Federal Drive

  • A new report from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) tested the durability of a new kind of way for people to vote. Electronic poll books, or e-poll books, look to replace paper records and allow access to digital voter registration records. As you can imagine though, with convenience comes the opportunity for that information to fall into the wrong hands. So have should e-poll books be secured? To dive into the topic, Federal Drive Executive Producer Eric White talked with Christy McCormick Chairwoman of the EAC.

    November 15, 2023
  • In today's Federal Newscast: A Fort McNair Army civilian is guilty of charging thousands of dollars on a GSA gas card. A deputy archivist ends her federal service after more than three decades. And the Pentagon has a new responsible artificial intelligence toolkit.

    November 15, 2023
  • It will be this new congressional leadership's first test to try and avoid a government shutdown. As usual, the ones who will be doing most of the watching will be federal contractors. There is a new initiative from the White House though, that will give them plenty to keep busy while the waiting game ensues. To get a pulse check on the contracting industry, Federal Drive Executive Producer Eric White talked with David Berteau, President and CEO of the Professional Services Council.

    November 14, 2023
  • In July 1973, a fire damaged or destroyed up to 18 million Army and Air Force official military personnel files at the National Archives and Records Administration’s National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. These records are important for veterans who are looking to make claims with the Veterans Affairs Department. So how did the government do in helping those whose records were lost or damaged in the fire? The VA's Office of Inspector General looked to answer that question with a recent audit. To learn what it found, Federal Drive Executive Producer Eric White talked with Brent Arronte, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations with the VA OIG.

    November 14, 2023
  • Anyone working in the last few years has likely encountered the DEI movement: diversity, equity and inclusion. The Biden administration expanded that by adding an "A" for accessibility.

    November 14, 2023
  • In today's Federal Newscast: The Technology Modernization Fund Board awards $3.5 million to establish an online "lost and found” registry for unclaimed retirement benefits. A DoD official arrested last month for involvement in a dogfighting ring, has been replaced. And Kemba Walden will step down as acting National Cyber Director at the end of the week.

    November 14, 2023
  • The Small Business Administration and the Defense Department recently launched an effort to boost private capital investment in critical technologies. The program will provide federal guarantees to investment in companies the Defense Department considers critical.

    November 13, 2023
  • Among the recent inductees to the National Academy of Public Administration, is a former state budget official. For how the federal government looks from a state point of view, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with that official, Shelby Kerns, who is now the Executive Director of the National Association of State Budget Officers.

    November 13, 2023
  • It sure came fast. Just a workweek remaining until the continuing resolution expires. The fever is building on Capitol Hill to do something to avoid a government shutdown. For the latest, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke to Bloomberg Government Deputy News Director Loren Duggan. 

    November 13, 2023
  • In today's Federal Newscast: GSA is setting up a new contract to help agencies mitigate their supply chain risks. Congressional leaders want an update on how agencies are using AI tools. And as you brace for a government shutdown, how about a snow day?

    November 13, 2023
  • In today's Federal Newscast: Bain Capital has bought consulting firm Guidehouse for $5.3 billion. There’s new leadership at one of the largest federal law enforcement employee groups. And the head of the Pentagon office responsible for investigating UFOs has identified retirement as his next step.

    November 09, 2023
  • Contractors brought protests to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) more than 2,000 times last year, up more than 20% from fiscal 2022. GAO sustained them at more than twice the rate of the year earlier, siding with contractors in about a third of the cases.

    November 08, 2023
  • Growing numbers of federal employees are about to come under what's known as continuous vetting. Public databases automatically monitored by security officials to make sure you haven't been criminally charged or suddenly incurred large debt. Those with national security clearance are mostly under continuous vetting already. Now the Office of Personnel Management plans to expand that to feds with so-called non-sensitive public trust positions. How should agencies prepare? How should you prepare? For insight, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with the managing partner of the Tully Rinckey law firm, Dan Meyer.

    November 08, 2023
  • The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health has proceeded with its promised network of health innovation sites. Anchoring the network are three regional hubs also planned at the inception of ARPA-H. For what they hope for the network, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin talked with the Director of the agency's Project Accelerator Transition Innovation office, Craig Gravitz.

    November 08, 2023