This is the In Depth show blog. Here you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.

Joseph Kennedy — Deputy Associate Director, OPM

Helping vets find government work has three members of OPM vying for a major recognition. Between 2009 and 2011, an additional 50,000 vets were hired on top of the 500,000 already employed by the federal government. More than a quarter of of all new hires in 2011 previously served in the armed forces. For their efforts, Kennedy along with Assistant Director Ray Decker and Deputy Assistant Director Hakeem Basheerud-Deen have been nominated for a Service to America Medal in the Management Excellence Category. We spoke to Kennedy about their work and how they can improve on that record.

Finalists for Service to America Medals announced (related story)

Jacob Stokes — Research Assistant, Center for a New American Security

Although Congress won’t take up cybersecurity legislation until after the August recess, the debate on how to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure continues. Some experts are saying the the bill’s key provision is an emphasis on information sharing between the public and private sector. Jacob Stokes is a Research Assistant at the Center for a New American Security and he weighs in on how to best protect everything from electrical grids to intellectual property like product designs.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily Cyber Report. For more cybersecurity news, click here.

Senate fails to approve cybersecurity legislation (related story)

Robert Shea — Principal at Grant Thornton

August is quiet most places in Washington, but on the budget front, it’s a busy time of year. The Office of Management and Budget has some guidance on writing a Fiscal Year 2014 budget. Shea breaks down the guidelines for agencies trying to plan ahead and understand the 778-page policy direction from the White House. Agencies will have to report how reducing IT costs and how to meet new performance management requirements.

OMB to begin planning for sequestration (related story)

OMB directs agencies to cut 5 percent from 2014 budgets(related story)

William Bransford — Partner at Shaw, Bransford and Roth, and General Counsel, Senior Executives Association

Some federal employees’ personal financial information like stocks you’ve bought or sold may go online, whether they like it or not, thanks to the STOCK Act. Bill Bransford is a partner at the law firm of Shaw, Bransford, and Roth, and serves as general counsel for the Senior Executives Association, which represents top ranking government officials. The SEA is suing to halt the law. He tells In Depth that he is hopeful Congress will agree to amend the act when they return from the August recess. Bransford and Francis Rose also talk about the upcoming Federal Dispute Resolution Conference, which will be held in San Antonio.

STOCK Act deterring feds from becoming senior execs, SEA says (related story)

Francis Rose played clips from a House hearing about the Department of Homeland Security’s effort to reduce corruption within the department by paring the Inspector General’s staff with investigators from Customs and Border Protection plus Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The plan supplements the IG’s workforce, increases collaboration among the three agencies and also helps the department work within a flat-lined budget.

DHS IG partners with CBP, ICE to investigate workforce corruption

Calm Before The Storm

Air Force asks: How’s the grub?

VA, DoD release mobile app to help PTSD patients

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