Federal Drive

• They helped write a big law and now they help to carry it out

  Somebody had to actually write the trillion dollar infrastructure bill back in 2021. Its proponents expect it to help modernize old bridges and highways, among other things. Federal Drive Host Tom Temin's guests helped Congress craft the bill. Now they're leading the Transportation Department team helping to implement it. For their work, they won this year's Service to America medal for management excellence. Gloria Shepherd is Executive Director of the Federal Highway Administration and Maria Lefevre is the Executive Director of the Office of the Undersecretary of Transportation.

  Management

  October 26, 2023
• A long-serving career executive has kept the proverbial trains running

  You might not know him by name, but Federal Drive host Tom Temin's guest oversees an operation that touches thousands of federal employees. He has also worked facilities, operations and budget analysis across the government. Now he's among the new members of the National Academy of Public Administration: Byron Adkins.

  Management

  October 26, 2023
• Bill would make non-feds who work at tribally-controlled schools TSP eligible

  In today's Federal Newscast: Thousands of non-feds would be eligible to join the Thrift Savings Plan under a new bill. Agencies must award at least 13% of all their prime contracts to Small Disadvantaged Businesses this fiscal year. And survivors of civilian federal employees killed in the line of duty are a step closer to receiving greater death benefits.

  Federal Newscast

  October 26, 2023
• With the world as it is, U.S. agility is more important than ever

  Widening military conflicts around the world have military planners in the U.S. on edge. For some perspective on resiliency, innovation and artificial intelligence in the Defense domain, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin visited the AUSA Conference in Washington earlier this month and spoke with former DoD and Navy chief information officer (and Army veteran) Terry Halvorsen, now with IBM.

  Defense

  October 26, 2023
• It’s a small but important detail: Are foreign contractor employees legit?

  In the endless quest for talent, federal contractors sometimes use foreign employees. A long-running program called E-verify lets employers confirm such potential employees are eligible to work in the United States. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that agencies are not consistent in checking the E-verify system, as part of their contractor oversight.

  Agency Oversight

  October 25, 2023
• This career TSA lawyer focuses on everyone else’s career

  Americans probably interact with employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) more than those of any other agency. Behind that workforce are people you don't see as much. One of them has been honored with the Outstanding Senior Executive Professional of the Year award from the Senior Executives Association. Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Jennifer Ellison, TSA's Deputy Chief Counsel and former assistant chief counsel for employment, civil rights and labor policy.

  Workforce

  October 25, 2023
• Agencies get lots of new money to speed up infrastructure permits

  Several agencies will get a part of $155 million from the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. The money is aimed at helping agencies improve how they review and decide on applications for infrastructure construction.

  Facilities/Construction

  October 25, 2023
• TSP participants can now make unlimited checks into loan applications, at any time

  In today's Federal Newscast: TSP participants can now check on their loan applications at any time, as often as they would like. Dozens of companies are urging Congress to create a $1 billion hedge portfolio. And a new online tool should help streamline Freedom of Information Act requests.

  Federal Newscast

  October 25, 2023
• Yes, people, the House leadership failure also affects acquisition

  The longer the House of Representatives remains in stasis, the closer the next budget deadline comes without any action to resolve it. There is lots at stake, including how the federal acquisition function will operate.

  Acquisition

  October 24, 2023
• As the world heats up, data shows the U.S. technical edge keeps eroding

  Using artificial intelligence, analysts at Govini have build a digital twin of the U.S. industrial base. It is a disturbing picture. Govini's analysis shows how far behind the United States military is in bringing new technology to bear.

  Technology

  October 24, 2023
• Meet the new president of a large federal employee union

  She spent 20 years as a revenue officer at the IRS. Then she went into union work, serving for 14 years as president of a local in Wisconsin. Now she's the new national president of the National Treasury Employees Union.

  People

  October 24, 2023
• Echoes from a long-ago war, animate this Navy historian

  A book by a historian from the Naval History and Heritage Command recalls a bizarre episode from a long-ago war. In the great WWII battle for Okinawa, Japan resorted to suicide missions known as kamikaze. The book's title says it all, "On The Verge Of Breaking Down Completely, Surviving The Kamikaze Off Okinawa, 1945. To talk about the book, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin was joined in studio by author Guy Nasuti. 

  Navy

  October 23, 2023
• USAID tightens up its approach to working with overseas religious groups

  The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) works with commercial contractors and non-profits in countries where it operates. For many years, that has included religious organizations. Now, USAID has established a formal policy for religious engagement.

  Workforce

  October 23, 2023
• The pressure on Congress is starting to pin the needle on 10

  It seems Congress has something new and critical to deal with every week. However it deals with the budget, with the need to authorize a few agencies like the Defense Department, or with the White House request for military foreign aid, it needs both chambers to be functioning. For the latest, Federal Drive with Tom Temin talked with WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller.

  Congress

  October 23, 2023