The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

As Congress works to finalize the fiscal 2026 defense policy bill, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren is calling out a leading industry group for trying to block bipartisan right to repair efforts that would give soldiers the ability to fix their own equipment. Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis is here to help us sort it out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

ERT’s legacy in space and Earth science is evolving under CEO Mark Lee. His strategy blends innovation, infrastructure, and collaboration to position the company for complex federal projects. Lee shares how ERT is scaling without compromising the mission in this episode of "Government Contractors to Watch" sponsored by JP Morgan Chase. 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 What really happens in a shutdown and what does it really take to reopen the government?This federal contractor is reinventing itself by shifting from services to solutionsThe lessons lawmakers took from the shutdown, and what they have to do before funding runs out again on January 30th.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After weeks of gridlock, the government is open, but scars from the shutdown remain and the clock is ticking toward January 30. Lawmakers face a packed agenda, from appropriations to hearings and a health care vote, with little room to avoid another showdown. Joining us with the outlook is Mitchell Miller, Capitol Hill Correspondent for WTOP.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From back pay delays to contractor backlogs, agencies face a cascade of challenges as they restart operations. Bill Hoagland, senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center, has seen shutdowns and recoveries before. He's here to explain what it takes to restore continuity and prepare for the next funding deadline.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thousands of federal contractors today are watching their inboxes, waiting for a message from their agency customers that their invoices for work done over the last two months have been accepted. Many of those bills are more than 30 days old, triggering interest payments due to the companies. At least one veteran owned HUBZone firm has about $20 million in outstanding invoices that are now more than 30 days old. Federal News Network's executive editor Jason Miller joins me to discuss why agencies now face a new challenge with the shutdown ending, complying with the Prompt Payment Act. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The bill that reopened the government also includes a temporary extension of a landmark cyber information law, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 expired on October 1. Now it's in force again, at least until January 30. Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday joins me with more on what could be a complicated reauthorization path for CISA 2015.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The FAR Council eliminated a third of commercial contracting clauses, streamlined registration, and rewrote major acquisition rules in a summer; all released just before the shutdown. Now agencies are adopting the revolutionary FAR overhaul at different speeds, leaving contractors navigating a patchwork of new procedures while dealing with expiring contracts and furloughed contracting officers. Former GSA Administrator Emily Murphy breaks down what's actually revolutionary about these changes, why vendors must comment on what works (not just what doesn't), and the hard choices contractors face when deciding whether to extend work at their own risk during the lapse. 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 When the FAR gets a revolutionary overhaul and the government shuts down, who's reading the fine print? Army personnel leaders are pushing hard to modernize how the service manages its people.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From digitizing pay and HR processes to professionalizing recruiters and accelerating policy change, Army personnel leaders are pushing hard to modernize how the service manages its people. Lieutenant General Brian Eifler, Army G-1, and Sergeant Major Christopher Stevens met me at the AUSA conference to discuss how technology and leadership are shaping retention, readiness, and the future of the total force.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.