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.

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Today on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Today on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin

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The Homeland Security Department has canceled a Federal Workforce Initiative for Neuro diversity. The move ends a years long effort to accommodate people with conditions like autism as part of federal recruiting and retention. The initiatives were aimed at filling gaps in crucial fields like cyber security. For the latest, Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday.

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The Pathways program came from a simple need to replace the government's old internship programs, but it quickly turned into an opportunity for agencies to completely rethink how they hire early career employees. Pathways has had its fair share of challenges over the years, but with the latest changes from the Trump administration, the future of the federal workforce is murky, you might say. Here with the latest Federal News Network's Drew Friedman.

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With Thrift Savings Plan accounts nose-diving and DOGE possibly coming for your job, no wonder federal employees are on edge. Times like these demand your calmest and clearest thinking. Here to help, certified financial planner Thiago Glieger.

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When the government terminates a contract for convenience, the contractor has rights and responsibilities. To find out how contractors can prepare in the current environment, Federal News Network’s Terry Gerton spoke with Contract Attorney with Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, Stephen Bacon.

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