Fed Gov Today
Veteran host Francis Rose gives Federal government decision-makers news and information about management, workforce, IT, and acquisition, to help those leaders do their jobs better.
The Future of Crime Fighting: How NCIS Is Using AI and Technology to Transform Investigations
The nature of criminal investigations is changing dramatically. Where investigators once rely primarily on witness interviews, photographs and traditional evidence collection, today's cases involve enormous volumes of digital information that demand new tools, specialized expertise and faster analysis.
For Joshua Flowers, Executive Assistant Director of Operational Technology and Cyber Innovation at NCIS, this transformation represents both a challenge and an opportunity.
The Navy’s Shipbuilding Problem: Why Faster Contracts Won’t Fix a Broken Process
The U.S. Navy wants to build more ships, deliver them faster and strengthen its industrial base. But achieving those goals requires more than new contracts and construction strategies. It demands a fundamental change in how the service plans, designs and executes its shipbuilding programs.
Shelby Oakley, director of contracting and national security acquisitions at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), says the Navy is taking a closer look at its longstanding acquisition practices after years of delays and billions of dollars in cost overruns.
During an interview on Fed Gov Today, Oakley examines...
AI Won't Fix Bad Cybersecurity: Why Federal Agencies Must Get Back to Basics
Richard Breakiron, Senior Strategist for Programs and Cybersecurity for the Federal Sector at Commvault, says strong cyber hygiene, data management and workforce readiness remain essential as organizations introduce increasingly powerful AI capabilities.
During an interview on Fed Gov Today, Breakiron reflects on conversations at the Billington CyberSecurity Summit, where military and industry leaders discuss how emerging technologies are changing cybersecurity.
AI on Defense: How the Army, DOT and Air Force Community Are Rethinking the Mission
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
How the TSP Is Using Technology to Make Retirement Planning Easier
The Thrift Savings Plan is updating its digital experience to make it easier for participants and beneficiaries to find information and manage their accounts. Jim Kaplan, director of external affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, explains how participant feedback and usage data are shaping a redesigned TSP.gov, virtual assistant Ava and the new Life Events Hub. Kaplan also discusses how the hub brings greater transparency to beneficiary processes and what participants should consider as the calendar year winds down. Plus, he explains why FRTIB has spent less than 90% of its budget for five consecutive years.
<...The Army’s Next-Gen Command and Control Push Comes With a Multibillion-Dollar Challenge
GAO’s Alex Winograd joins Fed Gov Today to examine the Army’s push to modernize battlefield communications through C2 Fix and Next Generation Command and Control. Winograd explains how the Army is using an iterative acquisition approach that incorporates soldier feedback and adapts to changing technology and battlefield conditions. But GAO sees challenges ahead, particularly around long-term costs and scheduling. NGC2 cost approximately $3 billion in the most recent fiscal year, and the Army plans to field the technology across 11 divisions and four corps by the end of fiscal 2032. Winograd explains why better planning will be critical.
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Why Federal Agencies Can’t Wait for Perfect Infrastructure to Deploy AI
Federal agencies are rapidly expanding their use of artificial intelligence, but legacy infrastructure, acquisition processes and workforce challenges can complicate adoption. Former FBI CIO Gordon Bitko, now executive vice president for public sector at the Information Technology Industry Council, explains why agencies should focus on practical AI use cases instead of waiting for complete modernization. He discusses using AI to better understand government data, rethinking business processes, moving successful pilots to scale and preparing for unexpected resource demands. Bitko also explains why data integration and workforce readiness are critical measures of progress as agencies layer new AI capabilities onto...
NASA Rethinks Acquisition, AI Reshapes the Cloud and HRSA Modernizes Health Data
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
How Federal Agencies Are Rethinking the Fight Against Fraud
Former federal executive Robert Shea joins Fed Gov Today to examine how agencies are changing their approach to fraud prevention. Shea says government has made progress recognizing the scale of the problem, but gaps in identity verification and payment controls remain. He discusses how tools like Do Not Pay, Login.gov and private-sector data verification can help agencies determine eligibility faster without making benefits harder to access. Shea also explores the role of artificial intelligence in analyzing data, the risks of relying too heavily on AI and how agencies should measure whether their fraud-prevention efforts are actually working.
U.S. & China AI Competition Raises Questions About Risk and Oversight
Former Joint Artificial Intelligence Center Director Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan (Ret.) joins Fed Gov Today ahead of a House Select Committee on China hearing focused on the U.S.-China AI competition. Shanahan explains why rapidly advancing frontier AI models are creating new risks and why sustained dialogue between Washington and Beijing could help manage them. He discusses the need for stronger testing, red teaming and independent verification as AI moves into military environments. Shanahan also pushes back on the idea that regulation automatically stifles innovation, pointing to aviation as a model for balancing safety, oversight and...
Cyber at Machine Speed: How DHS and the Navy Are Preparing for the Next Fight
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
The Pentagon’s Unfinished Business: Why Acquisition Reform Needs More Than New Policy
Arnold Punaro argues the Pentagon can learn from the landmark Goldwater-Nichols reforms as it tackles acquisition and management challenges. The retired Marine Corps major general and CEO of The Punaro Group explains why the 1986 reforms successfully reshaped military operations, while parts of the Pentagon’s management structure remain unfinished. Punaro discusses Congress’s role in making reforms permanent, changing incentives across the acquisition workforce and driving cultural change inside the department. He also examines what recent military operations reveal about emerging technology, unmanned systems and why people will remain essential to the future of warfare.
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GAO Breaks Down DHS’s $10.7 Billion Contract Savings Estimate
GAO is taking a closer look at billions of dollars in savings claimed by the Department of Homeland Security following hundreds of contract terminations. Chris Currie, Director of Emergency Management and National Preparedness Issues at the Government Accountability Office, explains why canceling a contract does not automatically translate into savings. DHS reported $10.7 billion in savings after terminating or partially terminating 438 contracts, but GAO found the department had actually deobligated about $92 million. Currie breaks down how contract savings should be calculated, why IT services often shift to other contract vehicles, and what GAO will examine next.
Former IRS Commissioner’s Three-Word Warning for Government AI: “Slow Your Roll”
Former IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel says agencies should resist the urge to race toward artificial intelligence productivity gains without first understanding the risks. Werfel, now Executive in Residence at the Johns Hopkins School of Government and Policy, explains why tax may be especially well suited for AI and why that potential makes responsible adoption even more important. He discusses risk registers, hallucinations, autonomous AI behavior and the need for domain-specific frameworks. His three-word advice for organizations deploying AI: “slow your roll.” Werfel argues agencies can capture meaningful efficiency gains while gradually learning how to manage risk, train employees and prot...
Inside OPM’s HR Overhaul: Tech Force Expands, AI Enters Hiring and Benefits Get a Rethink
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
The Space Force Has a Commercial Data Problem. The Solution May Already Exist
The Space Force wants to make greater use of commercial space data, but challenges around awareness, access and acquisition are slowing adoption. Jon Ludwigson, Director of Contracting and National Security Acquisitions at the Government Accountability Office, explains how the Joint Commercial Operations Cell is building a commercial data ecosystem for the military. Ludwigson discusses why commercial capabilities can reduce pressure on expensive government systems, make information easier to share with partners and give the Pentagon more “eyes” on space. He also explains why GAO believes greater awareness of an existing Space Force working group could help overcome barriers to c...
TSP’s Digital Overhaul: Faster Payments, Stronger Security and a New Life Events Hub
The Thrift Savings Plan is rolling out new digital tools designed to make managing retirement accounts easier for participants and their families. TSP Director of External Affairs Jim Kaplan discusses the new Life Events Hub, which allows beneficiaries to report a participant’s death, upload documentation and track the transfer process online. He also outlines upcoming improvements to digital payments, phishing-resistant multifactor authentication and installment payments. Kaplan explains how TSP evaluates new capabilities based on participant demand and return on investment. He also shares early results from Roth in-plan conversions, which have moved more than $1 billion since launching this ye...
Why the Pentagon Can’t Afford to Wait for Quantum
Former Defense Threat Reduction Agency program manager Steve Hoffman joins Fed Gov Today to discuss how the Pentagon can turn emerging technologies into operational capabilities faster. Hoffman explains why quantum technology could reshape sensors, computing and warfare, and why government, industry and academia need to collaborate before breakthroughs arrive. He explores the balance between warfighter demand and technology push, the importance of rapid experimentation and early user feedback, and lessons from Ukraine’s adoption of new capabilities. Hoffman also examines acquisition reform, the defense industrial base and the challenge smaller companies face securing capital, scaling production and crossing the “vall...
How Intelligence, AI and Space Integration Are Changing the Fight
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
The Pentagon’s $7 Billion IT Buying Bet: Can Category Management Finally Work?
The Pentagon is changing how it buys technology, and former Pentagon Deputy CIO Danielle Metz says the shift could deliver major benefits for both warfighters and taxpayers. Metz joins Fed Gov Today to break down the Defense Department’s new IT category management strategy, including its $7 billion enterprise software agreement with Oracle. She explains why centralized buying can reduce costs, improve access to technology and create more predictable acquisition processes. Metz also discusses the challenge of moving individual DoD organizations onto enterprise contracts, the importance of strong governance and leadership, and how this strategy could shape the next iteration of...
Can the FAR Overhaul Survive a Leadership Change?
One of the leaders behind the FAR overhaul is leaving government. Former OFPP Administrator Joe Jordan joins Fed Gov Today to examine what Kevin Rhodes’ departure could mean for the future of federal acquisition reform and why institutionalizing changes will be critical to maintaining momentum. Jordan discusses the importance of finding a successor who can continue the overhaul, the unconventional approach helping reforms move quickly, and the role agencies across government play in the effort. He also raises concerns about proposed SBA size standards that could dramatically expand which companies qualify as small businesses for federal contracting opportunities....
The Pentagon’s Billion-Dollar Bet on America’s Defense Supply Chain
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
CBP’s Cloud Countdown, AI’s Cyber Challenge & OneGov’s $1 Billion Milestone
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
What Federal Employees Need to Know About SECURE 2.0
The Thrift Savings Plan is making retirement saving easier for federal employees while strengthening oversight and controlling costs. Jim Kaplan, Director of External Affairs at the TSP, explains how the agency is automating Roth catch-up contributions required under SECURE 2.0. He also discusses a 14% increase in rollovers into the TSP, record assets in several funds, and growing adoption of lifecycle funds. Kaplan details improvements following the recordkeeping system transition, including fewer audit recommendations and the closure of all recommendations from a GAO review. He also explains why coming in under budget directly benefits TSP participants and beneficiaries.
<...How the VA Is Borrowing Arlington National Cemetery's Playbook to Transform Veteran Services
The Department of Veterans Affairs is modernizing how it serves veterans and their families by adopting technology developed at Arlington National Cemetery. Renea Yates, Director of the Office of Army Cemeteries, and Mike Bowers, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for VA's National Cemetery Administration, explain how years of collaboration are helping replace fragmented legacy systems with a unified digital platform. They discuss the importance of adapting business processes instead of customizing software, using geospatial technology to improve burial accountability, and managing organizational change. The conversation also explores how shared innovation is improving the customer experience while creating a roadmap...
Building AI-First Government: Data Strategy, Workforce Readiness, and Responsible AI
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
FedRAMP 20x: The Biggest Cloud Security Shake-Up You've Never Heard About
FedRAMP 20x promises to make federal cloud security authorizations faster, more transparent, and more reusable—but are agencies and industry ready for the transition? On this episode of Fed Gov Today, former Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Julie Dunne examines the opportunities and challenges surrounding the next generation of FedRAMP. She discusses why automation and continuous security monitoring are reshaping the authorization process, where agencies remain hesitant to embrace change, and how differing approaches across civilian agencies and the Department of Defense could complicate adoption. Dunne also explains why congressional reauthorization and stronger government-wide coordination will be critical to Fe...
Building AI-First Government: Data Strategy, Workforce Readiness, and Smarter Regulation
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
How the Army Built a Game-Changing Missile System That Soldiers Actually Want to Use
The U.S. Army is redefining battlefield autonomy with the Multiple Simultaneous Engagement Technologies (MSET) program, giving a single operator the ability to launch and manage multiple missiles against multiple targets at once. In this episode, Lt. Col. Jim Lawson and Dr. Shane Thompson explain how the team prioritized simplicity, reduced operator workload, and integrated cutting-edge autonomy into a familiar interface for soldiers. They also discuss the successful transition from science and technology to a program of record—avoiding the Pentagon's notorious "Valley of Death"—and share lessons on collaboration, rapid acquisition, and delivering technology that warfighters will actually use<
The End of FEVS? What OPM's Big Change Means for Every Federal Agency
The Office of Personnel Management is ending its centralized Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), shifting responsibility to individual agencies. Former OPM HR Quality Services Management Office Director Steve Krauss explains why this change could become a major opportunity—or a significant challenge—for federal organizations. He discusses how agencies can collect more timely, actionable workforce data, the importance of building strong data analytics capabilities, and why communities of practice remain essential across government. Krauss also explores how employee feedback fits into OPM's broader vision for a government-wide workforce data ecosystem that supports skills-based talent management and smarter human capi...
AI Modernization, Critical Infrastructure Security, and Enterprise Innovation Across Government
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
How the Navy Is Using 360-Degree Tech to Cut Maintenance Delays and Boost Fleet Readiness
In this episode of Fed Gov Today, Ted Lemieux, Head of the Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering Branch at the Naval Research Laboratory, explains how the Insertable Stalk Inspection System 360 is replacing dangerous, time-consuming tank inspections with immersive 360-degree imaging and advanced analytics. He discusses how the technology helps maintenance planners identify corrosion before ships enter dry dock, reducing unnecessary work, avoiding costly surprises, and improving fleet readiness. Lemieux also shares how commercial innovation and emerging AI capabilities are shaping the next generation of naval inspections.
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How FedRAMP Is Changing Forever: The Cloud Security Mistakes Every Federal Agency Must Avoid
GAO Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Dave Hinchman explains why continuous monitoring, strong service level agreements, and clear agency oversight remain essential as cloud adoption accelerates. He discusses lessons from GAO's review of cloud deployments at four federal agencies, what those findings mean for government-wide cybersecurity, and how the evolving FedRAMP program places greater responsibility on agencies to evaluate cloud providers. Hinchman also shares practical steps agencies can take to strengthen cloud security and better protect taxpayer data.
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How AI, Modern Security, and Cross-Agency Partnerships Are Reshaping Federal Missions
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
The Pentagon's AI Arsenal: The Four-Pillar Plan to Transform Defense Technology
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
Mission Forward - Building the Future of Federal Human Capital Management
In conversation with SAP Industry Executive Advisor Travis Hoadley, this episode explores how federal agencies can modernize human capital management to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving workforce. Hoadley examines the growing gap between public- and private-sector talent management, the critical role of technology modernization, and the importance of strong collaboration between IT and HR leaders. He also discusses how artificial intelligence is reshaping federal jobs, why workforce planning must evolve beyond outdated frameworks, and how agencies can create a persistent culture of innovation. The conversation highlights the strategies that will separate future-ready agencies from those struggling to...
AI at the Edge, Zero Trust Reimagined, and Telehealth’s Next Leap
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
SOCOM’s AI Race: Autonomous Warfare, Human Performance, and the Innovation Surge Reshaping Defense
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com
Inside the Army’s Secret Innovation Engine: How Soldiers Are Rewriting Procurement in Real Time
The Army’s new Joint Innovation Outpost is changing how military capability gets from industry to the battlefield. Colonel Tom Monaghan explains how the JIOP embeds acquisition professionals directly with the 18th Airborne Corps to rapidly test, refine, and scale new technologies based on real-time soldier feedback. From anti-drone systems to modular drone transport cases designed by soldiers themselves, the initiative is streamlining the “last mile” of military innovation. Monaghan details how the Army is cutting through traditional procurement timelines, partnering directly with industry, and creating a model that could expand to every corps headquarters across the service.
Inside the VA’s Bold Plan to Modernize National Cemeteries — and Why Only 18% of Veterans Use Them
VA Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Sam Brown joins the program to discuss how the National Cemetery Administration is transforming the veteran and family experience through modernization, outreach, and collaboration. Brown explains why customer experience is central to NCA’s mission, the surprising reality that only 18% of eligible veterans choose national cemeteries, and how the VA is working to increase awareness of burial benefits. He also reveals a major modernization effort with Arlington National Cemetery to replace decades-old systems with a shared platform designed to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and better serve veterans and their families for generations to com...
