As agencies look ahead to 2026, the federal technology landscape is entering a period of realignment — and this time, the shift centers on people, experience, and data. In this episode, Former NASA CIO, Renee Wynn breaks down what leaders should expect as teams return to full operations post-shutdown and begin planning for long-term mission delivery.

She explains why organizational capacity building must replace the old “do more with less” mindset, and how focusing on the individual — reducing friction, providing better tools, and creating room for talent to flourish — can unlock performance gains agencies have long struggled to reach. She also highlights the value of time in the saddle, describing how seasoned professionals provide critical guardrails while fresh perspectives help reimagine outdated processes.

You’ll learn why understanding your agency’s data — not just the systems that hold it — is becoming the defining factor in whether analytics and AI can actually deliver meaningful insights. She also outlines how nonexistent or misunderstood data can derail mission outcomes, and why success often comes when teams finally feel confident they’ve identified the right data sources to solve the problem at hand.

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The latest edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose breaks down the major shifts expected in the nation’s forthcoming cyber strategy. Former Pentagon CISO and SixGen CEO Jack Wilmer joins the show to explain why the new approach will take a more offensive posture and why raising the cost of cyberattacks for nation-state adversaries may be key to deterrence. Wilmer discusses how agencies like U.S. Cyber Command and the FBI fit into a whole-of-government response, why traditional “name and shame” tactics haven’t worked, and how pre-positioned access in critical infrastructure—like the recent Volt Typhoon activity—poses a growing threat. 

He also highlights the increasingly important role the private sector will play as both a target and partner in national cyber defense. Francis shares a programming note on the holiday schedule and reminds listeners they can watch the new Innovation in Government TV special from TechNet Indo-Pacific on demand.

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The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com.

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, Jim Kaplan, Director of External Affairs at the Thrift Savings Plan, joins the show to break down what’s happening inside TSP accounts since the shutdown. Loan activity spiked during October as federal workers sought financial “padding,” and now many borrowers want to repay quickly. Jim explains how TSP loans work, how repayment schedules are automatically re-amortized, and why there’s never a prepayment penalty—because participants are essentially paying themselves back with G Fund interest. He also details how agencies are sending catch-up contributions and matching funds in large batches, the automated processes that ensure participants are made whole, and when employees should check with their payroll offices if contributions don’t appear as expected.

Jim walks through what callers are asking the ThriftLine—processing times, repayment rules, loan limits, and what happens if a loan term bumps up against IRS time limits. He also highlights year-end issues like required minimum distributions for retirees, which TSP manages automatically to ensure compliance. As agencies work rapidly to restore pay and stabilize household budgets after the shutdown, Jim emphasizes that TSP systems and staff are fully engaged in supporting participants and beneficiaries through the transition.

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Former Federal CISO Brig. Gen. Greg Touhill (USAF, Ret.) delivers timely, practical cyber insight that goes far beyond the IT shop. As the federal government emerges from the longest shutdown in history, agencies are preparing to restart contracting and reconstitute full-speed operations—but the path back to normalcy is far from simple. 

Touhill explains that cyber and IT teams will immediately activate disaster recovery frameworks, assessing hardware, software, and the often-overlooked “wetware”—their people. With many federal employees departing at the end of the fiscal year and contractors potentially reassigned or displaced, leaders face a dramatically reshaped workforce landscape.

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After the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, the federal acquisition landscape is shifting — and this time, the change may be permanent. Former Assistant Secretary of Defense David Berteau joins the show to unpack what government contractors can expect when agencies reopen and how they can turn disruption into opportunity.

Berteau, now an independent consultant, explains why contractors shouldn’t expect business as usual when the lights come back on. He discusses the logistical and operational challenges that accompany a post-shutdown restart — from expired PIV cards and delayed solicitations to the ripple effects of a continuing resolution. But amid the uncertainty, Berteau points to a promising trend: a growing willingness inside government to listen to industry — including innovative, non-traditional partners — about how to get work done better and faster.

You'll learn how the FAR overhaul could transform how government buys for years to come, the changing role of small businesses, and why companies should prepare now to help agencies focus on results instead of inputs. Berteau also warns of deeper, long-term effects on the federal industrial base if trust in government payments continues to erode.

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On this episode of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, retired Major General Arnold Punaro joins Francis to unpack what could be the most sweeping overhaul of the defense acquisition system in decades. Following Secretary Pete Hegseth’s newly announced Acquisition Transformation Strategy, Punaro argues that achieving real results will require nothing short of retraining the entire acquisition workforce—military and civilian alike. He breaks down how the Department of Defense, Congress, and industry—the three sides of the “iron triangle”—are finally aligning to reform a system that has resisted change for years.

You’ll learn why Punaro is more optimistic than ever, emphasizing leadership from all three fronts: the Pentagon’s push for speed and risk-taking, industry’s willingness to innovate, and Congress’s readiness to support multi-year funding and streamlined contracting. But he’s also candid about the challenges ahead—from taming a massive bureaucracy to overcoming a risk-averse culture that punishes innovation.

In a moving close, Punaro reflects on the meaning of Veterans Day and honors the heroism of Corporal Roy Hammonds, who gave his life saving Punaro’s during the Vietnam War.

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On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, former Department of Labor CIO Gundeep Ahluwalia, now Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at NuAxis Innovations, shares how the recent government shutdown—while disruptive—could actually serve as a rare opportunity for transformation. As agencies prepare to restart contracting and program delivery, Ahluwalia urges federal leaders to pause, take stock, and ask a critical question: Are your project outputs truly driving the outcomes you want?

Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com.

Former DoD official Jerry McGinn, now Director of the Center for the Industrial Base at CSIS, joins Francis to unpack how the Department of Defense can better “separate the wheat from the chaff” in its innovation efforts. McGinn explains why authorities like the Defense Production Act (DPA) and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program are vital to maintaining a competitive industrial base — and what challenges lie ahead after both programs expired at the end of FY2025.

McGinn discusses the delicate balance between encouraging experimentation and demanding accountability — highlighting that true innovation requires tolerance for failure. He explores why DoD still struggles to transition successful prototypes into production and how better data could help measure what’s working, without stifling creativity.

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