The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

The State Department is in the process of hiring new Foreign Service officers after going through mass layoffs this summer, but candidates in the process must retake a new version of the Foreign Service officer test that the Trump administration recently introduced. Scores from an earlier version of the test will not be considered. It's just the latest change to how the State Department vets candidates and Federal News Network's Jory Heckman 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 proposed a 2026 budget that would gut the nation's top workplace safety research agency, leaving critical programs unfunded and hundreds of experts sidelined. The Senate Appropriations Committee reversed most of those cuts, but that's nowhere near final, leaving the future of federal safety oversight uncertain... and the stakes are high. Here to break down the funding fight and what it means for America’s workers is Lorraine Martin, CEO of the National Safety Council.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many federal employees are still unclear about how working affects their Social Security benefits. From spousal eligibility to the earnings test and delayed retirement credits, we clear up common misconceptions. Then we turn to rising retirement claims at OPM and what that means for processing times. Here to help us sort fact from fiction on these two important topics is the Founder and Principal Retirement Specialist at Retire Federal, Tammy Flanagan.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 President Trump’s census proposal could upend funding for programs that rely on population data Who's protecting the protectors when it comes to funding workplace safety? We'll do some social security myth bustingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump wants a new census that excludes undocumented immigrants and reflects post-election data. But experts say such a change would require congressional approval and disrupt years of planning for the 2030 count. Here to consider whether the proposal is even feasible and how it could reshape the $2.8 trillion in federal funding tied to census data are Meeta Anand and Howard Feinberg. Ms. Anand is Senior Director, Census and Data Equity, at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Mr. Feinberg is co-director of The Census Project and Senior VP for Advocacy at the Insights Association.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Office of Personnel Management has put an official end to the 150 year old rule of three in federal hiring. Instead, it's telling agencies to begin implementing a technique called the Rule of many it's one of several changes OPM is making to federal recruitment this year, and here to break it all down for us 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.

The Pentagon has long pushed against the idea of a separate cyber service, but it is possible that President Donald Trump could decide to stand up a standalone cyber force at any time. Should the decision be made, a new Think Tank report provides a road map for how to build the new service, Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis 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 2025 GAUGE Report paints a picture of a federal contracting market rattled by budget volatility, shifting priorities, and political uncertainty. Resource management remains the top challenge, but firms with mature planning practices are finding ways to thrive. And yet, despite the chaos, 65% of contractors remain optimistic about future opportunities. Here to unpack the data is VP of GovCon Strategy at Unanet, Kim Koster.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The TSA’s new Touchless Identity Solution is changing how travelers move through airport security. Using facial recognition and mobile boarding passes, the system verifies identity in seconds. No ID required, no contact needed. It’s already live at 15 major airports. Here to explain how it works, what it means for privacy, and why it’s a model for future federal innovation is ASRC Federal’s Mike Horton.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Despite budget uncertainty and shifting priorities in the defense sector, mergers and acquisitions in government contracting remain robust. Strategic buyers are proceeding carefully, often behind the scenes, as they navigate risks like compliance hurdles and national security reviews. Sellers face a complex landscape, where even small disruptions can derail a deal. Here with more insight into the state of the market is the Leader of Holland & Knight’s Corporate, M&A and Securities Practice Group, Adam August.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.