This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome Tyler Davey, CEO of ClearGov, to talk about how technology can finally make city budgets accessible to the people paying for them. The show digs into the problem with the traditional 300-to-500-page budget book, why context is the key to real citizen engagement, and how ClearGov's AI-powered chatbot and Engagement Studio turn complicated financial reports into community conversations. Tyler explains why government at the local level is what ends up impacting us the most, sharing a story of a case study where a new engagement platform encouraged input and surfaced citizen priorities. The episode also covers compliance and privacy considerations across state and local jurisdictions and why reaching the "silent majority" matters as much as responding to the loudest voices in the room. Plus, Robert and Adam share the latest updates on quantum, the Supreme Court, and FASAB. 

Show Notes: 

• White House: Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation (Executive Order) 
• White House: Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks (Executive Order) 
• OMB: Memorandum M-26-15, Execution of the Migration to Post-Quantum Cryptography 
• SCOTUS: Trump v. Slaughter 
• SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court Allows Trump to Fire FTC Commissioner, Overturns Humphrey's Executor 
• The Hill: Trump Cancels Housing Bill Signing Over Senate Inaction on SAVE Act 
• The Hill: House Republicans Vote to Block NDAA Rule Over SAVE America Act 
• Federal Register: Notice of Issuance of Staff Implementation Guidance 64.1 (FASAB MD&A Guidance) 
• ClearGov: Website 
• Businesswire: ClearGov Financial Engagement Platform Launch Announcement 
• ClearGov: Rochester Hills, Michigan Case Study 

What's on the GovNavigators' Radar? 

July 8th: 

• GSA FY26 Small Business Contracting Opportunities and Category Management Forum, National Industries for the Blind, Alexandria, VA 

July 16th: 

• GovExec Government Efficiency Summit, JW Marriott, Washington, DC 

July 21-23rd: 

• AGA Professional Development Training (PDT) 2026, Washington, DC  

On this Independence Day pop-up episode of the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam mark America's 250th birthday by surfacing some lesser-known milestones in the history of government management. From pre-Declaration government auditing, to a revolutionary-era grievance against King George that sounds surprisingly familiar to anyone who's worked in federal bureaucracy, to the creation of the Treasury Department in 1789, the roots of government management run deep. Plus, some recommendations from America’s Song Book and a shoutout to special 250th “best of” lists. Happy Independence Day! 

This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Maureen Klovers and April Harding, co-founders of We the Doers, who tackle the big question: How do we make government more efficient and effective? They discuss their project to measure success in government based on what matters to citizens and use that framework to see what changes make a difference. Maureen and April also describe their initiative to map out the convoluted employment termination process across agencies and usher in “Fast But Fair Firing.” The episode digs into the importance of data standardization, problem definition and implementation of reforms, and why biannual budgeting might be the key to fixing Congress. Together, they figure out how to, as Robert puts it, “Stop the crazy, restore sanity.” 

Show Notes: 

• NCHSA: Bipartisan Bicameral Housing Reform 
• DOL: Unemployment Insurance Fraud Prevention 
• Jen Pahlka: Recoding America Book 
• Senate Committee on Finance: The Unemployment Insurance Modernization and Recession Readiness Act 
• NOTUS: The Trump Administration Keeps Ghosting Its Congressional Watchdog 
• Gary Bass (Of the Gary Bass Rule of Three): Biography 
• We the Doers: wethedoers.org 
• POPVOX Foundation: Departure Dialogues Project 
• We the Doers: Workshop Report 
• DOL: Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) 

What's on the GovNavigators' Radar? 

June 22nd: 

• National Academy of Public Administration Celebrating the American Public Servant Gala (GovNavigators sponsor) 

June 23-24th: 

• 2026 Senior Executive Leadership Summit 

June 24th: 

• Celonis Process Intelligence Day (GovNavigators sponsor) 
• GovExec SAP NOW 250 

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome Larry Allen, Associate Administrator for GSA's Office of Government-wide Policy, now 15 months into the role. Larry brings a big update on the historic FAR overhaul, with the first four chapters expected to be out for public comment within the next two weeks. He describes the enthusiastic engagement from the acquisition workforce and shares what it will really take to relieve the burden on contracting professionals as agencies rebuild after staffing losses. The show digs into AI's growing role in acquisition, the administration's ambitious executive order agenda, and how GSA has maintained its momentum through the transition to a permanent administrator. Larry also covers the complete overhaul of the Federal Property Management Regulations, a revamp of the Federal Travel Regulations, and drops some breaking per diem news for FY27. 

Show Notes: 

GSA Office of Government-wide Policy: OGP Overview 

GAO: The Nation's Fiscal Health Report 

Social Security Trustees: 2026 Annual Report Summary 

FISA Section 702: U.S. Intelligence FISA Section 202 Overview 

Financial Data Transparency Act: Final Rule Details 

FAR Overhaul: RFO 

DEI EO 2025: Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing 

DEI EO 2026: Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors  

Firm-Fixed Price Contracting EO: Promoting Efficiency, Accountability, and Performance in Federal Contracting  

GSA: Edward C. Forst Sworn in as GSA Administrator 

GSA: Federal Managment Regulation 

GSA: Federal Travel Regulation 

EO on Gold Standard Science: Restoring Gold Standard Science 

House Armed Services Committee: FY27 NDAA House Version 

What's on the GovNavigators' Radar? 

June 16th: 

• VeeamOn Tour DC 2026 at Convene, Washington DC (Adam moderating) 
• Defense One Tech Summit, Arlington, Virginia 

June 22nd: 

• National Academy of Public Administration Celebrating the American Public Servant Gala, Library of Congress (GovNavigators sponsor) 

June 23rd: 

• ACT-IAC Insights to Action for Procurement Market Dynamics (Robert co-moderating) 

June 24th: 

• Celonis Process Intelligence Day 
• GovExec SAP NOW 250 

This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Andrea Sampanis, Director of the Grants Quality Service Management Office (Grants QSMO) at HHS, and Stacie Massey, Deputy Director for Grants and Financial Reporting at the Office of Budget and Management for the state of Ohio. Andrea takes us on a deep dive into the new SIN launch for grants management services, walking us through what the new Special Item Number (SIN 518210GM) means for federal agencies and how cooperative purchasing opens it up to state, local, and tribal governments as well. Stacie brings the recipient side of the equation, sharing what it's actually like to manage $11 billion in grants across a patchwork of systems and agencies, and why this SIN changes the game. They also dig into the shift from compliance-heavy grants management to outcomes-focused oversight, the proposed Uniform Grants Regulation and what it means for the field, and why data standards are the foundation everything else is built on.

Show Notes:

• Federal News Network: Grants QSMO Shifting Approach to Meeting Market Demands
• OMB: Proposed Uniform Grants Regulation (UGR) — Comments Due July 13, 2026
• OPM: Policy Career (formerly Schedule F)
• Policy/Career Executive Order: Implementing Schedule Policy/Career in the Excepted Service
• AI Executive Order: Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security

What's on the GovNavigator's Radar?

• June 10–11th: Government Service Delivery 2026 Conference
• June 11th: GovExec 35th Annual Government Procurement Conference
• July 21–23rd: AGA Professional Development Training (PDT) 

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome back Charles Cooper, Managing Director at Brumidi Group and GovNavigators' resident oracle of all things Capitol Hill. With six months until the midterms and a staggering legislative to-do list full of reconciliation, the farm bill, the surface transportation bill, 12 appropriations bills, the NDAA, FISA, and more, Charles breaks down why Congress is already fracturing along election-year fault lines. He explains why the White House and rank-and-file members are increasingly operating on different frequencies, makes his signature bold prediction on a government shutdown, and offers a candid look at what savvy clients are doing right now to position themselves for the lame duck and beyond. He also weighs in on the bipartisan fraud prevention push out of House Oversight and whether momentum can survive the politics. As always, the oracle has spoken.

Show Notes:

House Oversight Committee: Markup Sweeping Legislation to Stop Fraud in Federal Programs

OPM: Draft Rule Eliminating Time-in-Grade Requirement

OMB: Cybersecurity Incident Logging Update

NDAA: House Armed Services Committee Markup

What's on the GovNavigator's Radar?

June 3rd: 

• House Oversight Committee Hearing on Medicaid Fraud 

June 5th:

•  Data Foundation 2026 Data Summit 

June 10-11th:

• Government Service Delivery 2026 Conference 

June 11th:

• GovExec 35th Annual Government Procurement Conference 

June 16th:

• VeeamOn Tour DC 2026

In this Memorial Day pop-up episode of the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam break down a week of Washington false starts and delayed announcements, namely the Senate’s stalled reconciliation push and the White House pulling the plug on a major AI EO signing at the last minute. They also spotlight a new HHS fraud oversight initiative aimed at tightening grant accountability using AI-powered audit review. Plus, a reminder of the real meaning behind Memorial Day as the hosts honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Robbie Holmes, founder and CEO of Holmes Consulting Group and member of the GovNavigators Network, for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation on technology, government modernization, and what it really takes to build systems that serve people. Robbie traces a remarkable career arc, from the New York City welfare system and Sony Music to Zagat Survey, Google, USDS, and local government, and draws from each stop to make the case for pragmatic, constituent-centered technology. He reflects on his evolution from AI skeptic to cautious optimist, explains why so many well-intentioned government systems have created more friction than they've solved, and makes a compelling argument for why identity infrastructure and unified case management should be the government's next big bets. 

Show Notes:

• CMS: Nationwide Moratorium on Hospice and Home Health Agency Enrollment
• GAO: 2026 Annual Report on Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication
• House Oversight Committee: Markup on Legislation to Stop Fraud in Federal Programs
• Federal News Network: House Committee Advances 9 Anti-Fraud Bills
• NPR: Senate Votes to Kickstart Reconciliation to Fund ICE and CBP

Events on the GovNavigators' Radar:

• May 20th: GovCIO Federal IT Efficiency Summit at Carahsoft 
• May 21st: PSC FedHealth Conference

This week on the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert sit down with Daniel Gaush, Acting Director of the International Cooperative Administrative Support Services Service Center at the U.S. Department of State, for a fascinating look at one of the federal government’s largest and least understood shared services operations.

Daniel explains how the ICASS system coordinates administrative support for more than 300 federal entities across embassies and consulates worldwide, everything from HR and motor pools to security, facilities, and logistics. He shares stories from a 24-year career spanning Morocco, China, Afghanistan, and Washington, including negotiating trade agreements, touring a Chinese nuclear reactor, and managing support operations in wartime environments.

The conversation explores the promise and pain points of shared services: balancing costs, managing interagency consensus, handling global crises, and adapting to major structural changes, such as the integration of USAID functions into the State Department. Daniel also reflects on the unique culture of the Foreign Service and offers advice for the next generation of Americans considering international public service careers.

Show Notes:

• Final Report from The President’s Council to Assess the Federal
  Emergency Management Agency

What's on the GovNavigators' Radar?

• May 13: House Oversight & Government Reform Committee Hearing: DoW Financial Management: Examining Progress and New Audit Approaches 
• May 14: House Oversight & Government Reform Hearing: Reducing America’s National Debt: Rooting Out Federal Waste, Fraud, and Overregulation 
• May 14-15: ACT-IAC’s Emerging Technology & Innovation Summit

This week on the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert sit down with the GovNavigator Network's Josh Martin, former Chief Data Officer for the State of Indiana turned founder and AI practitioner, for a candid, highly practical conversation about what AI can (and can't!) do in government today.

Josh shares how he’s building AI-powered tools to solve real-world problems, like instantly preparing for vendor meetings or streamlining procurement reviews, and explains why AI’s biggest value isn’t replacing people, but accelerating decision-making. He also offers a clear-eyed warning: agencies that over-automate without human oversight risk serious errors, hallucinations, and reputational damage.

We dive into how governments can responsibly adopt AI, the importance of understanding data and prompting, and why “personal responsibility” is the missing ingredient in most AI strategies. Josh also reflects on his transition out of government, what he misses, and where he sees the biggest opportunities for innovation across the public sector.

Show Notes:

• Partial DHS funding measure passed
• House Oversight advances nine anti-fraud bills
• DoW strikes new AI deal with major companies
• New EO pushing fixed-price contracting

What's on the GovNavigators' Radar?

• May 2-4: Professional Services Council Annual Conference
• May 5: AGA’s Performance Counts Summit
• May 6: Service to America Medals
• May 14-15: ACT-IAC’s Emerging Technology & Innovation Summit