Fed Gov Today

Doug Schmidt, former Director of the Office of Operational Test and Evaluation at the Department of Defense, now Dean at William and Mary, reveals pressing challenges in military weapons testing. He discusses a new directive emphasizing automation and AI, which could reshape the landscape of defense. Schmidt highlights the struggle to integrate innovative, low-cost systems from nontraditional contractors. He raises concerns about the balance between rapid advancement and ensuring safety and effectiveness, as well as the critical R&D needed to align human expertise with automation.

Former Federal CIO, Clare Martorana, unpacks the complex, fast-evolving role of data in driving government performance and public service. Clare explores how federal agencies are racing to keep up by improving data management, modernizing IT infrastructure, and nurturing cross-agency collaboration.She speaks openly about the patchwork progress across the federal ecosystem and the urgent need for sustainable funding strategies and partnerships with Congress to match the speed of innovation.You’ll also hear a powerful defense of bipartisan collaboration and continuity in federal tech programs like the Quality Service Management Offices (QSMOs) and the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF). Claire stresses that good tech policy is not red or blue—it’s purple.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

Linnea Jones, Chief Information Officer at the CIA, and Claire Martirana, former Federal Chief Information Officer, dive into how the CIA is revolutionizing its operations through AI and cloud technology. They discuss the agency's strategic shift to active AI deployment, enhancing efficiency in tackling modern threats. The conversation also addresses the critical need for faster innovation in government, the challenges of bureaucratic processes like ATO, and the role of data as a key enabler in fostering collaboration and improving national security.

Former Federal CIO, Suzette Kent, joins Francis to dissect the pivotal modernization challenges facing every federal agency. With the future of the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) hanging in the balance—especially as the Trump administration’s FY 2026 budget proposes zero dollars for it—Kent offers a candid, insider perspective on what the next generation of federal IT funding could (and should) look like.Listeners will learn what alternative funding mechanisms could emerge, and why evolving how we fund tech change is vital in an age of rapid innovation, cyber threats, AI adoption, and outdated legislative frameworks. Suzette emphasizes the importance of internal agency alignment—among CIOs, CFOs, and legal teams—to control their tech destiny rather than ceding those funds elsewhere.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com.

Your retirement strategy just got a crucial update!Two top leaders from the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, Jim Kaplan, Director of External Affairs, and Jim Courtney, Director of the Office of Participant Experience—join Francis to break down what's changing, what’s staying, and what it all means for your money.Listeners will get the inside scoop on the imminent retirement of the L 2025 Fund and the introduction of the L 2075 Fund, aimed at the newest generation of federal employees. You’ll learn how automatic defaults are streamlining the investment process for new hires, and how the TSP is hitting new highs with over 7 million accounts and nearly 3 million Roth participants. One major reveal in this episode is the upcoming Roth in-plan conversion, slated for launch in January 2026. Courtney shares insights from participant surveys, how interest levels are being gauged, and the strategic decision to create not just one—but two calculators to help participants understand and manage their conversions with ease. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

Today, Francis is joined by Fazal Mohammed, Senior Manager for Solutions Architecture at AWS, who unpacks how federal agencies are rapidly modernizing and closing the innovation gap with the commercial sector.You'll hear how cloud platforms are empowering a new generation of "citizen developers" to build agile, scalable solutions that once took years to implement. Fazal explains how agencies are rethinking mission needs by leveraging tools like AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation—technologies that are no longer just "nice to have," but essential to delivering faster, better, and more efficient services to citizens and securing mission-critical operations.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

Today, Francis sits down with Lance Scott, Chief Technology Officer of the Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization (FEHRM) program, for a deep dive into one of the most ambitious federal health IT undertakings in history. You’ll hear how three foundational pillars—data deduplication, provenance tracking, and automated data ingestion—are enabling real-time, intelligent access to critical health data, reducing costs and increasing clinician efficiency. Scott shares firsthand insights into how the VA’s Walla Walla pilot is scaling nationwide, and how AI-driven tools like natural language processing and ambient dictation are reducing “pajama time” for clinicians and revolutionizing decision support.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com.

Today, Francis sits down with Dan Mathews to explore a foundational question: How can the federal government effectively reduce its real estate footprint? Mathews shares firsthand insights from his tenure at PBS, detailing how federal agencies are rethinking their physical presence to align with hybrid work trends and long-term cost savings. Listen and learn how interagency coordination, budgeting constraints, and political realities have shaped the pace of change.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.