The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency is reducing background investigations rates for the third year in a row, as investigations continue to get faster and cheaper amid a shift to “continuous vetting.” DCSA is cutting the prices it charges agencies for background investigations by 18% in fiscal 2024, the agency announced in a recent notice. DCSA Director Bill Lietzau credited the ongoing reforms under Trusted Workforce 2.0 and the shift to replace periodic re-investigations with continuous vetting.

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Federal employees got a clearer vision of the legislative priorities for union leaders, and some lawmakers, over the next couple of years. Pushing to give the federal workforce an 8.7% average pay raise in 2024, for one, is top of mind for the American Federation of Government Employees, according to union leaders at the annual AFGE legislative conference on Feb. 13.

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It’s a shame when the only way to get an agency’s attention on an acquisition problem is through a lawsuit. Unfortunately, it’s an all too common occurrence with draft solicitations, final solicitations and post-award debriefings. The latest example from the National Industries for the Blind, the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment and the National Association for the Employment of People who are Blind against the General Services Administration epitomizes this problem.

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In today's episode of The Federal Drive with Tom Temin:

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The General Services Administration's inspector general has found that the agency's Federal Acquisition Service does not follow its own policies. Some contractors say they've sensed that for a while now. For some analysis, Federal Drive host Tom Temin talked with Federal Sales and Marketing Consultant Larry Allen.

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Easy passwords like "Password 1 2 3 4." Multiple people with the same password. Inactive user accounts not closed. One-factor authentication. No password expiration. Sounds like the average agency cybersecurity posture of, say, 1989. But no, that's the Interior Department right now. To get the disturbing details, Federal Drive host talked with Interior Inspector General Mark Lee Greenblatt.

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In a plain-looking warehouse at the out-of-the-way Atlantic City Airport, you'll find one of the nation's most important research labs. It's operated by the Homeland Security Department's Science and Technology Directorate. It's purpose is to test, validate and even help develop the screening technology for keeping air travel safe. Federal Drive host Tom Temin recently spent a day at the Transportation Security Laboratory or TSL. This interview is Temin's first in a series of four with TSL leadership, starting with the Lab Director, Dr. Christopher Smith. Among other things, Dr. Smith explained why screening is part of the Science and Technology Directorate and not the Transportation Security Administration.

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The Conflict Observatory brings together teams and technology to track the conflict in Ukraine. The project sprung out of evidence-based policymaking efforts.

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In today's episode of The Federal Drive with Tom Temin:

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The new Congress might have been a bit slow getting started, but now it's making up for lost time. A whole tray of bills having to do with the federal workforce and retirees has popped up in recent days. To get the details, Federal Drive host Tom Temin spoke with WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller.

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