The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

It's New Year's Day 2026, and coming up on the 'Best of' The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton, we share some of our regular guests with their predictions for 2026.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The FAA has been working to update its aging air traffic control system, literally, for decades now. But 2026 is looking to be a big year on the FAA modernization front. The One Big Beautiful Bill Congress passed earlier this year puts more than $12 billion toward air traffic control modernization. And the FAA’s new administrator expects to obligate about half of that by the end of this fiscal year. Federal News Network’s Jared Serbu has an update on the agency’s modernization plans and how they’ve changed under the new administration. 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 Bid protests crafted by AI are increasing, but when they cite cases that don’t exist, the fallout is realNIH aims to enroll a million Americans in a health study, but first it must close critical gaps in protecting their data The Pentagon says it's short more than 20,000 cyber professionals...one group says veterans could help fill the gapSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Pentagon faces a shortage of more than 20,000 cyber professionals, and across the country, the civilian cyber shortfall is estimated at over 750,000. This raises big questions about how to build a stronger pipeline. Veterans bring mission focus and technical aptitude, but challenges remain in training, credentialing, and connecting talent to opportunity. Ryan Dunford of Bit Wizards is here to explore what works and what’s next for bridging the gap between military service and cyber careers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The All of Us Research Program aims to build one of the largest health databases in history, but an OIG audit found weaknesses in the National Institutes of Health’s oversight and access controls that could put sensitive participant data at risk. Charles Summers from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is here to discuss what needs to change to protect privacy as enrollment grows.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As contractors lean on AI to draft bid protests, some filings have cited cases that don’t exist or don’t support their claims. We’ll explore why this is happening, the legal risks and what AI means for speed and accuracy in acquisition with Stephen Bacon, partner in the Government Contracts Practice Group at Rogers Joseph O'Donnell. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2025 for a change, federal acquisition dominated the news cycle. From the FAR overhaul to GSA's OneGov strategy to the increased scrutiny on consultants, contracting was front and center for much of 2025. For more on some of the top news stories across the federal technology and acquisition landscape, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me with insights from his annual survey of experts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal retirement delays are gaining more attention and criticism in Congress. House Democrats are pressing the Office of Personnel Management for answers on how it’s addressing abnormally high retirement numbers. The application surge, largely caused by the deferred resignation program, is slowing down retirement processing for thousands of former feds. Here with more, 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 Senate wrapped up 2025 by confirming 97 Trump appointees, bringing the total to 417 for his second term, a move that restores some predictability for industry and speeds up acquisition decisions. From procurement momentum to defense modernization and small-business integration, PSC is tracking the trends that will shape the year ahead. Joining us to break it down is Jim Carroll, President and CEO of the Professional Services Council.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 On a remote Alaskan glacier, a mission of recovery and respect continues 2026 could be the year government contracting shifts from disruption to execution From DOJ to VA, Kshmendra Paul’s journey shows what lasting public service looks likeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.