The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

The Postal Service has pushed back an immediate cash crisis by delaying payments to employee retirement plans. But Postmaster General David Steiner warned lawmakers this week that USPS’ long-term financial problems are far from solved. For the latest, 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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reorganizing its long-standing value engineering program by shifting it from a separate activity and folding it into existing project delivery processes. Critics warn the move would increase the risk of waste, cost growth and schedule overruns and one organization has urged the Defense Department to immediately reverse the decision. For more, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Rob Stewart, SAVE International immediate past president.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 As America approaches its 250th anniversary, a new book points back to one of the founders’ most important ideas, prevention Some of the biggest fiscal problems facing the government aren’t surprises, they’re warnings we’ve chosen to live with There’s no perfect answer to when to claim Social Security, but there are real consequences to getting it wrong See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The choice to claim Social Security benefits early or delay them comes down to balancing immediate income against long‑term security. That decision often hinges on factors people can’t know for sure, especially how long they’ll live. Here to walk through what people should be weighing is Thiago Glieger, a certified financial planner with RMG Advisors.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The latest social security trustees report doesn’t break new ground, but it does move up the timeline for when the trust fund starts to run out of money. And it raises a basic question: if we’ve known this was coming, why hasn’t anything changed? Joining me to walk through the politics and the process of fixing social security is the Executive Vice President of Policy at the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Brett Loper.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When you think of Benjamin Franklin, you probably think invention or diplomacy, but Dr. Barry Davis says Franklin’s real legacy may be something more fundamental: the idea that a free society survives by acting before problems become crises. That concept shaped how early American institutions were built, and it still has relevance for how we think about public systems today. Dr. Davis joins me now to share his new book, "The Preventioneers."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Senate Armed Services Committee is holding a hearing today to consider four nominees for senior Pentagon and intelligence positions, key jobs given that the Defense Department is managing a record $1.5 trillion budget request with big plans for its space and intel capabilities. The four nominees are Jay Hurst, tapped to be the Pentagon's comptroller; Matt O'Malley, nominated as the deputy overseeing defense acquisition and sustainment; Roger Mason, who would lead the National Reconnaissance Office, the spy agency that builds and operates America's intelligence satellites; and Erich Hernandez-Baquero, who would become the Department of the Air Force's top official for space acquisition. Today's hearing helps move the needle on the many national security vacancies that persist across the Trump administration. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen 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.

The White House is accelerating the governmentwide transition to post-quantum cryptography. In a new executive order, President Trump directs agencies to meet hard deadlines for adopting the PQC algorithms that will protect data from a future quantum computer. For more, 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.

We’re starting a new monthly series focused on how federal data works in the real world. Episode one looks at a Federal Data Field Guide aimed at helping users sort through different datasets and put them to work. Joining me now are Denice Ross and Chris Marcum.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Time at the International Atomic Energy Agency gave Anna Bradford a broader view of how countries approach nuclear safety and innovation. Now back at the NRC, she joins me to share how she’s applying those lessons as the U.S. navigates a new phase of reactor development.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new reform push at ATF aims to reduce friction for lawful businesses and owners, while concentrating enforcement on willful violations. The challenge is maintaining that balance as expectations around safety and accountability remain high. Joining me to discuss ATF's shift in focus is the ATF director, Robert Cekada.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 The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says it’s entering a new era, one that resets how it regulates and enforces Nuclear technology is moving fast, regulation has to keep up Better decisions depend on data, but only if people can actually use itSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the summer wildfire season gets underway, federal wildland firefighters are facing an increasingly difficult situation on the job. Three out of four respondents to a recent survey say they have considered quitting within the past 12 months. That comes as the frontline workers face increasing burnout and low morale. 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 wait is over for more than 1,400 vendors. NASA’s SEWP program office awarded spots on its sixth iteration of its governmentwide technology contract. In all, NASA made more than 2,100 awards under this governmentwide acquisition contract for IT products and services. For more on the SEWP VI awards, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me with details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s not just drones pushing aviation into new territory. Electric aircraft are edging closer to commercial use, but certification is still the gatekeeper. The FAA is trying to adapt existing rules while building a longer-term framework that can scale with new designs and risks. Joining me to explain that tension is Derrick Collins, Director of GAO’s Physical Infrastructure team.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As drone operations expand, regulation could easily fragment across FAA, DHS, DoD and others. Instead, there’s growing coordination to manage both safety and security across that system. Katie Inman, a Partner at Holland and Knight, walks us through how that’s taking shape.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new FAA framework could allow drone operators to fly beyond visual line of sight, opening the door to expanded use in infrastructure inspection, agriculture and emergency response. The shift would move drone operations closer to routine use across the national airspace. Joining me to explain the impact and the integration challenge is former senior executive in the FAA’s National Security Division, Jose Martinez.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 For years, commercial drones have been limited by how far operators can actually see them, that's about to change As drones take on a bigger role in the airspace, the rules around them are getting more complicated but also more coordinated than you might expect Electric aircraft are coming. The rules that will allow them to fly aren’tSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Marine Corps has a new plan to grow the force by as much as 5% by 2032. The service hopes adding thousands of Marines will spell success in future wars. One lieutenant general says that goal is a step in the right direction to fix earlier versions of its force design plans. For more about this new goal and more context on changes ahead for the Marine Corps, Federal News Network DoD reporter Rachel Cohen 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.

Every year, agencies award billions of dollars in grants and other federal funding to finance infrastructure projects across the country. But few of those dollars come attached with cyber requirements, despite repeated warnings that foreign hackers are targeting power utilities and other critical infrastructure. A new report from the Institute for Security and Technology is now offering Congress and the Trump administration several options for factoring cybersecurity into federal funding. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday spoke with IST’s senior vice president for policy, Nicholas Leiserson.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Behind the scenes of mega-events, contractors are running key pieces of event infrastructure, from cyber systems to communications. That’s raising new questions about coordination, accountability, and who’s responsible when decisions have to happen fast. Joining me to walk through how that works is CEO of the Professional Services Council, Jim Carroll.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The interagency process is designed to coordinate decisions across government, but it can also become a choke point for science and technology policy. Understanding where that process breaks down is key to getting ideas into action. Joining me with his observations and recommendations is the Director of Science Policy and Advocacy at the Stand Up for Science Foundation, Cole Donovan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal funding and independent universities have long worked together to drive American innovation. But with support becoming less predictable, universities say the strain is showing in both research activity and the talent pipeline. Joining me to explain the impact on future discoveries is the president of MIT, Dr. Sally Kornbluth.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 Scientific breakthroughs don’t run on short timelines, but federal funding is starting to A lot of science policy doesn't fail, it just never makes it through the system Security at major events now depends on how well government and contractors operate as one systemSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump announced restrictions on executive pay and stock buybacks as part of the administration’s push to speed procurement and revitalize the defense industrial base. Now lawmakers are looking to codify his executive order into law. 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.

The public’s overall view of civil servants is trending upward along with increasing public support for a nonpartisan federal workforce. Those latest findings come from a new report from the Partnership for Public Service. The nonprofit is also picking up on a continuing trend of many Americans disapproving of the Trump administration’s cuts to federal funding and the federal workforce. For more on the survey results, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman spoke with Paul Hitlin, Senior Research Manager at the Partnership for Public Service. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Several issues that have been building in Congress around foreign policy, intelligence authorities, affordability, emerging tech and federal funding are now in windows where action is possible. The timing is different for each, but the possibilities are clear. Here to point out the progress and the obstacles is deputy news director for Bloomberg Government, Loren Duggan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new House Oversight task force is investigating how organizations handle issues like free speech, DEI and federal funding. With hearings now underway and a tight deadline, the focus is shifting from policy debates to how these decisions are made and documented. Here for a look at what that process actually looks like are Kim Hamm and Carlos Uriarte, co-chairs of Morrison Foerster’s congressional investigations practice.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 A new House task force is taking aim at everything from free speech to federal programs and for a lot of organizations, the level of scrutiny may be surprising A stretch of Capitol Hill work is shifting from debate to decisionsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the best of "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Bringing more students into public service starts with giving them a way in and a reason to see themselves thereNASA is testing a faster way to recruit top engineering talent inside the federal hiring guardrailsFederal financial management has always been a no‑fail mission. The past year has added new pressure to a workforce already stretched across competing demandsAs AI reshapes work, a new program is showing what it takes to keep upSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Small Business Administration is expanding its scrutiny of socio-economic contracting programs to now include a review of the women-owned small business program. SBA is giving these firms until late June or early July to respond to a survey and provide the agency with “personal and business tax returns for the last three years.” For more about this new audit and an update on SBA's continued scrutiny of the 8(a) 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.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is battling one of the worst Ebola outbreaks on record, calling on its workforce to help contain its spread overseas. But the CDC is dealing with last year’s staffing cuts and still lacks permanent leadership in many of its roles. Further, Internal surveys show employees responding to the outbreak are also dealing with low morale. 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.

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.

Even as defense spending rises, many investments are still going into high-cost, limited systems, raising questions about whether the U.S. is building the right mix to sustain a prolonged fight. Here to share her analysis is senior defense policy analyst for the Center for Defense Information at POGO, Virginia Burger.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Even with new money in place, DHS contractors are still dealing with delays, restart friction, and gaps left by the shutdown showing how long it can take for funding to translate into real execution. Here to walk us through how the Department is responding is CEO of the Professional Services Council, Jim Carroll.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Even with increased funding and production, rebuilding key missile stockpiles could take years, creating a gap between current demand and available supply. We get a closer look now from Mark Cancian, senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.Read the report here: https://www.csis.org/analysis/rebuilding-us-missile-inventory-multiyear-project See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A long-awaited HR modernization project is taking a big step forward. The Office of Personnel Management has awarded a nearly $400 million contract to Oracle. The vendor is expected to deliver a governmentwide IT platform to consolidate and replace the more than 100 HR systems currently in use across agencies. For the latest, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman sat down for an exclusive interview with Jason Parman, OPM’s principal deputy associate director for HR Solutions and OPM Director Scott Kupor.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So‑called “Trump Accounts” are being described as a way to give kids an early start on saving, but the real questions are how much value they deliver, and where they actually fit among the choices families already have. Here to help us sort out the considerations is the president of Armed Forces Mutual, Mike Meese.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A lot of people have life insurance, but that doesn’t always mean they know what it’s meant to cover or whether it would actually do what they expect. For federal employees, those questions often start with FEGLI and follow them into retirement. Here to help us sort through some key decision points is Tammy Flanagan, principal at Retire Federal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Suicide prevention depends on reaching people early, but the military doesn’t always have clear visibility into whether its training is being completed or making a difference. A recent GAO review highlights gaps that go beyond compliance. We hear more from Rashmi Agarwal, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management at GAO.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 Suicide prevention training is meant to protect service members, but the Pentagon can’t fully track who’s completing it or whether it’s helping Life insurance is one of those benefits people tend to carry, but not always understandIt’s being pitched as a simple way to build wealth early, but whether it works may depend on how it fits real lifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office has been in a period of transition lately. Several years after its creation, Pentagon leaders decided last year to fold the CDAO into the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering. Before that, the CDAO reported directly to the deputy secretary of Defense. Andrew Mapes is the acting principal deputy chief digital and AI officer. He talked with Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis about the realignment and how it’s positioning CDAO to deliver AI capabilities at scale.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Agriculture Department’s sweeping plans to relocate employees are coming into focus. Employees are starting to receive their relocation notices. In the coming weeks, they must decide whether to move to keep their jobs or quit the agency. At one impacted component staff are being offered incentives if they stay or go. 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.

As countries race to adopt artificial intelligence, the challenge is building capability they actually control, without falling behind or over‑relying on outside providers. Alan Webber, Program Vice President - National Security, Defense and Intelligence at IDC, tells us what it takes to get that right.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A series of changes across policy and regulation are reshaping the federal marketplace at the same time. Together, they point toward a system with tighter requirements and sharper expectations around performance and accountability. Here to help us understand the combined impact on the contracting community is Managing Partner at Centre Law and Consulting, Barbara Kinosky.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s no shortage of analysis about how government contracting works and where it’s broken. What’s harder to pin down is who actually has the leverage to change it. The Baroni Center at George Mason is trying to move from research to influence, and Mike Derrios says that only works if you’re plugged directly into how the system really operates.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 Everybody studies government contracting, the open question is whether anyone outside the system can actually move itFederal contracting is heading into a different kind of environment, more controlled, more structured and less forgiving Sovereign AI, systems built by national governments that run on their own data, infrastructure and rules is hard, expensive and absolutely necessarySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Army is warning that an amendment in the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the 2026 defense policy bill could discourage technology companies from building data centers on military installations and jeopardize the service’s modernization efforts. 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.

At most agencies, probationary employees left their jobs at a higher rate than other federal workers in 2025. That’s according to analysis of about two dozen agencies in a new report from the Government Accountability Office. Early last year, agencies implemented mass terminations of employees on their probationary period, who have limited job protections. For a look at how those separations panned out, Federal News Network's Drew Friedman spoke with GAO's director of strategic issues, Dawn Locke.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Questions about the future of another reconciliation package are rippling through Congress, with implications for how and when lawmakers take up the annual defense policy bill. Mitchell Miller joins us with the latest from Capitol Hill.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.