The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

As the U.S. faces rising global threats, a new warning from national security leaders is raising alarms at home. The National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A) say recent layoffs at the State Department, impacting over 2,000 positions—could do “lasting harm” to U.S. foreign policy and national security. The group says rebuilding the diplomatic corps will require more than just hiring, it will take a generational investment in talent, training, and trust. Here with the details behind this position is former Ambassador Gordon Gray.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As you can imagine, Democratic members of Congress representing the DC metropolitan area are none too pleased with plans to relocate some USDA agencies out of the area. The idea stems from the first Trump administration, when Suhas Subramanyam was still serving in the Virginia Senate. He's now a member of Congress and spoke with Federal News Network's Eric White about his thoughts on the proposed moves.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Registration is now open for senior executives who want to take a leadership development training program. The Office of Personnel Management is encouraging federal employees to sign up after launching the new training series this week. The OPM program comes alongside other big changes for the Senior Executive Service this year, and here with more details 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 Defense Department's program for assessing whether contractors are following cybersecurity requirements is nearly a reality. The White House is now reviewing the final rule for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model certification requirements. For more on the path forward for CMMC, Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday joins me now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The FAA is at a crossroads. A new administrator is stepping in just as the agency faces a wave of early retirements, aging technology, and mounting concerns from Congress. Behind the headlines are the people who keep the system running—often under enormous strain. Here to talk about what’s driving the departures, how it’s affecting safety and morale, and what kind of leadership the moment demands is executive director of the Federal Aviation Administration Managers Association, Ron Eritano.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wildfire season lasts longer and threatens more communities than ever before. Long-term scientific research is now paying off with tools that help local officials, fire fighters, and residents prepare and respond more effectively. The person behind that work, Alex Maranghides, joins me now to talk about his work. Alex is a Fire Protection Engineer with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and winner of a 2025 Service to America medal.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 The wildfire scientist who's helping to save lives With new leadership at the FAA, what’s next for the people who keep air travel safe?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Department of Labor just flipped the switch on a key enforcement tool resuming audits and investigations into how federal contractors treat veterans and people with disabilities. That means employers need to pay close attention. Sheila Abron, a federal compliance expert, joins us to explain what’s changed, what’s still off the table, and what contractors should be doing right now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The first six months of 2025 were challenging for TSP investors. The least popular funds outperformed their counterparts. Stock funds declined in the first quarter and then rebounded strongly in the second. Here to help make sense of those market moves is certified financial planner, Art Stein.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Air Force is getting ready to roll out a brand new cloud computing strategy, and this version includes a big focus on making sure service members can access secure and resilient cloud services in contested theaters like Europe and the Indo Pacific. Officials say it will build on progress the service has already made in transitioning from limited cloud use to a more robust multi cloud architecture. Keith Hardiman is the Department of the Air Force's director of Enterprise Information Technology. He talked with Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis as part of our annual cloud exchange. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.