Fed Gov Today

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, former Under Secretary of Defense Bill Greenwalt dissects the Pentagon’s latest acquisition reform push. He explains how Secretary Hegseth’s bold vision for faster, more agile procurement fixed timelines, rapid prototyping, flexible funding, and broader use of OTAs was watered down in the final memo by risk-averse bureaucracy. 

Greenwalt warns that without empowered program managers, modular open systems, and real portfolio authority, the department can’t deliver new capabilities at the speed commanders need. Francis also previews upcoming Fed Gov Today TV with OPM Director Scott Cooper and shares the podcast’s holiday schedule

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

In his first long-form interview as CNO, Adm. Daryl Caudle says Navy success hinges less on a headline ship count and more on readiness, capability, and sustainability. He prioritizes protecting sea lanes, integrating with allies, and the right mix of crewed and unmanned systems. “Sailors First” means ending afloat living, improving quality-of-life basics, and strengthening maintenance and the industrial base.

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

Former DHS and IRS CIO Richard Spires joins Francis Rose to break down what “build back” really means for agencies after months of disruption. He praises efforts to cut bureaucracy, reduce stovepipes, and modernize acquisition, pointing to OPM’s ambitious push to consolidate 119 HR systems into one as the kind of big swing government needs.

But he argues the biggest problem isn’t tech—it’s people. Spires says workforce treatment has damaged morale and trust, especially among technologists, and rebuilding starts with a fundamental shift in how leaders view and support employees. He recalls DHS’s HR consolidation work: requirements and procurement moved, but leadership turnover created a vacuum and internal fear about job loss helped collapse the effort.

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

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, retired DISA Director Lt. Gen. Robert “Bob” Skinner breaks down who will truly win the AI race—and why the edge belongs to organizations that deeply understand both operations and emerging technology. Skinner explains how DISA’s upcoming 2025 Forecast to Industry equips companies to anticipate challenges, align with agency strategy, and deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions for the warfighter. He emphasizes the power of problem-based requirements, tighter industry collaboration, and the innovative spirit that keeps the United States ahead of adversaries who may have scale, but not creativity.

Skinner details AI’s sweeping influence across cloud, cyber, and mission operations, noting that advantage will come to teams able to merge operational insight with AI-driven agility. He also discusses acquisition reforms—like OTAs and accelerated proof-of-concept pipelines—that aim to get cutting-edge technologies into government hands faster, even as contracting workforce shortages pose new obstacles.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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