Fed Gov Today

The face of identity verification is changing—literally. Arun Vemury, Senior Advisor for Biometric and Identity Technologies at the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, joins the show to break down the Remote Identity Validation Rally, an ambitious initiative tackling the growing challenge of verifying digital identities in an age of deepfakes, AI-generated fraud, and high-tech document forgeries.

Arun shares how DHS is partnering with TSA, Homeland Security Investigations, and NIST to rigorously test remote ID verification technologies—technologies that surged in use during the pandemic and are now under the microscope. From testing selfies and document photos against advanced fraud tactics, to analyzing solutions in sequestered environments without relying on the public cloud, DHS is pushing to ensure that these tools are accurate, secure, and reliable.

Read more about the Remote Identity Validation Rally full today’s show page at FedGovToday.com. Subscribe and listen anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

We’re getting real about cloud strategy in government. If agencies are moving to the cloud—and most are—it’s time to stop treating it like a buzzword and start managing it like a business. Vijay D’Souza, Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), joins Francis to share insights from a brand-new guide that compiles 19 leading cloud practices from 18 private sector companies. Spoiler: it’s not just about tech. It’s about leadership, workforce readiness, acquisition smarts, and visibility into costs—especially through the emerging discipline of FinOps.

D’Souza talks about what the federal government can learn from industry leaders, why workforce challenges are universal, and how multi-cloud strategies offer both flexibility and complexity. He also emphasizes the importance of strong leadership in cloud success and explains how fragmented cost management in government is holding agencies back from realizing the full potential of their cloud investments.

Read Vijay’s full report on today’s show page at FedGovToday.com. Subscribe and listen 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 General Services Administration is making a bold move to centralize procurement across the federal government, but not everyone is on board. In this episode of Fed Gov Today, former Pennsylvania Chief Procurement Officer, David Yarkin, joins Francis to discuss the challenges and opportunities of strategic sourcing. Yarkin shares insights from his time in Pennsylvania, where similar efforts led to significant cost savings—and the lessons learned along the way. He explains why agencies often push back against consolidation and how procurement leaders can navigate these challenges to deliver better results for taxpayers.

Later, Yarkin dives into the measurable impact of procurement reform and why data-driven decision-making is key to success. He also discusses the lessons learned from past procurement failures and why technology is now essential in tracking vendor performance. 

For more details and to read David’s piece, visit today’s show page at FedGovToday.com. Subscribe and listen anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

We’re diving into a software problem that even DOGE would raise an eyebrow at. Federal agencies are sitting on a mountain of idle software licenses, sometimes with more subscriptions than employees to use them. Former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Chief Technology Officer, Bob Gourley, joins Francis to discuss how agencies can cut waste, streamline software procurement, and adopt smarter licensing models. 

Gourley breaks down staggering audit findings—like an agency with 13,000 employees owning 37,000 WinZip licenses—and explains why this inefficiency persists. He outlines how the government’s $6 billion software budget could be optimized through enterprise-wide agreements, usage-based pricing, and open-source solutions with enterprise support. While centralizing procurement through GSA could bring cost savings, agencies also need the flexibility to make mission-driven decisions at a local level.

For more details and to read Bob’s full analysis, visit today’s show page at FedGovToday.com. Subscribe and listen anytime 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.

The latest executive order on Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCOs) leaves as much unsaid as it does stated—and that could have major implications for the future of federal HR leadership. Former DHS Chief Human Capital Officer, Jeff Neal, joins Francis to break down what the EO doesn’t say about turning CHCOs into political appointees and why that matters. Jeff shares his own experience transitioning his role from a political appointment to a career SES position and explains how this change could influence agency leadership, decision-making, and the independence of HR leaders across government.

Neal shares the real-world challenges CHCOs face in balancing politics with policy, the potential chilling effect on career executives, and why some fights are worth picking—and others aren’t. Plus, the latest insights on federal workforce trends, including why the government struggles to attract young talent and how hiring decisions today could shape the future of federal HR.

For more details and to read Jeff’s full analysis, visit today’s show page at FedGovToday.com. Subscribe and listen anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com.

Former DHS Chief Information Security Officer, Ken Bible, joins the show to discuss how agencies like DHS, FEMA, and CISA are navigating cyber workforce challenges under the Cyber Talent Management System (CTMS). He highlights the risks of attrition in an increasingly competitive cybersecurity landscape and explains why investing in and retaining cyber talent is crucial for securing operational technologies, industrial control systems, and the next wave of AI-driven security challenges.

Tune in to Fed Gov Today TV this Tuesday, March 18, at 8:30 PM ET on WJLA 24/7 News. If you miss the live broadcast, catch it anytime on FedGovToday.com or the Fed Gov Today YouTube channel.

Don’t miss the next episode, where we explore a major shakeup in federal human capital policy—converting every career agency Chief Human Capital Officer into a political appointee.

Subscribe and listen anytime 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.

As federal employees approach the pivotal decision of retirement, understanding the ins and outs of the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is crucial. Jim Kaplan, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, sits down with Francis to break down the latest updates to the TSP fact sheet for departing federal employees. He clarifies common misconceptions—like the fact that you don’t have to close your TSP when you leave federal service—and explains the options for maintaining, rolling over, or withdrawing funds.

Kaplan also sheds light on the top concerns from TSP participants, including required minimum distributions, tax forms, and installment payments for retirees. He discusses the infrastructure behind distributing over 1.3 million 1099-R forms and how the TSP’s recordkeeping contract ensures a high level of customer service—boasting a 94% satisfaction rate and an impressive average wait time of just 20 seconds.

Plus, get a sneak peek into the future of TSP services, including upcoming in-plan Roth conversions, new financial planning calculators, and ongoing innovations to enhance participant experiences.

Don’t miss the next episode, where we’ll dive into the future of the federal cyber workforce with Ken Bible, former Chief Information Security Officer at DHS. 

Subscribe and listen anytime on  Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com.