Fed Gov Today

Today, Francis is joined by Fazal Mohammed, Senior Manager for Solutions Architecture at AWS, who unpacks how federal agencies are rapidly modernizing and closing the innovation gap with the commercial sector.

You'll hear how cloud platforms are empowering a new generation of "citizen developers" to build agile, scalable solutions that once took years to implement. Fazal explains how agencies are rethinking mission needs by leveraging tools like AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation—technologies that are no longer just "nice to have," but essential to delivering faster, better, and more efficient services to citizens and securing mission-critical operations.

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

Today, Francis sits down with Lance Scott, Chief Technology Officer of the Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization (FEHRM) program, for a deep dive into one of the most ambitious federal health IT undertakings in history. 

You’ll hear how three foundational pillars—data deduplication, provenance tracking, and automated data ingestion—are enabling real-time, intelligent access to critical health data, reducing costs and increasing clinician efficiency. Scott shares firsthand insights into how the VA’s Walla Walla pilot is scaling nationwide, and how AI-driven tools like natural language processing and ambient dictation are reducing “pajama time” for clinicians and revolutionizing decision support.

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.

Today, Francis sits down with Dan Mathews to explore a foundational question: How can the federal government effectively reduce its real estate footprint? 

Mathews shares firsthand insights from his tenure at PBS, detailing how federal agencies are rethinking their physical presence to align with hybrid work trends and long-term cost savings. Listen and learn how interagency coordination, budgeting constraints, and political realities have shaped the pace of change.

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

Former OPM Associate Director, Ron Sanders, joins Francis to unpack a bold new hiring memo from the Office of Personnel Management and the Domestic Policy Council that could transform how agencies bring in new talent. You will learn about the unprecedented introduction of four mandatory essay questions for federal job applicants—a move aimed at curbing mass, low-effort applications and filtering for genuine interest and capability. Sanders explains what’s working, what’s worrisome, and what’s still undecided—including the risks of not collecting workforce diversity stats and the possible fallout from removing long-standing recruitment initiatives.

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.

Learn how the most significant overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in four decades could reshape the way the federal government buys goods and services. 

Julie Dunne, former Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service at GSA and now Principal at Monument Advocacy, joins Francis to explain the key changes already in motion and what’s still to come. She details how the revisions aim to streamline acquisition, cut outdated rules, and emphasize the importance of time and commercial practices in government buying. Julie also explains the potential impact of new “sunset clauses” for non-statutory FAR provisions, which could help reduce regulatory clutter and improve efficiency over time.

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

Today, we explore a pivotal moment for agency leaders as budget season intensifies on Capitol Hill. With funding and restructuring requests on the table, Francis speaks with Tim Soltis, former Deputy Controller at the Office of Management and Budget, about what it takes to turn policy ideas into operational success. Soltis brings insights from his recent article, where he proposes a bold restructuring concept: lean, centralized leadership teams running core mission operations in key agencies like the Department of Defense, DHS, and the VA, to test whether a streamlined model can deliver better efficiency and accountability.

You can find a link to Tim’s article on today’s show page at fedgovtoday.com.

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

In today’s conversation you’ll hear why software is now just as critical as hardware in modern military operations—and what the Department of Defense is doing to keep pace with this shift. Former Deputy Navy CIO Commander, Julie Vida, joins Francis to explain how evolving battlefield realities, from GPS denial to cyber threats, are driving a transformation in how the Pentagon develops, acquires, and deploys software.

You’ll learn how the Defense Department’s current focus on agile development, cloud readiness, and cultural change is shaping the future of warfighting technology. Julie shares why software must be designed for denied environments from the start—and why technologists must rethink their assumptions about where and how their tools will be used.

From her time as a Navy helicopter pilot, Julie illustrates the critical need for trust in software—not just from the engineers who build it, but from the warfighters who rely on it. You’ll hear why collaboration between government and industry is essential to ensuring that software solutions are reliable, secure, and mission-ready.

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

Today, we dive deep into the future of artificial intelligence in government, guided by a remarkable dataset: over 10,000 responses to the Trump administration’s request for information on a new federal AI action plan. Former Department of Commerce CIO and now president of Cambio Digital Transformations, Simone Szykman, joins the show to discuss the five key themes he and his AI assistant—ChatGPT—extracted from the public’s feedback.

Simone reflects on the challenges and implications of each theme, drawing from his experience as a federal CIO and thought leader. He outlines how energy-intensive AI infrastructure is raising both technical and environmental concerns, and why early policy guardrails are essential to avoid unintended consequences. He discusses the evolving definition of “responsible” and “inclusive” AI and how philosophical and political leanings may shape regulatory approaches. 

You can explore Simone’s full analysis on today’s show page at FedGovToday.com. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.