The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

Over nine months from March 2023 through January of 2204, bad actors diverted nearly eight million dollars of payments from legitimate grantees through the Health and Human Services grant payment system. The HHS Office of Inspector General investigated, and is out with a new report documenting the root causes and corrective actions to prevent future fraud. Here with the details is the Assistant Inspector General for the Office of Audit Services at the Department of Health and Human Services, Tamara Lilly.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 new advances in the rapid detection of fentanyl could mean for counter drug operations Why this might be the time to add savings bonds to your investment portfolio might be How HHS addressed a problem with fraudulent grant paymentsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has developed a contactless system to detect fentanyl and other opioids in real time on site. By eliminating the need to send samples to a lab and wait for test results, this technology has the potential to transform security screening for cargo, baggage, mail and even people. Here with more on the process and its implications is senior technical advisor in the National Security Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Kristin Omberg.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Senate lawmakers are looking at big reforms for the intelligence community. The Intelligence Authorization Act advancing in the Senate would overhaul the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It would also push the intelligence community to embrace artificial intelligence and other game changing technologies Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday is here 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 Trump administration's cuts to the federal workforce have left many out of work, employees contemplating their next steps. Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government is giving former Feds and a wide range of other public servants a chance for a full scholarship while earning their master's degree in public administration. Applications go live this September. For a closer look at this program, Federal News Network's Jory Heckman spoke with the Chief Communications officer for the Harvard Kennedy School, Adam Farina.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With every change in presidential administrations comes an opportunity to look under the hood of existing programs. The Professional Services Council is helping NASA better understand their industry base and advising their members on preparing for SBA's new audit of their 8a business development program. Joining me with more details is the 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.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton A legal perspective on the precedents set by the ongoing court cases around federal workforce RIFs and restructuring From NDAA to SBA, there's a lot for government contractors to keep their eye on Do public administration best practices resonate with current political leaders in Washington?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed the Trump administration to proceed with its restructuring plans for federal agencies and the workforce is not the final word. Cases are still making their way through lower courts at the same time as several agencies have issued RIF notifications. Here to help us make sense of the variety of issues is managing partner at Tulley Rinckey, Michael Fallings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With six months in office, it's clear that the Trump Administration is running its own playbook. But are those play based on best practices? The National Academy of Public Administration was chartered by Congress to help the federal government operate on good government principles, and they're out with a new set of papers suggesting how this Administration might be more effective. Here to share his perspective is the President and CEO of the Academy, James-Christian Blockwood.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A lot of the heavy lifting for the 2026 defense authorization bill wrapped up in the House last week. That Chamber's Armed Services Committee finished its annual marathon markup session with a 55-2 vote that sent the bill to the House floor. And there were at least a couple of surprises from the Republican controlled committee areas where the bill contradicts some significant Trump administration priorities as we continue our coverage of this year's NDAA process, Federal News Network's Jared Serbu has details on that aspect of the legislation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.