The Army's new secretary says he's getting ready to completely disrupt the service's acquisition bureaucracy. Secretary Dan Driscoll says the current system has been failing soldiers for decades with cost overruns and slow performance. He says big changes are coming in the next few weeks, including a new, more centralized structure. Details now from Federal News Network's Jared Serbu.

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We begin today with the IRS, which has furloughed nearly half its workforce last week and carried out more layoffs. But the agency is telling some shutdown exempt staff that they could also be furloughed if they take too much leave. The IRS is preparing for more changes than usual for next year's filing season, and some employees are worried these changes leave them short staffed. Federal News Network's Jory Heckman has been covering this, and he joins me now with more. 

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When the Department of Government Efficiency moved into Social Security, it promised modernization. But the focus on splashy headlines missed the opportunity to fix a broken system. Here to explain what really happened and the challenges ahead is Eli Hager, reporter for ProPublica.

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From missed prescriptions to overworked carriers, postal service problems are piling up in communities across the country. In Central and Southern Illinois, the Postal Service is a lifeline and calls for reform are growing louder. We hear from the representative leading that charge, co-chair of the Congressional Postal Service Caucus, Rep. Nikki Budzinski.

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The Treasury Department’s SAVE program promises awards for employee-driven cost-cutting ideas, but only if GSA confirms the savings are real and acquisition-compliant. That means contractors should brace for tighter scrutiny of pricing and performance. Here with more analysis of the pros and cons of this program is co-chair of the government contracts practice at McCarter & English, Alex Major.

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Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

• Treasury employees could be rewarded for identifying contract savings
• As mail delays grow, one lawmaker is fighting to protect and reform the Postal Service
• DOGE’s arrival at Social Security sparked chaos and missed a chance for real reform

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Dozens of Department of Homeland Security employees have received management directed reassignments in recent weeks, the directives are forcing some staff to choose whether to move hundreds of miles away to a new job or face termination. For more, Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday joins me now.

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Federal employees and contractors are feeling the strain as the partial government shutdown drags on, and the toll both personal and financial is mounting. Surviving a shutdown takes planning, adaptability and a clear eyed view of what comes next. So in this week's federal report, Federal News Network's Executive Editor Jason Miller talked to experts to create a federal shutdown Survival Guide. 

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As the government shutdown drags on, missed paychecks, rising health care premiums, and ripple effects across the economy are starting to build pressure on both parties. But no one knows how long it will take before that pressure is strong enough to bring them back to the table. Here to break down the politics, the pain points, and the path forward is deputy news director from Bloomberg Government, Loren Duggan.

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Despite new legislation and years of advocacy, military spouses still face major hurdles to building portable, sustainable careers. Joining the program to talk about what’s changed, what hasn’t, and how the ongoing 2025 Career Summit fits into the picture is founder and president of the National Military Spouse Network, Sue Hoppin.

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