The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

The Cyber Security and infrastructure security agency has been sounding the alarm about cyber threats to us critical infrastructure like power and water systems. CISA officials are particularly concerned about hackers targeting so called operational technology or OT systems. Targeting of those systems could pose major health and safety risks. For more on what the agency is doing to combat those threats. Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday spoke with the OT cyber lead at CISA, Matt Rogers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration’s second term has triggered an exodus from the Justice Department. Over 100 senior career officials have departed in just eight months. Civil rights, immigration, and environmental enforcement units are among the most affected, raising alarms about institutional memory and legal capacity. Here with more details and analysis is Bloomberg Law reporter Suzanne Monyak.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Pentagon’s tech pipeline is littered with promising innovations that never make it to the field. MITRE’s new Transition Maturity Framework aims to change that by replacing the slow, siloed acquisition process with a collaborative, data-driven approach. For insight on how this framework could help warfighters—and why it might be a fix for the “ditches of death”—we turn to MITRE’s senior vice president for national security, Keoki Jackson.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton A new framework aims to build a bridge across the defense acquisition valley of deathDOJ has lost over 100 career leaders since January, sparking concerns over its capacity and expertise Yet another way the government shutdown is making things tough for contractorsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There is word today that some staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are coming back to work this week. In this case, we're talking specifically about the employees who process invoices and payments for government contractors. But even if that happens as planned, they'll be facing a big backlog of work, and that's likely to mean payment delays for vendors. A lot to talk about this week with Stephanie Kostro. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Current and former federal employees affected by the massive 2015 Office of Personnel Management data breach may be losing their identity protection services in the coming year. IDX, the company providing these services since 2015 sent out emails earlier this month telling recipients of their identity protection services that they would have to renew on their own dime after receiving services for 10 years. Federal News Network's Executive Editor Jason Miller joins me now to tell us what's going on with the contract and the identity protection services. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many federal employees missed their first full paycheck last week as the second longest shutdown continues with no end in sight. Even some shutdown exempt employees are waiting on paychecks that were supposed to arrive. The Food and Drug Administration says some employees are receiving delayed paychecks because of a glitch in its system. Federal News Network's Jory Heckman has been following all this, and he joins us now with more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Supreme Court will hear Hencely v. Fluor on November 3, revisiting a decades-old precedent that shields contractors from state-law claims tied to military operations. Here to explain how the combatant activities exception works, and why this case could reshape risk and accountability for contractors in conflict zones is Lisa Himes of counsel with Rogers Joseph O’Donnell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry GertonA Supreme Court case could redefine contractor liability in combat zones What a government shutdown really does to the industrial base The Senate dashes the hopes of those still currently working without pay during the government shutdownSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the government shuts down, the damage goes far beyond federal payrolls. New contracts stall, supply chains seize up, and small firms face cash flow crises. Here to explain how shutdowns ripple through the industrial base and why the long-term costs may be greater than we think is Director of the Center for the Industrial Base at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Jerry McGinn.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.