Fed Gov Today

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, the future of federal work gets personal — literally. Imagine joining the federal government and being assigned your very own agentic AI assistant — one that stays with you throughout your entire career. It helps with your HR questions, training reminders, and even job recommendations, all tied to your unique federal ID and email. Former OPM Chief Information Officer Melvin Brown joins Francis to explore how this idea could revolutionize federal employment, turning decades-old systems into intelligent, adaptive tools that grow alongside each employee.

Brown explains why post-shutdown recovery isn’t just about restarting operations but reimagining them. From modernizing back-office HR systems to creating enterprise-wide consistency, Brown emphasizes empathy, agility, and “strategic triage” as key to rebuilding smarter. He also argues that government IT modernization isn’t about technology alone — it’s about transforming the business of IT with unified strategies, cloud migration, and data standardization.

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This episode of Fed Gov Today, sponsored by Broadcom, dives into the critical front line of modern defense—endpoint security. Francis talks with Garrett Lee, Regional Vice President for Public Sector in Broadcom’s Enterprise Security Group, about how the Department of Defense is rethinking cybersecurity from the ground up. Lee explains that in today’s digital battlespace, the most vulnerable target isn’t always the jet in the sky but the laptop in the hangar. 

You’ll learn how the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is tackling this challenge by automating lower-level cyber tasks and deploying endpoint detection solutions that work across massive, complex environments—including those without constant internet access. The conversation explores why “good enough” security isn’t enough, how compliance often falls short of true protection, and what zero trust really looks like in action.

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On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, former NASA Chief Data Officer Ron Thompson sees a potential silver lining in the ongoing government shutdown — a chance to rebuild. Ron reflects on lessons from the 1995 shutdown and explains why today’s federal leaders have a unique opportunity to modernize their operating models. He shares how agencies can use this disruption as an inflection point to realign missions, rebuild trust, and bring in transformative technologies like AI and automation to deliver better outcomes for citizens.

You’ll learn how leaders can support frazzled teams returning from furlough, providing empathy and stability while embracing innovation. Ron argues that automation shouldn’t be feared but embraced as a tool to elevate human work, not replace it. 

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Francis sits down with George Kaczmarskyj, Principal for Government and Public Sector at EY, to discuss how federal agencies can transform their workflows with automation and AI—without falling into the trap of “automating a mess.” You’ll learn how early automation efforts often rushed to apply technology to outdated or inefficient processes, and why success today depends on stepping back to reassess and redesign before automating. He highlights how a process-first mindset, rather than a tool-first approach, enables agencies to eliminate unnecessary steps, optimize outcomes, and ensure that humans remain involved where it matters most.

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 FBI Chief Information Officer and current Executive Vice President for Public Sector at ITI, Gordon Bitko, joins Francis to unpack what agency leaders and contractors should expect when the doors open again. Bitko explains how months of uncertainty disrupt technology rollouts, contract execution, and long-term modernization efforts, especially as critical initiatives like the FAR rewriteand AI implementation lose valuable momentum.

You'll learn how the shutdown’s ripple effects extend beyond paused projects. Many agencies will find themselves facing a changed workforce — missing contracting officers, retired experts, and vacant leadership roles — making coordination and communication even more essential. Bitko emphasizes that the first major challenge will be simply locating and realigning the work left behind. Some projects continued under funded contracts, others halted entirely, leaving agencies struggling to sync progress across departments.

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

Francis speaks with Dina Saleh, Federal Solutions Architect at Synack, who explains how C-ATO replaces the old, static ATO system with continuous testing, monitoring, and updates that improve both security and efficiency.

You’ll learn how continuous authorization helps eliminate the “death loop” of paperwork and compliance fatigue that once overwhelmed federal teams. Dina notes that many agencies still struggle with data overload—drowning in endless vulnerability reports and alerts that make it difficult to prioritize real threats. Synack’s approach, she says, acts like a “cheat sheet for the exam,” filtering out noise and focusing on the most exploitable, high-impact vulnerabilities that truly matter.

Dina stresses that every agency’s environment is unique and warns against cookie-cutter solutions. Success with C-ATO, she concludes, depends on combining automation with human insight to build customized, continuous security strategies that evolve with each organization’s mission and risk landscape.

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.

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 GAO Managing Director Chris Mihm joins the show to unpack the realities of the ongoing government shutdown — now on day seven. Mihm, now an adjunct professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, shares stories from shutdowns past that blend humor and hard-earned wisdom. From the unforgettable “refrigerator incident” after the 2018–2019 shutdown — when the stench of forgotten lunches greeted returning employees — to his unique experience representing GAO overseas during the 2013 lapse in appropriations, Mihm’s anecdotes reveal that not every shutdown implication is mission critical… but some are unforgettable.

Beyond the stories, Mihm discusses the real operational and human challenges that arise when the government grinds to a halt. They explore the complexity of managing mission backlogs, maintaining communication with furloughed staff, and leading teams through uncertainty — all while following the strict rules that prohibit most federal employees from working during a lapse in appropriations. Mihm outlines key lessons learned from GAO’s studies of previous shutdowns, emphasizing the importance of transparent communication, empathy from managers, and thoughtful planning for the inevitable restart.

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