The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

Congress has been on a spending spree for three years: Appropriations, the American Rescue Plan, the Chips Act, the Infrastructure Bill, the inflation bill. It all means federal agencies have to hire somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 people. Federal Drive host Tom Temin talked with someone who thinks one department might offer clues to how to it effectively: Bob Tobias, professor in the key executive leadership program at American University.

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The State Department promotes America’s diplomatic mission overseas, but the men and women of the Foreign Service — and the families they bring with them — put a face to that mission through off-the-clock acts of kindness. The department this year, in partnership with Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW), awarded the 32nd annual Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad to eligible family members for volunteer work that supported the war in Ukraine, the resettlement of Afghan refugees and ongoing COVID-19 lockdowns.

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The Agriculture Department recently lost a contract award protest. It was attempting to purchase commercial style services for evictions and foreclosures for homes behind in their loan payments. It all hinged on what the department meant by "commercial services." Federal Drive host Tom Temin talked about all this with Smith Pachter McWhorter procurement attorney Joe Petrillo.

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Customs and Border Protection has a diversity goal. The agency wants 30% of its workforce to be women by 2030. Federal Drive host Tom Temin took a look at he so-called, "30-by-30 initiative," with CBP's assistant commissioner for the office of human resources management, Andrea Bright.

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One of the top goals of the climate crowd is development of a new jet fuel. Now a group of federal department and agencies has launched a public challenge to develop such a fuel and the infrastructure to support it. It's called the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge. Federal Drive host Tom Temin talked about all this with Zia Haq, Energy Department chemical engineer.

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One of the top goals of the climate crowd is development of a new jet fuel. Now a group of federal department and agencies has launched a public challenge to develop such a fuel and the infrastructure to support it. It's called the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge. Federal Drive host Tom Temin talked about all this with Zia Haq, Energy Department chemical engineer.

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

Those looking to enroll in the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) will soon have to wait a couple of years before applying. The Office of Personnel Management said it will suspend all new applications to the program starting on Dec. 19. The suspension will last for the next two years, but those who apply ahead of the start date may still see their applications go through. During that time, current FLTCIP enrollees cannot apply to increase their coverage. The suspension will otherwise not affect the coverage of current enrollees.

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Sachin Pavithran, the executive director of the U.S. Access Board, said ever since the Biden administration placed a heavier emphasis on accessibility, the interest for training and help among agencies has spiked.

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The Veterans Health Administration is hiding the fact that veterans, under Mission Act programs, can go to private sector health care providers, if they choose. Federal Drive host Tom Temin talked about this with whistleblower Paula Pedene, a former VHA employee.

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Can robots teach themselves new tricks? In theory they can, according to researchers at the U. S. Naval Research Laboratory. In a new white paper, they lay out how robots, like people, can learn by using a curriculum and a learning agenda. To learn how they will test that theory, Federal Drive host Tom Temin spoke with research scientists Laura Hiatt and Mark Roberts from the U. S. Naval Research Laboratory.

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