Government Matters

Sam Skolnik, senior reporter for Bloomberg BNA, discusses growing concern among industry leaders over vacant procurement positions in the Trump administration.

Hanwant Singh, senior scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, discusses his 30-plus-year career in air pollution research and his nomination for a Service to America Medals award in the Career Achievement category.

John Kamensky, senior fellow at the IBM Center for the Business of Government, discusses how developing an evidence-based culture in government could make it more efficient.

CQ Roll Call senior editor David Hawkings and Politico budget & appropriations reporter Sarah Ferris discuss the daunting Congressional to-do list ahead of August recess.

Chris Mihm, managing director for strategic issues at the Government Accountability Office, discusses what agency leaders should keep in mind as they craft reorganization plans for the Office of Management and Budget.

Carey Webster, director of federal information services at Deltek, discusses how industry and government can capitalize on the fourth-quarter spending spree.

Anthony Vinci, director of plans and programs at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, discusses how the organization is leveraging public-private partnerships.

Larry Allen, president of Allen Federal Business Partners, and Alan Chvotkin, executive Vice President and counsel at the Professional Services Council, discuss the Office of Special Councils report to the General Services Administration, and the future of GSA's Technology Transformation Service and 18F.

Adam Mazmanian, executive editor at FCW, and Charles Clark, senior correspondent for Government Executive, discuss the weeks biggest headlines.

Michael Sullivan, director of Defense Weapon System Acquisitions at the Government Accountability Office, discusses the Pentagon’s opportunities for improvements in its weapon systems procurement.

Beth McGrath, managing director at Deloitte Consulting and former deputy chief management officer at the Defense Department, discusses the proposed changes to management structure at the Pentagon outlined in the Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Megan Eckstein, staff writer at USNI News, and Paul Shinkman, national security correspondent at U.S. News & World Report, discuss the week’s biggest defense headlines.

Katell Thielemann, research vice president at Gartner, discusses the six strategic steps agencies should take to bring their Federal I.T. strategy to the next level.

Bill Greenwalt, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and former staffer at the Senate Armed Services Committee, discusses the main differences between the House and Senate Armed Services Committees’ version of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.

Robert Lohfeld, CEO at Lohfeld Consulting Group, discusses his new book “10 Steps to Creating High-Scoring Proposals” and how companies who do business with government can apply them to their practice.

Dr. John Zangardi, acting chief information officer at the Department of Defense, discussed DoD's efforts to boost the cyber workforce and his IT priorities in the wake of a failing grade on the latest FITARA Scorecard.

Matt Lira, special assistant to President Trump for innovation policy and initiatives, discussed "Tech Week" at the White House and his top priorities for the Office of American Innovation.

Politico defense reporter Jacqueline Klimas, Fifth Domain editor Aaron Boyd, and Nextgov reporter Mohana Ravindranath joined Francis for this edition of the Federal Beat. They discussed National Defense Authorization Act negotiations, priorities for the Office of American Innovation, and efforts to boost the cyber workforce at the Department of Defense.

The House Armed Services Committee's version of the National Defense Authorization Act includes a new set of acquisition reforms pushed for by Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX). Some defense contractors worry that those new reforms might have unintended consequences. Gen. Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, president and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association, discussed the issue with Government Matters.

One thing the Trump and Obama administrations agree on, regarding the military, is the need for another round of Base Realignment and Closure. A window appeared to open recently that would have allowed for BRAC, but that window may be closing. CDI Straus Military Reform Project director Mandy Smithberger and CSBA research fellow Katherine Blakeley discussed the issue with Government Matters.

Federal News Radio defense reporter Scott Maucione and Bloomberg Government analyst Cameron Leuthy joined Francis for this edition of the Pentagon Beat. They discuss ongoing negotiations for National Defense Authorization Act.

Kim Weaver, director of external affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, discusses the growing support for the TSP Modernization Act in the House, and the TSP’s approval of 5-year lifecycle fund increments.

David McClure, chief strategist for Coalfire Federal, discusses the White House Office of American Innovation’s top priorities, and potential biggest challenges.

Dean Garfield, president and CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council, discussed the outcomes of the Trump Administration’s “Tech Week.”

Tim Starks, cybersecurity reporter at Politico, discusses international meetings this week being attended by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, to discuss top security and cybersecurity issues.

Jon Smibert, resident legal advisor in the Department of Justice's Criminal Division in Tirana, Albania, discusses the work that earned him a nomination as a finalist in the 2017 Service to America Medals in the Homeland Security and Law Enforcement Category.

Jeffrey Neal, senior vice president at ICF and former Chief Human Capital Officer at the Homeland Security Department, discusses the DHS MORALE Act, which aims to create programs and teams at DHS to improve employee morale.

David Hawkings, senior editor at CQ Roll Call, discusses the budget timeline for Congress to fund the government before the September 30th deadline.

Angela Styles, chair at Crowell & Moring, discusses how the contracting community can help the federal government improve federal IT.

Rodney Petersen, director of NIST’s National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, discusses the work NICE is doing to help bolster the cybersecurity workforce in the federal government.