•8 min
Under Biden Administration regulations, only contractors with project labor agreements can bid on federal construction projects. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing depends on what you measure. Here with more insight on the impact of PLAs is the legal director at the National Right to Work Foundation, William Messenger. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jul 03, 2025•11 min
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton What the requirement for project labor agreements means for federal construction projects For feds thinking about a home renovation project this summer, some ideas on which ones to tackle first and how to finance them Best practices to help oversight agencies prevent the release of confidential information See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jul 03, 2025•52 min
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is pursuing more workforce cuts after firing hundreds of probationary employees earlier this year, NOAA says it's looking at major budget cuts next year as part of plans to refocus on its core mission. NOAA is now facing a lawsuit from fired probationary employees, claiming the agency relied on flawed personnel data to make those initial termination decisions. Federal News Network's Jory Heckman is here with more details. See Privacy Policy at ...
Jul 02, 2025•8 min
After a few years respite on Capitol Hill, it's time again for defense acquisition reform, and this time around, reform might not be strong enough a word the backers, the leaders of the House Armed Services Committee, say they're aiming for wholesale replacement of the DoD acquisition system. The goal is mainly speed, but also a more empowered acquisition workforce, a willingness to fail fast, and a more diversified defense industrial base. Details now from Federal News Network's Jared Serbu. Se...
Jul 02, 2025•7 min
Today on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin What it will really cost to shut down the US Agency for International Development One non-profit is stepping in to meet the mental health needs of those displaced USAID workers Moving from military service to civilian employment can be a tough journey. One group is trying to make it easier See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jul 02, 2025•51 min
Many segments of the military community still struggle with unemployment and underemployment in the civilian sector. Veterans, spouses, and members of the National Guard and Reserve all have different challenges and could use some individualized assistance. Here with some helpful resources is the CEO of Hire Heroes USA, Ross Dickman. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jul 02, 2025•12 min
USAID was an early target of the Trump Administration. But moving fast and breaking things can be expensive. A recent memo from the DOGE lead for the agency's shutdown now estimates an ongoing cost of six billion dollars each year for the forseeable future. Here with more on the details of the process and the memo is Senior Reporter for Bloomberg Government, Ian Kullgren. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-inf...
Jul 02, 2025•12 min
When the Trump Administration terminated the work of USAID around the world, thousands of people were suddenly separated from their work and their communities. That unexpected termination was detrimental to their mental health. One country brought its own resources to help dislocated USAID employees deal with those challenges. Here to share more details of this important work is the Program Manager at StrongMinds in Uganda, Ms. Lucy Onen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Calif...
Jul 02, 2025•11 min
Agencies officially have more leeway to fire federal employees who recently started a new job. That's after the Office of Personnel Management finalized changes to the federal probationary period. OPM says its final rule sets expectations for a high performing Federal workforce, but some say the OPM rule focuses on the wrong reforms for probationary employees. Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman, got more from the Partnership for Public Services, Vice President of Government Affairs, Jenny Matt...
Jul 01, 2025•9 min
The Defense Department's fiscal 2026 budget request is down slightly from last year, but that's only part of the story. Pentagon officials decided to take a highly unusual approach this time and shift a portion of defense funding to the reconciliation bill that is still moving through Congress. Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis is reporting on this story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jul 01, 2025•7 min
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton US Cybercommand is 15 years old--is it ready to stand on its own? Inside the battle for control of the Library of Congress Paying attention to the details of the latest Executive Order on Cybersecurity See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jul 01, 2025•52 min
When Cybercom was created in 2006, its commander was dual-hatted as the commander of the National Security Agency. The expectation then was that the two organizations would eventually be separated. But in a world of increasing cyber threats, some argue that the current situation works just fine. Here to make that case is the Chairman of the Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation (CITI) subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Don Bacon. See Privacy Policy at https...
Jul 01, 2025•11 min
The latest cybersecurity order sets some new standards and direction, but it also goes back and makes changes to Biden-era executive orders. If you didn't take a red pen to the previous versions, you might miss some of the important details. Fortunately, my next guest did do the markup. Here with a practical discussion of what these changes mean for government contractors is partner in the Governmental Practice in Shepherd Mullin's Washington, D.C. office, Townsend Bourne. See Privacy Policy at ...
Jul 01, 2025•12 min
President Trump's removal of the Librarian of Congress unsurprisingly provoked an immediate court challenge. Depending on the resolution of that case, there's much at stake for the legislative branch. Here with insights as to why it matters is Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Kevin Kosar. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jul 01, 2025•10 min
As the Senate works through the reconciliation megabill, what's in and out matters a lot to federal workers. Here with an update on those negotiations and other congressional happenings is 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 .
Jun 30, 2025•12 min
The Trump Administration is tackling the FAR update in small bites, and released another set up updates that include Parts 11 and 39. Here with insight into the new sections, how they fit with previous updates, and what is still to come... Senior Fellow at the George Mason University Baroni Center for Government Contracting, Emily Murphy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jun 30, 2025•12 min
An IRS watchdog finds this year's tax filing season went smoothly despite recent staffing cuts, but it warns taxpayers may face challenges during next year's filing season. The IRS has lost more than a quarter of its employees under the Trump administration, and the agency also faces a lot more work if Congress passes the budget reconciliation bill. Federal News Network's Jory Heckman joins me with more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art...
Jun 30, 2025•9 min
Watching leaders lose their jobs for opposing DOGE's efforts to terminate research programs at the National Institutes of Health could have demoralized the remaining staff. Instead, they mobilized. Over 300 of them signed their names publicly to an open letter to the NIH Director about their concerns. They're hoping to shine a light on the real impacts to patients and science. One of the people who signed that letter is Dr. Jenna Norton. She's here in her personal capacity to share more about th...
Jun 30, 2025•12 min
The National Counterintelligence and Security Center is a relatively new organization within government, but the nominee to lead the center wants to make the NCSC the nerve center for us counterintelligence activities. Here with more details on the organization and the nominee is Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jun 30, 2025•7 min
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Over 300 NIH employees go public with their concerns about what's happening to that organization There are more new updates to the FAR--how do they all fit together? The person with the toughest job in Washington is the Senate Parliamentarian See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jun 30, 2025•54 min
The Department of Housing and Urban Development will soon transfer employees from its downtown DC office into the National Science Foundation's headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. HUD's move is expected to entirely displace close to 2000 NSF employees already working there. But so far, there's no plan on when the move will happen or where NSF will go next Here with more on this developing story is Federal News Network's Drew Friedman, See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califor...
Jun 27, 2025•8 min
As the government places more emphasis on making procurement faster and buying commercial products, a protest case making its way through the court system could have major implications on who can protest contract awards. Here with more on the details of the case and what it could mean for future contracts is Partner with Haynes Boone, Dan Ramish. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jun 27, 2025•10 min
Nearly two decades ago, the Department of Veterans Affairs came under scrutiny for a massive data breach. The incident involved a stolen laptop and the personal information of more than 26 million veterans. The breach served as a wake up call for the VA and for the rest of the federal government on the importance of information security. Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday wrote about the VA data breach for our 25th anniversary series, and he joins me now to discuss it. See Privacy Policy at...
Jun 27, 2025•9 min
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton It's national insurance awareness day--time to do your summer insurance review There's new legal discussion about who might have standing as an "interested party" in bid protests See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jun 27, 2025•52 min
Federal Insurance Open Season isn't until November, but today is a great day to take inventory of your insurance coverage and start planning ahead. Here with practical tips and considerations is the Director of Marketing and Fundraising for Consumer's Checkbook, Kevin Moss. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jun 27, 2025•13 min
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton When disaster strikes, your local congressional office can help If your TSP is in an L fund, do not set it and forget it Some practical suggestions for those looking to make government more efficient See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jun 26, 2025•54 min
