The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton From Apollo to Artemis—Air and Space gets a high-tech reboot Smart investing includes knowing when not to max out your TSP Veterans face delays and denials in discharge upgrades—costing them benefits and a fair reviewSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many veterans are being denied critical benefits due to inconsistent and delayed discharge upgrade decisions. A new GAO report reveals that military review boards often fail to apply guidance meant to support veterans with PTSD or military sexual trauma. Here to explain the impacts of those systemic shortcomings and how DoD could fix them is Director in GAO's Defense Capabilities and Management team, Krysty Williams.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum is undergoing its most dramatic transformation since opening nearly 50 years ago. With new exhibits that spotlight the future of flight and space exploration—from Mars habitats to commercial spacecraft—the museum is shifting its focus from history to possibility. It’s a bold reimagining timed to coincide with America’s 250th birthday in 2026. Here to give us the inside details is the museum's curator of Earth and Planetary Science, Dr. Matt Shindell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For federal employees, contributing the maximum to the Thrift Savings Plan is often seen as a financial win. But in some cases, it may not be the best use of available funds. Balancing long-term investments with emergency savings, insurance coverage, and debt reduction can offer greater financial security—especially for those nearing retirement. Here with more details on those considerations is certified financial planner Art Stein.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Agencies are facing tons of changing expectations from the Office of Personnel Management this year. In the last few weeks alone, OPM has told agencies how to think differently about awarding employees for good work, as well as how to implement recent changes to the federal probationary period. To help make sense of it all Federal News Network's Drew Friedman caught up with the Partnership for Public Services, Vice President of Government Affairs, Jenny Mattingly.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meet Paul. Paul was a CDC employee for more than 20 years. He left CDC in February and only got officially out processed in June. Paul's experience is all too common these days at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where months of delays are normal, as well as a lot of other agencies. In this week's Federal Report, Federal News Network, Executive Editor Jason Miller writes about why CDC delays are having real world consequences for former employees like Paul.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 is tightening the leash of sort to push contractors on complying with cybersecurity requirements, as well as ensuring their charging the government a fair price. This comes at a time when the government's biggest purchaser is conducting a whirlwind of new activities. Here to break it all down for us, President of the Professional Services Council Stephanie Kostro.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When a nuclear explosion or accident occurs, time is critical. Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed an AI-powered method to speed up the complex chemical analysis needed to understand what happened. By guiding lab steps more efficiently, this breakthrough could help officials identify nuclear materials faster—boosting safety, security, and response efforts. Here to explain this new approach and its impacts is Dr. Nick Uhnak. Dr. Uhnak is a Radiochemist in the National Security Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.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 warning from inside the NSF, staff say science itself is under threat AI could help scientists decode nuclear events faster, saving time when every second counts Federal contractors feel the push to comply on new cybersecurity requirementsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nearly 150 employees at the National Science Foundation have sent a letter to Congress warning that deep staffing cuts, forced relocations, and political interference are threatening the agency’s mission and independence. One-third of NSF’s workforce is already gone, and senior executives are being pushed out. Dr. Jesus Soriano, who leads the agency’s employee union, says the changes could do lasting damage to American science.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.