Congress is in the midst of moving the reconciliation bill and taking up 2026 budget bills. But at least one Member of Congress is still paying attention to the Schedule Policy/Career proposal and hoping to mobilize his peers for action. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, representing Maryland's seventh district, joins me now.

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Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

• Will Congress take up legislation to address the President's Schedule Policy/Career rule?
• A new opportunity to solve government effectiveness problems
• What happens when the agency secretary starts reviewing grants and contracts

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The Trump administration wants to change what it says are inflated numbers of high performing federal employees. A new memo encourages agencies not to give too many employees the highest ratings on their annual performance reviews. Agencies are also being told to discipline or remove anyone deemed a poor performer. Here with more details on the latest guidance is Federal News Network's Drew Friedman.

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National Archives and Records Administration would take a $60 million cut under the 2026 budget request. Nara is also laying off nearly 100 employees as part of a new round of reductions in force. Former archives officials say the agency has little capacity to absorb such cuts and for more federal news networks. Justin Doubleday spoke with the former Archivist of the United States, Colleen Shogan,

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As the various Senate committees release their proposals for the reconciliation bill, the Senate parliamentarian is ruling out many of the more controversial elements. Here with more insight into what this might portend for the megabill's fate and other Congressional activity is deputy news director at Bloomberg Government, Loren Duggan.

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For some federal employees, working remotely was a reasonable accommodation that helped them make meaningful contributions in their jobs. The Trump Administration's blanket "return to the office" directive has upended those remote work arrangements and created uncertainty for those who depended on that flexibility. Here with insight on how the reasonable accommodation process should be working is Partner at Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, Aaron Szot.

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Over the past two decades, the military services have transitioned away from their organic equipment maintenance capabilities to buying sustainment from the original equipment manufacturers. It seems that approach may be resulting in less readiness, not more. Secretary Hegseth has said he wants to bring repair capabilities back in-house, but is DoD ready for that? Here with more insight is the Director of the center for Defense Information at the Project on Government Oversight, Greg Williams.

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Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

• The Department of Defense wants to take back its right to repair
• What to do if remote work was your reasonable accommodation
• Lots of procedural intrigue impacting the reconciliation megabill

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Details around the Army's Transformation Initiative remain scarce, but officials say they're ready to explain the plan to Congress. Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis joins me now with more details. 

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Federal agencies are setting a higher performance bar when delivering services to the public. The 21st Century integrated digital experience. Act of 2018 set a blueprint for more modern digital first customer experience in government. But agencies didn't start achieving those goals until the COVID 19 pandemic shuttered many agency offices, and now new legislation is looking to build on those goals as part of Federal News Network's 25th anniversary special report Federal News Network's Jory Heckman joins me with more. 

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