Federal Drive

  • In today's Federal Newscast: Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has lifted his abortion-driven hold on military promotions. Job satisfaction at the Homeland Security Department has increased. And GAO blames staffing shortages for the failure of federal agencies to battle cyber attacks.

    December 06, 2023
  • The continuing resolution makes things seem normal until at least the middle of January. But contractors should take note. The CR is less than it seems in terms of opportunities.

    December 05, 2023
  • There are some notable changes to health care for 2024. Retired or not, it would serve you well to understand those changes and your options. With some timely advice, the editor of the Checkbook Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees, Kevin Moss, talked with the hosts of the podcast Fed Life, Tom Temin and Drew Friedman.

    December 05, 2023
  • On today's Federal Newscast: CENTCOM's got a new chief data officer. A month after the decision was announced, Virginia lawmakers are still fighting to be the site of the new FBI headquarters. And the Internet of Things looms large in OMB's 2024 FISMA guidance.

    December 05, 2023
  • The MITRE Corporation is celebrating the opening of what it says will help numerous federal agencies do a better job of studying national security, climate and environmental issues. The new BlueTech Lab in Bedford, Massachusetts opened its doors to federal agency sponsors last month. It includes a 620,000-gallon tank for testing unmanned surface and undersea systems – the biggest in the region.

    December 04, 2023
  • In today's Federal Newscast: Some Senators have introduced legislation to scrap TSA's use of facial recognition at airports. The Office of Special Counsel warns federal employees about expressing partisan opinions on the war in Gaza. And Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) just received a letter saying money for Ukraine is running.

    December 04, 2023
  • In today's Federal Newscast: GSA's Inspector General will scrutinize the decision to relocate the FBI HQ to Greenbelt, Maryland. Gen. CQ Brown spells out the dangers of a year-long CR, from his perch as Joint Chiefs Chairman. And the Merit Systems Protection Board is close to filling the final spot on its three-member panel.

    December 01, 2023
  • Over a decade ago, the Department of Veterans Affairs launched an ambitious project to build the world’s largest collection of health and genetic data – the idea being it would be an invaluable tool for disease research. It is called the Million Veterans Program (MVP). And as of this month, it has lived up to its name.

    November 30, 2023
  • Starting sometime next year, companies that want to sell software to the government will need to sign new attestations – certifying that they have taken certain steps to make sure their software is secure. Earlier this month, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released its latest draft of the form companies will need to submit. One of the biggest changes is the attestations will have to be signed by a company’s CEO. But there are several other updates, too. For more about them and get an industry perspective, Federal News Network Deputy Editor Jared Serbu talked with Leopold Wildenauer, the Senior Manager for Public Sector Policy at the Information Technology Industry Council.

    November 30, 2023
  • In today's Federal Newscast: The Cyber Accreditation Body has a new leader. The Department of Veterans Affairs has surpassed its goal to permanently house homeless veterans. And SmartPay celebrates its 25th anniversary with a facelift of its website.

    November 30, 2023
  • NASA is taking a page from big time TV streaming services as it revamps its multimedia offerings. This month, the agency relaunched its longstanding NASA TV service, which is now called "NASA plus." There is a new mobile app to go with it.

    November 29, 2023
  • The Coast Guard is one of the smallest military services -- but it has a big mission. According to the Government Accountability Office, it is still struggling to meet that mission because of longstanding challenges in at least three major areas. To talk through where things stand and how the service can improve, Federal News Network's Deputy Editor Jared Serbu spoke with Heather MacLeod, GAO's Director for Homeland Security and Justice Issues.

    November 29, 2023
  • For Thrift Savings Plan investors, 2023 showed some positive signs. The year also brought some changes to the "I" Fund. For more, Federal News Network's workforce reporter and co-host of the podcast Fed Life, Drew Friedman, talked with certified financial planner Art Stein on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

    November 29, 2023
  • In today's Federal Newscast: The State Department is setting records issuing visitor visas. Maryland's former governor is getting closer to confirmation to run the Social Security Administration. And Labor Department employees will greet 2024 with less telework.

    November 29, 2023