In this episode of the GovDiscovery AI podcast, host Mike Shanley discusses the 2026 discretionary budget request released by the White House. The conversation covers key highlights of the budget, including significant cuts and increases across various federal agencies, and the strategic implications for federal partners. The episode emphasizes the importance of aligning proposals with the administration's priorities and staying informed about changes in federal funding.

Takeaways

• The 2026 discretionary budget request was released on May 2, 2025.
• The budget emphasizes a shift to centralized mission-focused federal spending.
• Contractors may face fewer opportunities for larger contracts.
• The Department of Defense received a significant budget increase.
• The Department of Homeland Security also saw a substantial budget increase.
• The State Department faced an over 80% budget cut.
• The term 'consolidate' was frequently used in the budget request.
• Firms should align their proposals with administration priorities.
• Staying updated on presidential actions is crucial for federal partners.
• GovDiscovery AI offers deeper research for federal capture pursuits.

 

Monica Harris, former DHS Senior IT Acquisition Advisor, joins Mike Shanley to discuss the federal funding market. The conversation focuses on how evaluation criteria are determined, government's evaluation and award process, proposal tips, and how to influence before the RFP drops.

Resources:

GovDiscovery AI Federal Capture Support: https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

BIOGRAPHY:

Monica Padron-Harris recently retired (Nov 2024) from DHS USCIS as a Sr. IT Acquisition Advisor supporting the Office of Technology (OIT) and the Office of Contracting (OCON). She was responsible for preparing and identifying the most effective procurement strategies for OIT’s portfolio. This included determining the evaluation factors, contract vehicle, business size (full and open or set aside), authoring the RFI questions and answers, and preparing the procurement documentation to support the decision. This included the evaluation plan, market research, Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), and Acquisition Plan approvals. She also served as a technical advisor on the source selection panel.

As an IT acquisition consultant with over 30 years of experience in a variety of Federal agencies (21 years at DoD/Navy), Monica specializes in identifying strategic acquisition targets and understanding the federal contracting marketplace, specifically within DHS. She spent the last 12+ years at USCIS as a Contracting Officer, Sr. Procurement Analyst (Policy), and Sr. IT Acquisition Advisor to the senior leadership team within OIT and the Office of Contracting. She has an intimate knowledge of the industry landscape within the DMV and specifically within DHS. Monica has excellent external and internal relationships within the Federal landscape and understands the importance and value of industry intelligence. She has the “inside” perspective of industry partners, expertise, and value to ensure partnerships are comprised of the best teaming arrangements to have the highest PWIN.

LEARN MORE:

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Global Strategy Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

Christy Hollywood, Senior Business Development Consultant, joins Mike Shanley to discuss key trends shaping federal business development and capture, strategies for competing and winning in a shifting market, emerging opportunities and challenges, and what this means for business development teams.

 

Resources:

- GovDiscovery AI Federal Capture Support: https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

- Request a USG Federal Market Capture Accelerator Packet from GovDiscovery AI: https://airtable.com/appjEpMKc9BdVkqhC/shrPkKFKXHPW3ym5Z

 

BIOGRAPHY:

Christy Hollywood supports Konektid clients and consultants with skills honed during 20+ years of leadership in international development, professional services, and consulting organizations. She led a successful consulting firm of her own for 11 years.

Earlier, she served as Vice President for BD of Cardno (a large USAID and MCC contractor, since acquired) and held pivotal business development roles at KPMG’s Emerging Markets Group, RTI International, PATH, as well as Fidelity Investments and Noblis.

A recognized expert in business development consulting, she’s authored several articles and is five-time invited presenter at international conferences on proposal management, competitive intelligence, and business development.

 

LEARN MORE:

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Global Strategy Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

Elizabeth Shortino, Former Acting U.S. Executive Director at the IMF, joins Mike Shanley to discuss the role of the IMF and U.S. Executive Director, how the IMF assesses political risk, IMF engagement in emerging and frontier markets, and insights for business expanding into new markets.

BIOGRAPHY:

Elizabeth Shortino recently served as the Acting U.S. Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an international financial institution charged with promoting international monetary and financial stability and growth. In this role, Ms. Shortino represented the United States at the IMF Executive Board and advanced U.S. interests on a range of issues, including IMF lending to strategic countries such as Argentina, Egypt, Pakistan and other; IMF surveillance of global markets and growth; and all IMF institutional and policy issues.

Prior to working at the IMF, Ms. Shortino spent 20 years in public service at the U.S. Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget covering international economic and development issues. She served as Director for the International Monetary Policy office and led Treasury’s staff engagement and coordination on all G7 and G20 Finance Track issues, including communique negotiations, designing and advancing the U.S. agenda for its p. Ms. Shortino also oversaw the Treasury stance on all IMF policy issues and country lending programs. Prior to this role, Ms. Shortino managed the Office of Middle East and North Africa and helped coordinate an international response amongst the G7, Gulf partners, and international financial institutions to support countries undergoing democratic transitions as part of the Arab Spring. She also oversaw U.S. Treasury economic engagement in strategic countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, and negotiated U.S. sovereign loan guarantees to several Middle East countries. Prior to joining the U.S. Treasury, Ms. Shortino worked at the Office of Management and Budget covering international and defense spending and served as a management consultant for Cap Gemini and at Ernst & Young. Ms. Shortino holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters in International Studies from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

LEARN MORE:

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Global Strategy Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

James Richardson, former Director of the Office of Foreign Assistance, joins Mike Shanley to discuss the Role of the State Department under Trump II, foreign assistance priorities, budget implications, and intra-government coordination.

BIOGRAPHY:

James “Jim” Richardson is the Executive Director to the 70th Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, working various ventures and programs. He is also the Executive Chairman of The Pompeo Foundation, a 501c(3) dedicated to thoughtful discussion and education on some of the world's toughest challenges.

He was previously Director of the Office of Foreign Assistance at the U.S. Department of State. On behalf of the Secretary of State, he coordinated $35 billion in foreign assistance across the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), ensuring policy, performance, and budget alignment. He was also responsible for foreign assistance strategic planning, policy, and monitoring and evaluation standards.

Prior to that, Mr. Richardson served as Coordinator of USAID’s Transformation Task Team. He led the historic reorganization to reshape the Agency around the principle of ‘Ending the Need for Foreign Assistance,’ establishing new Bureaus, policies, processes, and workforce solutions. Concurrent with his role on Transformation, Jim was Assistant to the Administrator in USAID’s Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning (PPL). He was responsible for agency-wide strategic planning, policy development, monitoring and evaluation standards, and international donor coordination.

With over 25 years of private and government service, Mr. Richardson spearheaded numerous complex operations and developed an extensive public policy and legislative process background. He served as Chief of Staff for then-Congressman Mike Pompeo (KS-04) —overseeing Congressman Pompeo’s offices in Washington, DC, and Wichita, Kansas. He also worked with the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee for Congressman Todd Tiahrt (KS-04), the House Armed Services Committee for Congressman Jim Ryun (KS-02), and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for Senator John Ashcroft (R-MO). He began his government career with Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO).

Mr. Richardson holds a Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies from Missouri State University and a Bachelor of Science in Government from Evangel University. He also graduated from the United States Air Force Air Command and Staff College (ACSC).

LEARN MORE

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Aid Market Podcast. You can learn more about working with USAID by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and AidKonekt. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

Dr. Alma Golden, former USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health, joins Mike Shanley to discuss Trump II USAID funding priorities, what will be similar and different than Trump I, opportunities for new partners, and USAID and global health overall.

RESOURCES:

• Contact Dr. Alma Golden at [email protected]
• Women’s Optimal Health Framework The Women’s Optimal Health Framework - The Institute For Women's Health
• Who We Are — PROSAMI DRC Midwifery Centers
• WOHF PDF Health Across the Lifespan
• Country Roadmaps | USAID
• WOHF PDF: Community Health Worker
• WOHF PDF: Emotional and Mental Health
• WOHF PDF: Healthy Marriage and Family Relationships
• WOHF PDF: Families and Children in Crisis
• WOHF PDF: Adolescent Reproductive and Relationship Health
• acquirefrontline.org Africa Consortium for Quality Improvement Research
• Health, Ecosystems and Agriculture for Resilient, Thriving Societies (HEARTH)
• New Partnerships Initiative | Work with USAID | U.S. Agency for International Development
• 2020 Evidence Summit on Strategic Religious Engagement | Faith and Opportunity Initiatives | U.S. Agency for International Development

BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Alma Golden is a pediatrician who currently serves as COO and Director of Global Health for the Institutes for Women's Health. Previously she served as the Senate-Confirmed Presidential Appointee to lead the Bureau for Global Health in the United States Agency for International Development in Washington, DC. In that role, she oversaw the USAID Global Health response to the COVID pandemic, directed the Offices of Maternal and Child Health, HIV/ AIDS, as well as other critical health programs.

Previously (2002-2006) she served under President George W. Bush in Health and Human Services leading the Office of Population Affairs which included adolescent health, teen pregnancy, abstinence education, and family planning. She has been instrumental in developing evidence-based guidance and research related to adolescent health risks, parenting, and training of medical and education professionals.

Her career has included private pediatrics, indigent health services, academic medicine (University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, and Texas A&M University), healthcare administration, adolescent health, and national and international public health policy. She began her professional career as a 7th grade Life Science teacher before entering medicine and has remained active in education as well as medicine. Dr. Golden is a proud grandmother and active in her community and church.

LEARN MORE

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Aid Market Podcast. You can learn more about working with USAID by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and AidKonekt. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

Alice Albright, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), joins Mike Shanley to discuss MCC's role in US foreign policy, key MCC accomplishments, future countries and sectors of work, and how organizations can partner with MCC.

RESOURCES:

- MCC LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/millennium-challenge-corporation

- MCC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccgov/

- Doing Business with MCC: https://www.mcc.gov/work-with-us/mcc-business/

- MCC Business Forecast: https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/report-business-forecast/

- Procurements on sam.gov

BIOGRAPHY:

Alice P. Albright is the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation where she provides strategic leadership and vision to the agency helping deliver on programmatic priorities. Ms. Albright has more than 30 years of international experience in the private, non-profit and public sectors.

Prior to MCC, Ms. Albright served as the CEO of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). As a political appointee of the Obama Administration, between 2009 and 2013, she was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). Beforehand, she was the Chief Financial and Investment Officer for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI). Prior to working in international development and government, Ms. Albright was a banker focusing on emerging markets, working principally at J.P. Morgan.

Ms. Albright has served on two G7 Gender Equality Advisory Councils, appointed first by the President of France for the 2019 G7 and subsequently by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for the 2021 G7. Additionally, she has served on the Boards of Williams College and Mercersburg Academy.

Ms. Albright received her MIA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and her BA from Williams College. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

LEARN MORE

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Aid Market Podcast. You can learn more about working with USAID by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and AidKonekt. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

Liz Schrayer, President & CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), joins Mike Shanley to discuss election results, takeaways, and USAID funding, the impact on foreign aid and partners, USGLC analysis of results and Impact 2024 work, and what actions listeners can take.

Resources

https://www.usglc.org/

• Join your state Advisory Committee or become a coalition member

• Interested? Email Alex Grant at [email protected] or Dana Bruce at [email protected]

USGLC’s Global Impact Forum – June 9 & 10, 2025

• Follow USGLC on social media @USGLC and join their email list at USGLC.org

BIOGRAPHY

Liz Schrayer serves as President & CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), a broad-based coalition of over 500 businesses and NGOs that advocates for strong U.S. global leadership through development and diplomacy. Under her leadership, the USGLC has grown to a nationwide network of advocates in all 50 states and boasts a bipartisan Advisory Council that includes virtually every living former Secretary of State, and a National Security Advisory Council consisting of nearly 200 retired three and four-star generals and admirals.

Ms. Schrayer currently serves on the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation’s Development Advisory Council, USAID’s Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACFVA), as well as several advisory boards and committees for the University of Michigan, including the Ford School of Public Policy. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

In addition to running the USGLC, Ms. Schrayer serves as President of Schrayer & Associates, Inc., a nationwide consulting firm founded in 1995, which works on a wide range of domestic and international issues.

Prior to starting her own firm, Ms. Schrayer served as the national Political Director of AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) for more than a decade. She worked on Capitol Hill, founding the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and in state government. She has traveled across the country organizing citizen advocates in every state. Ms. Schrayer has been published in TIME, Newsweek, USA Today, and The Hill, among other outlets. She has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and resides in Maryland with her husband Jeff Schwaber, an attorney who helped launch the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

LEARN MORE

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Aid Market Podcast. You can learn more about working with USAID by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and AidKonekt. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

Sabrina Amburgey, Vice President of Business Development at ACDI/VOCA, Udunopa Abalu, Director of New Business at the International Development Group, Velora Loughmiller, Chief Business Development Officer at Blumont, and Christy Hollywood, Chief Operating Officer at Konektid International join Mike Shanley to discuss 2024 market trends, local partner engagement and how contractors can serve in Localization agenda, sustainability plans, and look ahead to the aid market in 2025.

BIOGRAPHIES: Sabrina Amburgey provides leadership to business development at ACDI/VOCA, a US nonprofit that helps people and communities improve their lives by increasing economic prosperity and social inclusion. She has over 25 years of experience in international development in various business development, technical, and project management roles focused on food security, resilience, market systems, agriculture, capacity strengthening, and democracy and governance. As a board member and Global Guidelines Working Group lead for the Agribusiness Market Ecosystem Alliance (AMEA), a global network for accelerating the professionalization of farmer organizations and agri-SMEs, she was instrumental in drafting the recently published ISO18716 Professional Farmer Organization Guidance.

Udunopa Abalu is currently Director of New Business at the International Development Group Advisory Services, LLC (IDG), a rapidly growing international development organization works to reduce global poverty through sustainable and inclusive economic development. Udunopa brings over 10 years of experience in new business development and strategic partnerships, development economics, international trade, and private sector development. Prior to IDG, Udunopa worked for Kaizen - A Tetra Tech Company, Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC), KeyLime International, OFED International, and O’Neill Paragon Solutions. Udunopa also consulted for the International Labour Organization (ILO). Udunopa has lived and worked in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Brazil. She holds an M.A. in International Trade and Investment Policy from George Washington University and a B.S. in Economics and International Studies (with minors in Political Science and Speech Communication) from Iowa State University. During her personal time, Udunopa enjoys reading, bicycling, hiking, traveling, cooking, Zumba, yoga, and meditation. She is also a member of the Association of Women in International Trade. Velora Loughmiller is a leader in strategy, planning, and business development based on two decades of work across the USG, including USAID, Departments of State, Agriculture, Defense, and Energy, as well as an array of bi- and multi-lateral partnerships. When it comes to market analysis, she’s a firm believer that it takes a healthy combination of deep-dive data analysis and leveraging your network, and equally enjoys catching up with colleagues over coffee or nerding out over CBJ details. Velora holds a master’s in European studies, bachelor’s in geography, and is a certified project management professional (PMP). Based in the DC area for fifteen years, you’ll find her enjoying local and regional outdoor haunts for great hiking; continuing to hone covid-era learned skills of bread and candy making; and trying out the many types of cuisine the area has to offer. Christy Hollywood supports Konektid clients and consultants with skills honed during 20+ years of leadership in international development, professional services, and consulting organizations. She led a successful consulting firm of her own for 11 years. Earlier, she served as Vice President for BD of Cardno (a large USAID and MCC contractor, since acquired) and held pivotal business development roles at KPMG’s Emerging Markets Group, RTI International, PATH, as well as Fidelity Investments and Noblis. A recognized expert in business development consulting, she’s authored several articles and is five-time invited presenter at international conferences on proposal management, competitive intelligence, and business development.

Resources https://blumont.org/ https://www.internationaldevelopmentgroup.com/ https://www.acdivoca.org/

LEARN MORE Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Aid Market Podcast. You can learn more about working with USAID by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and AidKonekt. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

SHOW NOTES Stacy Young, Chief Knowledge Officer at USAID and Melissa Patsalides, Senior Advisor for Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning, join Mike Shanley to discuss Knowledge Management, AI, and the new Knowledge Management and Learning Policy at USAID. RESOURCES USAID's Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning Policy USAID's Artificial Intelligence Action Plan USAIDLearningLab.org where people can find the Knowledge Retention and Transfer Toolkit BIOGRAPHY Stacey Young, PhD is USAID’s first Chief Knowledge Officer (formerly Agency Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning Officer), leading Agency-wide knowledge and learning approaches. Dr. Young also co-chairs the Multi-Donor Learning Partnership of 11 major donor organizations working to advance organizational learning and knowledge management in international development.From 2011-2019, she served as a Senior Learning Advisor for USAID's Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning. Through her vision and leadership, USAID developed a holistic approach to Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) that is integrated across USAID’s country programs. Part of a long-term Agency effort to more firmly anchor USAID programs in strong evidence and local leadership, CLA is acknowledged as leading the field in learning and adaptive management for international development. She also served as the Senior Technical Advisor for USAID’s first Agency-wide learning agenda, on the Journey to Self-Reliance. Dr. Young joined USAID in 2003 as the Senior Knowledge Management Advisor for USAID's Microenterprise Development office, where she led an award-winning knowledge management program to facilitate learning in microfinance, market development and poverty reduction. She also led the development of USAID’s congressionally mandated poverty measurement tools; managed the congressionally mandated Microenterprise Results Reporting activity; and co-led an external affairs portfolio to support USAID’s engagement with Congress and industry groups around microenterprise development and poverty reduction.From 1993-2003, Dr. Young lived and worked in Kenya, Uganda and the US as an independent consultant specializing in research and policy analysis in philanthropy, development policy, HIV/AIDS and family planning, and agriculture and food security.Dr. Young has published several books and articles on development and knowledge management, and has taught political science, women's studies and writing at Skidmore College and at Cornell University, where she earned a PhD in Government. Melissa Patsalides is an international development professional with more than 20 years of experience inside and outside of the federal government. Currently she serves as a senior advisor for knowledge management and organizational learning in the Bureau for Planning Learning and Resource Management at USAID. She leads a practice group that supports implementation of USAID’s new KMOL policy, advances agency practices around data use and performance and collaborates deeply with the USAID’s Chief Information office on IT systems that support KM. In the past year and a half, she has focused on artificial intelligence and exploring ways to leverage it for KM at the agency level.Throughout her career, Patsalides has worked across various sectors and geographic regions, and has served in various leadership roles at USAID, including Director of the Office of Learning, Evaluation and Research (LER), Agency Evaluation Officer and Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation in the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs. Prior to joining USAID, she worked with international human rights and advocacy NGOs and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa. Patsalides holds a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School and a Master of Arts in International Development from the Joseph Korbel School for International Studies at the University of Denver. LEARN MORE Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Aid Market Podcast. You can learn more about working with USAID by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and AidKonekt. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.