The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

On today's episode of 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 federal acquisition workforce has recovered from the so-called “peace dividend” of the 1990s.

The number of 1102s or contracting officers, is at its highest point in the last 10 years and possibly since before those cuts in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

And as agencies head into the final six weeks of the fiscal 2023, these acquisition workers are busier than ever. The federal procurement budget is expected to top the $650 billion spent in 2022.

The continued growth of federal procurement spending is at the crux of why most agencies don’t feel like they have recovered from the reductions that came 30-plus years ago.

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.

Congress is still a couple of weeks away from returning to Washington. Still, pressure is building for members to resolve a difficult budget impasse, as the prospects for a lapse in appropriations also seem to grow. For more, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Loren Duggan, Bloomberg Government's Deputy News Director Loren.

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 IRS has a detailed plan for achieving a state of zero trust on its information technology networks, which is something all agencies are under obligation to do for cybersecurity. But the IRS needs to put the right people and money behind the plan, … according to an audit by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). For more, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with TIGTA's Director of Enterprise Services, Jena Whitley.

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.

Drama over the IRS is now mostly confined to Congress. The agency has returned more or less to normal, dealing with the day-to-day complexities of taxes. The Taxpayer Advocate Service has also been dealing with vexing, if not existential issues. To review a few of those issues, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with the National Taxpayer Advocate herself: Erin Collins.

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.

On today's episode of 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.

With sustainability front of mind, a new influx of funding will go toward completing three construction projects in the long saga of the Department of Homeland Security’s headquarters consolidation.

DHS and the General Services Administration will use a $288 million investment from the Inflation Reduction Act to build two new headquarters buildings, as well as a new parking garage, at DHS’ St. Elizabeths West Campus in southeast Washington, D.C., the agencies announced Thursday.

The IRA investment breaks down to $140.8 million for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) headquarters; $80.8 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters and $67 million for a new DHS garage and gatehouse.

GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan said the consolidation project, using the IRA investments, will set a tone of sustainability for other future federal building projects, and build on broader sustainability goals from the Biden administration.

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.

Sexual harassment and assault at the service academies will continue to rise without significant changes to management and culture, according to a new study released by the office of the undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness (USD P&R) Thursday.

The number of cadets and midshipmen experiencing unwanted sexual contact and sexual harassment at the military service academies spiked since 2020 to an average of over 20% of women and 4% of men. Additionally, the report noted an increase in incoming midshipmen and cadets reporting incidents of sexual assault and harassment in the years before they entered an academy.

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.

You're heard of the term cancel culture: getting rid of people with unpopular opinions. It's not all that new. The popular new movie Oppenheimer re-enacts the revocation of the scientist's security clearance in the 1950s, because of his opposition to the hydrogen bomb. What about today? Can unorthodox opinions mean loss of clearance? For analysis, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Dan Meyer, Managing Partner at the law firm Tully Rinckey.

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 Veterans Affairs Department has long had a nationwide network of facilities so it could be close to those it serves. But now it's taking that a step further, with a fleet of mobile medical units on wheels. VA hopes to reach homeless or other veterans who just can't get to a medical center. For the details, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Jillian Weber, VA's national program manager for homeless patient-aligned care teams.

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.