The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

Enrollees in the government's health insurance programs are bracing for big premium hikes in 2026 it'll be the second year in a row of percentage increases that reach double digits. But not every plan option is going up in cost, and there are some other important factors to consider for the upcoming Open Season for more Federal News Network's Drew Friedman sat down with director of marketing and fundraising at consumers checkbook, Kevin Moss,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 Could Nashville hold the key to modernizing the civil service Who sets the rules for AI? It matters more than most people realize A Florida university is building the next generation of intelligence professionals, one hands-on mission at a timeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The University of South Florida is turning Tampa Bay into a national security talent hub. Through its Security Training Collaborative, students are gaining real-world experience with agencies like the CIA, FBI, and Secret Service—preparing for high-stakes roles in intelligence and defense. Here to explain how the program works and how it’s reshaping the pipeline to Washington is Managing Director of Security Management International, Luke Bencie.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

California’s push to regulate artificial intelligence could reshape national markets and sideline smaller developers. But critics say no single state should dictate the future of AI policy—and that Congress must act now to establish clear standards that protect innovation and prevent a patchwork of conflicting mandates. Here to explain why that matters is Professor Kevin Frazier, AI Innovation and Law Fellow at the University of Texas School of Law.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When considering new ideas for modernizing the federal civil service, look no further than, Nashville. Yes Tennessee’s 2012 civil service reform, while not a perfect match for the federal system, does provide a compelling demonstration that thoughtful reform is possible. The Volunteer State modernized its system with a mix of performance-based policies, updated appeals processes, and a shift in employment presumptions, which created some positive results. Jeff Neal, who is senior vice president of ICF International as well as former chief human capitol officer for the Homeland Security Department, recently analyzed Tennessee's initiative and found some lessons the federal government could learn from it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Army has been on a quest to make its bases more energy resilient for a long time. The latest answer, nuclear power. The service is about to ask vendors to submit proposals to install miniature nuclear power stations on nine bases. Officials want to test the feasibility of using them to power critical infrastructure on their installations, as Federal News Network's Jared Serbia reports, they're convinced the technology is ready. 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 is eyeing July 4, 2027 to fully launch a new government wide Human Resources system. In a new request for proposals released Friday, OPM details a much more specific plan of action to modernize and centralize 119 distinct core federal human resources systems across the government. For more on the new RFP and OPMs plans. Federal News Network Executive Editor Jason Miller joins me with analysis and details. 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 GertonAn update on the ongoing lawsuit over the mass firings at the CFPB How federal contractors stay solvent and scale smart once they survive the startup phase How does a legacy defense contractor stay ahead of the curve?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we continue our dive into the minutia of ways government shutdowns hinder agency operations, we turn now to the ongoing lawsuit over the mass firings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau earlier this year. Perhaps no other agency faced as large of a percentage of workforce and budget cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency. Now the government attorneys who have been assigned to defend the moves in court are forced to ask for a delay since they're not allowed to work right now. To get an update on this case and the effect shutdowns have on federal lawsuits overall, we welcome Rich Andreano, a partner at Ballard Spahr.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Staying competitive in a time of rapid changes in analytics, talent, and technology can be tough. In this segment of "Government Contractors to Watch" sponsored by JP Morgan Chase, I'll talk with Rich Sawchak, CEO of Systems Planning and Analysis Inc to find out how he manages the tension.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.