The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Risk doesn’t pause for policy. Why ERM still belongs in every agency’s playbook A new Coast Guard rule puts cybersecurity front and center for maritime operators Redistricting, retirements, rescissions—Congress heads into fall with high stakes and little timeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With just 45 days left in the fiscal year, Capitol Hill is juggling redistricting battles, renewed scrutiny of aging lawmakers, and strategies for budget rescissions. WTOP's Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller breaks down what’s moving, what’s stalled, and what it all means for the months ahead.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Unlike active duty troops who remain in one status, reservists and National Guard members move between multiple duty statuses depending on the type of service they perform over time, the duty status system has become too complex and confusing and created inequities in pay and benefits. The Defense Department is now seeking to overhaul it. Federal News networks, Anastasia Obis spoke with Lisa Harrington, senior operations researcher at Rand, about the changes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The IRS, like many agencies, fired probationary employees earlier this year at the Trump administration's direction, but a new inspector general report shows that when the IRS terminated those workers, it didn't account for employee performance. The findings come as the government wide probationary firings remain tied up in legal battles. Here with more on the new report is Federal News Network's Drew Friedman.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 Considering the economic impact of the president’s law enforcement measures in DC Human-centered design could help Medicaid recipients meet new work rules—without losing coverage Can better communication rebuild trust in government? A new movement says yes—and it’s catching fireSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you live in Washington D.C., you’ve probably noticed National Guard troops around the city. The Trump administration says they’re here to help tackle rising violent crime—but what’s this move really costing the federal government and the local economy? To break that down, Federal News Network’s Eric White spoke with Michael Negron, Senior Fellow for Economic Opportunity at the Center for American Progress.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New federal work reporting requirements are changing how Medicaid recipients maintain their coverage. To help people navigate the system successfully, states are turning to human-centered design—an approach that puts users’ real-world needs at the center of digital services. Joining me now to explain how this kind of design can help keep vulnerable populations connected to care is Danny Mintz, with Code for America.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Public trust in government is near historic lows—but a new coalition of federal, state, and local communicators is working to change that. The Bonfire Collective, launched by the National Association of Government Communicators and George Washington University, is rethinking how agencies engage with the public. Their goal: to make government communication more strategic, more human, and more effective at restoring credibility. The group’s latest research shows a direct link between how agencies communicate and how much citizens trust them. Here to explain how the Bonfire Collective plans to turn that insight into action is the co-founder of the initiative and Director of Public Affairs for Baytown, Texas, Thomas Reeves.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has wrapped up a novel cybersecurity competition. The goal of the AI cyber challenge was to use artificial intelligence to quickly find and patch vulnerabilities in software. Now, DARPA and the finalists are looking to put their new AI systems to use in the real world. Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday joins me now with more details. 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 effort to overhaul the Federal Acquisition Regulations took a big step forward last week with the update to several major sections, including parts 812, and 40. At the heart of these changes is the mandate to use best in class or preferred contract vehicles for common goods and services. For more on the Office of Federal Procurement Policies initiative to reform Federal Acquisition, Federal News Network's Executive Editor Jason Miller joins me now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.