Fed Gov Today

On this special edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, Former Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Julie Dunne, now principal at Monument Advocacy, joins the show to share leadership strategies for navigating the return to work once the government reopens. Dunne compares the uncertainty of the current moment to the early days of COVID-19 and emphasizes the importance of stepping back, identifying top priorities, and leading with clear, proactive communication.

You’ll hear how federal leaders can motivate and support their teams during the transition back to full operations — from reestablishing coordination and prioritization through daily stand-up meetings, to managing the emotional and logistical challenges that come with restarting work after a pause. 

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On Day 3 of the government shutdown, there is at least one area where federal employees can find reassurance—the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) remains fully operational. In this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, James Kaplan, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, explains how TSP participants are protected during a lapse in appropriations. From automatic loan payment adjustments to reliable call center support, Kaplan details the steps the TSP has taken to ensure participants don’t need to take additional action during the shutdown.

You’ll also hear about recent improvements, including streamlined customer service, safeguards for those with loans, and the growing popularity of Roth contributions. These updates underscore how the TSP is continuing to evolve to better serve federal employees and retirees, even in uncertain times.

Throughout the shutdown, Fed Gov Today will bring you daily insights from leaders who have managed through past closures and restarts—helping you prepare for what’s ahead. Be sure to subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

On this special edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, the federal government shutdown officially begins — and with it come questions about what’s closed, what’s open, and what federal leaders can do to prepare for the return to business. Former Undersecretary of Defense Comptroller Mike McCord and Gov Navigators CEO Robert Shea, a former OMB leader, discuss the immediate impacts on agencies, employees, and taxpayers, and why communication and leadership are more critical than ever. Former GSA leaders Sonny Hashmi and Jim Williams join Francis to examine the operational realities of a shutdown, from cybersecurity and acquisition backlogs to the challenges of keeping federal missions on track with reduced staff and resources. Together, they unpack the human, managerial, and operational toll of a shutdown — and the lessons leaders must apply to navigate the crisis and prepare for what comes next.

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In Part 3 of his conversation with Francis Rose, Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), shares the bottom line up front: what warfighters, the Secretary of Defense, the DNI, and even the President need from NGA right now. In the third and final part of our exclusive conversation from the Intelligence and National Security Summit, Admiral Whitworth explains how NGA is building a more fluent, AI-enabled workforce to meet the challenges of the future. From AI and machine learning bootcamps to mobile training teams, NGA is investing in fluency that empowers analysts to innovate faster and smarter.

Admiral Whitworth also discusses NGA’s innovation ecosystem—how partnerships with emerging tech companies, academia, and industry are shaping the next generation of geospatial intelligence. He highlights the agency’s expanding presence in St. Louis, the upcoming opening of NGA’s new campus, and how community engagement is key to long-term mission success.

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Francis Rose speaks with Marlin McFate, Public Sector CTO and CISO at Cohesity, about the evolving definition of cyber resilience. McFate explains why it’s critical to distinguish between data resiliency—long focused on recovering from natural disasters—and cyber resiliency, which accounts for persistent adversaries, loss of trust in systems, and the risk of reinfection after an attack. He shares Cohesity’s cyber resiliency model, including the foundational step of ensuring backups survive and remain trustworthy, so they can anchor investigation, forensics, and recovery efforts.

McFate also discusses how agencies can prepare recovery environments, rebuild authentication services like Active Directory, and reduce downtime with minimal data loss. Finally, he connects resilience to data value: Cohesity’s unique approach to indexing structured and unstructured data enables agencies to safely use AI and retrieval-augmented generation for discovery, compliance, and mission-driven insights.

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Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, NGA’s Director, joins Francis for part two of their in-depth conversation from the AFCEA and INSA Intelligence and National Security Summit at National Harbor. Admiral Whitworth explains how NGA is embracing commercial imagery, unclassified data, and open-source intelligence to stay ahead of adversaries — while also meeting the needs of a rapidly changing world.

You’ll hear how NGA’s “Year of NGAI” initiative is aligning programs, standards, and workforce development around artificial intelligence and machine learning, with new directorates focused on mission integration, responsible stewardship, and standards enforcement. Admiral Whitworth also details the agency’s approach to combating adversary denial and deception tactics, accrediting GEOINT AI models, and ensuring innovation doesn’t turn into “hobby shops” that undermine security.

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, Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), joins Francis for an in-depth conversation about what he calls the “golden age of GEOINT.” Speaking from the AFCEA and INSA Intelligence and National Security Summit at National Harbor, Admiral Whitworth explains why NGA is better positioned than ever to provide actionable intelligence — thanks to the convergence of advanced sensors, AI and machine learning, and a thriving commercial imagery sector. 

He details the agency’s mission priorities, including targeting, warning, and ensuring the safety of navigation, and emphasizes the need to not just collect data but convert it into understanding. This is part one of a three-part conversation that dives deep into the opportunities, challenges, and partnerships shaping the future of geospatial intelligence. Don’t miss part two next Tuesday, when Admiral Whitworth discusses how NGA is upskilling its workforce to meet these challenges head-on.

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On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, you'll get an inside look at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ sweeping technology transformation. Francis is joined by Eddie Poole, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Acting Assistant Secretary, and CIO at VA, for a wide-ranging conversation about modernizing one of the federal government’s most complex IT operations. Eddie shares how his team retired 29 legacy systems, shifted from an administratively heavy structure to an operationally focused one, and freed up resources to deliver better IT services that align with the VA’s mission.

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.