The $24 billion Deepwater program at the Coast Guard wound up a procurement disaster. But the lessons learned could have a huge positive impact on future high-price contracts. David Van Slyke, professor at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, is the author of “Complex Contracting, Government Purchasing in the Wake of the US Coast Guard’s Deepwater Program.”

Hiring in the federal government is at its lowest rate since 2009. About 10,000 more feds left government in fiscal 2012 than the government hired. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says it can’t be the economy.

Beth Cobert faces Congress, apathy, and a long list of other challenges as the nominee to be the next Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget. Experts say Cobert, and the administration at large, should take the Goldy Locks approach to priorities…nothing too hard…nothing too soft, but something just right. Federal News Radio’s Jason Miller joins us with analysis of what Cobert will face the Senate confirms her.

If sequestration continues into fiscal 2014 the Defense Department might start cutting military compensation and troop levels. DoD Comptroller Robert Hale says pay raises might fall below inflation levels, too. Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Jack Klimp is president and CEO of the National Association for Uniformed Services.