Government Matters

Vincent Sritapan, program manager for the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency at DHS, discusses the agency’s latest study of threats to the federal government’s fleet of mobile devices.

NASA Inspector General Paul Martin discusses the three main challenges facing NASA as the agency works to meet its goal of human exploration of Mars in the next two decades.

Jeff Neal, senior vice president at ICF, breaks down the pros and cons of taking buyouts, as they start being offered for federal workers.

Kevin Plexico, vice president of Deltek, breaks down the most significant trends and themes emerging in this year’s budget and how it will impact the contracting community.

Cameron Leuthy, senior defense and budget analyst at Bloomberg Government, discusses the budget’s implications for the Defense Department.

Max Stier, president and CEO at the Partnership for Public Service, discusses this years’ Service to America Medal nominees, as well as the significance of Public Service Recognition Week happening this week.

FedRAMP director Matt Goodrich discussed the purpose behind FedRAMP Connect, the announcement that seven cloud vendors have received prioritization, and government's future in the cloud.

Rep. Donald McEachin (D-VA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, discussed the budget deal reached in Congress and its implications for defense spending.

FCW editor-in-chief Troy Schneider, Government Executive senior technology editor, and Fifth Domain Cyber editor Aaron Boyd joined Francis for this edition of the Federal Beat. They discussed FedRAMP, the Modernizing Government Technology Act, a spending deal in Congress, and a possible White House executive order on cybersecurity.

U.S. News & World Report national security correspondent Paul Shinkman and USNI News staff writer Megan Eckstein joined Francis on this edition of the Pentagon Beat. They discussed the future of the Littoral Combat Ship program, the role of war zone contractors under a Trump administration, and the budget deal’s impact on military branches.

Steve Grundman, George Lund fellow at the Atlantic Council and former deputy defense undersecretary for industrial affairs and installations, discussed ‘affordability as a concept’ in the defense industrial base.

Beth McGrath, managing director at Deloitte Consulting and former deputy chief management officer at the Department of Defense, discussed restructuring efforts at DoD.

Jessica Lucas Judy — acting director of strategic issues at the Government Accountability Office — discussed her office’s latest report on reducing fragmentation, overlap, and duplication in government.

Roger Zakheim, counsel at Covington & Burling and former general counsel to the House Armed Services Committee, discussed the boost in Defense Department funding for the rest of fiscal 2017.

Hudson Hollister, executive director of the Data Coalition and former counsel for the House Oversight Committee, discussed how agencies can prepare for the approaching DATA Act deadline.

Sarah Ferris, budget & appropriations reporter at Politico and John T. Bennett White House correspondent for CQ Roll Call, discuss the spending deal reached by Congress to fund the federal government through September.

Pamela Walker, senior director for federal public sector technology at the IT Alliance for Public Sector, discusses the reintroduction of the Modernizing Government Technology Act in the House.

Steve Sarnecki, vice president of public sector and federal at OSIsoft and John Wood, CEO of Telos, discuss the impact of the Modernizing Government Technology Act on industry, as well as how the contracting community is preparing for the cybersecurity executive order expected from the White House.

Phyllis Schneck, managing director of cyber solutions at Promontory Financial Group and former deputy undersecretary for cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security, discussed reorganization efforts at NPPD -- the National Protection and Programs Directorate.

Avi Bender, director of the National Technical Information Service, discussed the results of a recent NTIS data meeting and the top challenges facing federal agencies.

Gartner research director Katell Thielemann explained how President Trump's agency reorganization executive order could impact the contracting community.

Karen Evans, national director of the U.S. Cyber Challenge and a member of President Trump's Office of Management and Budget landing team, discussed signals from the White House on IT reform.

Former U.S. chief information officers Tony Scott and Mark Forman discussed the role of shared services in President Trump's IT agenda, and offered insight on the continued push for IT modernization across government.

1105 Media Group chief content officer Anne Armstrong and Government Executive Media Group editor-in-chief Tom Shoop joined Francis for this edition of the Federal Beat. They discussed management and federal IT highlights from President Trump's first 100 days in office.

Reggie Brothers, principal at the Chertoff Group and former Under Secretary for Science and Technology at the Department of Homeland Security, discusses how the Defense Department is utilizing industry innovations and solutions.

Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, discusses a Congressional Budget Office report on the cost of expanding the Navy’s fleet to 355 ships.

Jacqueline Klimas, defense reporter at Politico, discusses the defense community’s reaction to congressional budget battles.

Ambassador Ronald Neumann, president of the American Academy of Diplomacy, discusses how the Trump Administration’s executive order on agency restructuring will impact the State Department.

Dave McClure, chief strategist at Coalfire Federal and former associate administrator for citizen services and innovative technologies at the General Services Administration, discusses his participation in a forum of I.T. experts, convened by the Government Accountability Office, to discuss ways to improve acquisition in the federal government.

Scott Amey, general counsel at the Project on Government Oversight, discusses “right-sizing” the workforce at the Defense Department, and how the Pentagon should approach personnel reform.