Fed Gov Today

Former OPM Associate Director, Ron Sanders, joins Francis to unpack a bold new hiring memo from the Office of Personnel Management and the Domestic Policy Council that could transform how agencies bring in new talent. You will learn about the unprecedented introduction of four mandatory essay questions for federal job applicants—a move aimed at curbing mass, low-effort applications and filtering for genuine interest and capability. Sanders explains what’s working, what’s worrisome, and what’s still undecided—including the risks of not collecting workforce diversity stats and the possible fallout from removing long-standing recruitment initiatives.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.

Learn how the most significant overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in four decades could reshape the way the federal government buys goods and services. Julie Dunne, former Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service at GSA and now Principal at Monument Advocacy, joins Francis to explain the key changes already in motion and what’s still to come. She details how the revisions aim to streamline acquisition, cut outdated rules, and emphasize the importance of time and commercial practices in government buying. Julie also explains the potential impact of new “sunset clauses” for non-statutory FAR provisions, which could help reduce regulatory clutter and improve efficiency over time.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

Today, we explore a pivotal moment for agency leaders as budget season intensifies on Capitol Hill. With funding and restructuring requests on the table, Francis speaks with Tim Soltis, former Deputy Controller at the Office of Management and Budget, about what it takes to turn policy ideas into operational success. Soltis brings insights from his recent article, where he proposes a bold restructuring concept: lean, centralized leadership teams running core mission operations in key agencies like the Department of Defense, DHS, and the VA, to test whether a streamlined model can deliver better efficiency and accountability.You can find a link to Tim’s article on today’s show page at fedgovtoday.com.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

In today’s conversation you’ll hear why software is now just as critical as hardware in modern military operations—and what the Department of Defense is doing to keep pace with this shift. Former Deputy Navy CIO Commander, Julie Vida, joins Francis to explain how evolving battlefield realities, from GPS denial to cyber threats, are driving a transformation in how the Pentagon develops, acquires, and deploys software.You’ll learn how the Defense Department’s current focus on agile development, cloud readiness, and cultural change is shaping the future of warfighting technology. Julie shares why software must be designed for denied environments from the start—and why technologists must rethink their assumptions about where and how their tools will be used.From her time as a Navy helicopter pilot, Julie illustrates the critical need for trust in software—not just from the engineers who build it, but from the warfighters who rely on it. You’ll hear why collaboration between government and industry is essential to ensuring that software solutions are reliable, secure, and mission-ready.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

Today, we dive deep into the future of artificial intelligence in government, guided by a remarkable dataset: over 10,000 responses to the Trump administration’s request for information on a new federal AI action plan. Former Department of Commerce CIO and now president of Cambio Digital Transformations, Simone Szykman, joins the show to discuss the five key themes he and his AI assistant—ChatGPT—extracted from the public’s feedback.Simone reflects on the challenges and implications of each theme, drawing from his experience as a federal CIO and thought leader. He outlines how energy-intensive AI infrastructure is raising both technical and environmental concerns, and why early policy guardrails are essential to avoid unintended consequences. He discusses the evolving definition of “responsible” and “inclusive” AI and how philosophical and political leanings may shape regulatory approaches. You can explore Simone’s full analysis on today’s show page at FedGovToday.com. 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.

Will Schmitt, Chief of the Technical Portfolio Management Division, joins the show from TechNet Cyber in Baltimore. He reveals how DoD is categorizing Zero Trust approaches into three key courses of action (COAs): legacy uplift strategies, commercial service providers (like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Oracle), and standalone government-operated environments such as Dell-hosted clouds. Schmitt explains how each solution undergoes rigorous functional assessments—including 91 targeted activities and real-time Purple Team exercises that simulate real-world attacks.The episode highlights how DoD is moving away from vendor-specific tools toward an outcome-focused model with a shared language across agencies. Schmitt details how this collaborative evaluation process enhances agility, shortens assessment timelines, and makes systems more resilient against threats. He also shares how lessons learned from earlier implementations, like the Flank Speed program, are shaping current and future assessments.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

Colonel Jeffrey Strauss of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) joins the program to discuss one of the Department of Defense’s most urgent challenges: technical debt. Colonel Strauss explains how divesting from legacy technology—sometimes as granular as removing individual network cards—frees up capacity and resources that can be reinvested in modern solutions. He likens the effort to personal debt management: eliminating outdated systems piece by piece to enable a stronger, more agile future.Francis and Colonel Strauss explore how DISA measures progress in this effort, emphasizing operational readiness, risk reduction, and the agency’s ability to meet evolving cyber threats. Strauss challenges vendors to think beyond flashy, short-term wins and instead align with the long-term strategy of building sustainable, backward-compatible technologies that match DISA’s pace and purpose. As he puts it, the payoff isn't just speed—it's capacity: the ability to go fast and do more, all while maintaining mission-critical readiness.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

In this episode of Fed Gov Today, Francis Rose sits down with Jim Kaplan, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, to explore how the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is modernizing to meet the evolving needs of federal employees and service members. From mobile app growth to overseas outreach and educational tools, Kaplan reveals how the TSP is becoming more user-centric than ever before.Kaplan opens with a striking figure: over 30% of TSP account logins now happen through the mobile app, a number that has more than doubled since early 2024. He attributes this surge to the increasing societal comfort with apps and digital tools. The TSP app now enables users to perform a wide range of functions—from checking balances to designating beneficiaries—all without needing to call the Thrift Line.Beyond the convenience factor, Kaplan stresses that the agency’s core mission is to “meet participants where they are.” This approach has led to the launch of a YouTube channel offering financial education videos and a partnership with the American Forces Network. This collaboration allows TSP to reach military personnel overseas with short, informative messages on topics like setting a secondary address for mail delivery—especially relevant for service members deployed abroad.A major innovation driving these changes was the transition to a modern record-keeping system, which allowed for enhancements like two-factor authentication and facial recognition in the mobile app. Kaplan hints at future improvements, especially as TSP prepares for the rollout of in-plan Roth conversions next year. These upgrades will be integrated into the app with calculators and support tools to guide users through the process.Kaplan also discusses the success of the Blended Retirement System (BRS), which has brought younger military personnel into the TSP earlier in their careers. Thanks to automatic enrollment and matching contributions, even short-term service members are building long-term retirement savings—a significant policy win that Kaplan says reflects strong collaboration among Congress, the executive branch, and TSP leadership.Addressing market volatility, Kaplan notes an uptick in Thrift Line calls and shifts in participant investment behavior, particularly toward more conservative funds like the G Fund. While TSP provides educational resources, he emphasizes that individuals should invest for the long term and avoid reactive decisions based on short-term market swings.Kaplan’s central message is clear: TSP is evolving not just to keep up with technology, but to better serve its 6.7 million participants through education, outreach, and tools tailored to a diverse and increasingly mobile workforce.