The House of Representatives consists of more than its 435 members. It also has a workforce numbering just under ten thousand. Staff do everything from helping constituents with flags and Social Security questions to drafting legislation and helping members understand the issues. For what's going on with this highly specialized federal workforce, we turn to its chief human capitol officer, John Salamone.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration, as you know, has made a return to the office a top priority for federal employees. Well now, in a parallel effort to cut federal real estate by 50% the General Services Administration is setting a higher minimum office occupancy standard underutilized buildings would get the ax, Federal News Network's Jory Heckman has the latest.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Members of Congress are back in their home districts, but the list of things they’ll have to tackle when they come back keeps getting longer. A budget reconciliation bill is top priority, but now they also have to think about how presidential executive orders, DOGE-directed closures, and tariffs are affecting their constituents at home. Federal News Network’s Terry Gerton got the details from Bloomberg Government Senior Reporter Jack Fitzpatrick.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Department's planning, programming, budgeting and execution system it looks pretty much like it has for decades. This, more than a year has after a Congressionally-chartered commission came out with a long list of ways to reform it. This year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at least paid lip service to the idea of PPBE reform. So what's going on? We turn to the CEO of the Society of Defense Financial Management, Rich Brady.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration nominated, and Congress approved, at least one experienced hand to the Veterans Affairs Department. Paul Lawrence became deputy secretary last month. During the first Trump administration, he ran the Veterans Benefits Administration. Now he's got to find new health and benefits executives. For an update on this and other matters, Paul Lawrence joins me now.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is the goal of reducing the federal workforce by 10% wrong? Or just the way the Trump administration is going about it? And what about the five-bullet email? Some perspective now from retired federal manager Abe Grungold of A-G Financial Services.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration has mounted an attempt at the biggest overhaul of the Federal acquisition process since the 1990s. Two executive orders from President Donald Trump this week kicked off a rewrite and slimmed down of the Federal Acquisition Regulations the far it will renew the mandate to buy commercial products and services wherever possible. And for more on what they're up to Federal News Network's executive editor Jason Miller, got an exclusive

interview with the Office of Management and Budget's Senior Advisor leading the FAR overhaul, Kevin Rhodes.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Pentagon's hiring freeze has at least one unintended, or maybe intended consequence, one that could affect readiness of the armed services. For one thing, it has reversed years of progress the Air Force made in expanding Child Care Access. Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis has more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.