Far be it from us to spoil your holiday season, but senior career managers in government might want to consider preparing for the worst. Suppose the coming Trump administration does get Schedule F in place. Are ready for a forced retirement or change in career? Some advice now from retirement expert Tammy Flanagan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin A new way to pay for innovation takes off for the Air Force What conservative lobbyists expect from Doug Burgum at Interior How a president could take over federal contracting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the government wants innovation, it often has to pay for it. Now the Air Force has reorganized how it pays for disruptive technology. It launched a group it calls a Squadron Innovation Fund Marketplace officials say will revolutionize things. Joining me for what this is all about the director of innovation for the chief of staff of the Air Force Strategic Studies Group, Mary Hossier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The IRS will add staff investigators to go after tax frauds that are using artificial intelligence. The agency will also adopt its own AI tools to stay one step ahead of the fraudsters. For more, Federal News Network's Jory Heckman spoke with the IRS Criminal Investigations Executive Director of Cyber and Forensics, Jarod Koopman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Enrollees in the new Postal Service Health Benefits Program will have a few extra days to review their health benefits plan for 2025. The Office of Personnel Management is extending Open Season for these particular participants until December 13. The extension comes after some postal enrollees were struggling to log in and use the benefits at their website. Joining me with more, Federal News Network's Drew Friedman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen an eclectic mix of people for his administration. In some cases there's a definite pro-business slant, though. Two cases in point: Brooke Rollins for Agriculture secretary and Idaho Governor Doug Burgum as Interior secretary. To find out what industry is hoping for, we turn to one of Washington's top lobbyists, Marty Irby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity has caused an unusual question. At least in the mind of my next guest. Could a president take over large federal contract awards in contravention of acquisition rules and regulations and get away with it? Federal administration professor Bob Tobias joins me now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've been interviewing a series of award winners of the Senior Executives Association. My next guest is this year's lifetime achievement award recipient. He works in one of those obscure but crucial areas. The associate administrator of the Transportation Department's Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration William Schoonover joins me now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just about six weeks left in 2024. Come January, you'll be a year older. Or something like that. The new year brings the idea of optimizing your TSP investment profile for the stage of life you're in. We get some idea from certified financial planner Art Stein of Arthur Stein Financial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Space Force personnel management act lets the service integrate full time and part time personnel, and it's already shaping the concept of service, but the brass are still figuring out most of the basic details of the part time model, including making sure guardians can get paid. Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis has more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices