Fed Gov Today

Fed Gov Today

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Fed Gov Today episodes

  • Fraud Starts at the Top: Why Culture, Not Just Controls, Is the Government’s Best Defense

    Fighting fraud in government starts with leadership, not just controls. On this episode of Fed Gov Today, Francis Rose speaks with GAO’s Rebecca Shea about why culture, accountability, and tone at the top are essential to reducing fraud across federal agencies. Shea explains GAO’s Fraud Risk Management Framework, breaking down its four required components: commit, assess, design and implement, and evaluate and adapt. The conversation explores how agencies measure success, manage fraud risk at both enterprise and program levels, and continuously improve their efforts. The message is clear: effective fraud prevention depends on strong leadership, clear ownership, and a culture that prioritizes integrity.

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

    19 min
  • The Pentagon Is Breaking Up With Paper: Inside the Race to Software-Defined Warfare

    Big changes are coming to how the Pentagon buys, builds, and deploys software. On this episode of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, Pentagon Chief Software Officer Rob Vietmeyer explains why paper-based risk assessments and slow approval cycles no longer work in an era of software-defined warfare. Drawing on real-world exercises with Five Eyes and NATO partners, Vietmeyer describes how zero trust, software-defined networking, and CI/CD pipelines enable rapid, secure collaboration across dynamic missions. He also discusses cultural change, automated cyber risk management, acquisition reform, and why speed, resilience, and trust in software pipelines are now mission-critical.

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

    21 min
  • The Shared AI Platform That’s Teaching Government How to Buy Smarter

    This episode of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose takes you inside GSA’s sweeping push to modernize acquisition and accelerate responsible AI adoption. From the FAR overhaul to new buying guides and culture change for contracting officers, Deputy FAS Commissioner Laura Stanton explains what agencies will need to succeed. CIO David Shive and Chief AI Officer Zach Whitman reveal how GSAi—and its shareable counterpart, USAi—go beyond a chatbot to capture deep observability and telemetry, helping agencies understand real usage, compare model performance, and negotiate from data instead of hype. You’ll also hear how GSA is pairing shared services with OneGov deals to expand options for agencies testing frontier AI at unprecedented prices. 

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

    36 min
  • The FAR Is Changing Fast: GSA Calls Industry to the Table

    Phase two of the historic FAR overhaul is officially underway, and GSA has a message for industry: engage now or risk falling behind. On this episode of Fed Gov Today, Senior Procurement Executive Jeff Koses joins Francis Rose to explain how GSA rewrote the FAR in record time—and why changing the rules isn’t enough without changing culture. Koses breaks down what phase one accomplished, from massive word reductions to new strategic acquisition guidance, and outlines what’s coming next as deviations move into formal rulemaking. He emphasizes the need for continuous feedback, practitioner-driven guidance, and collaboration between government and industry to make the new, more flexible acquisition environment work. With agencies rewriting supplements and major policy shifts ahead, Koses calls the next year “wild”—and says participation is essential.

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

    21 min
  • Your TSP’s Hidden New Year: Roth Conversions, Deadlines, and Smarter Retirement Moves for 2026

    The New Year brings critical retirement decisions for federal employees, and Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose breaks down what matters most. 

    Jim Kaplan, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, explains why the TSP has two New Year milestones—and how year-end deadlines affect withdrawals, taxes, and required minimum distributions. As 2026 approaches, Kaplan urges participants to review account details, update beneficiaries, and consider increasing contributions as pay raises and step increases take effect. 

    The conversation also previews the long-awaited Roth in-plan conversion launching January 28, including new tools to help participants decide if converting makes sense for their tax and estate plans. Plus, an update on TSP’s approach to cybersecurity and artificial intelligence risk management heading into the new year.

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

    9 min
  • 119 HR Systems, One Shot to Fix It: Why OPM’s ‘Pay Up Front’ Gamble Might Finally Work

    OPM is moving to consolidate the federal government’s many disconnected HR IT systems into a single, mandatory shared service, and former Chief Human Capital Officers Ron Sanders and Tracy DiMartini explain why the effort has failed for decades—and what could make it work now. They point to politics, agency “we’re different” resistance, and weak requirements as the usual dealbreakers, but note this attempt has a better shot if OPM sets firm standards, agencies get a real voice in implementation, and funding is sustained beyond a single year. Sanders argues the proven path is paying up front and rolling out over years, while DiMartini stresses designing a core system that covers Title 5 while accounting for mission-unique needs like DoD, VA, and law enforcement.

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

    21 min

About Fed Gov Today

From the publisher's feed

Veteran host Francis Rose gives Federal government decision-makers news and information about management, workforce, IT, and acquisition, to help those leaders do their jobs better.

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