The Department of Health and Human Services is depending on big data to improve the security of its computer networks. And it’s trying to share more data across agency bureaus and with the public. Kevin Charest, the chief information security officer at HHS, tells executive editor Jason Miller about balancing security with open data.

One problem with a federal government shutdown is a lot more than the government itself potentially grinds to a halt. Contractors are also watching nervously to see what happens. Agencies have started warning contractors of interruptions and cancellations of existing or planned procurements. Joining us with guidance on contractor relations and spending authorities during a lapse in appropriations is Dan Gordon, former White House procurement policy chief, now with George Washington University Law School.

The start of fiscal year 2014 is days away and there’s still no budget in place. The military services are in the process of briefing their proposed fiscal 2015 budgets to Pentagon leaders. In the meantime, industry members can expect a lot of routine decision to be delayed while the budget process gets hammered out.

While lawmakers debate a funding bill, federal employees are learning what could happen to them next week if there’s a government shutdown. Are they essential enough to keep coming to work even though they might not be paid on time or at all? We have to go back to 1995 and 1996 for some historical perspective. That was when the federal government shut down for 28 days. Frank Reeder was director of the Office of Administration of the White House at that time.

Five Winners celebrate their selection as this year’s Causey Award winners from Federal News Radio. These winners demonstrated excellence in human resources. Dr. Reginald Wells, chief human capital officer at the Social Security Administration, was selected for avoiding furloughs and reductions in force during sequestration and maintaining a positive workforce environment. He joins us now.