The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Thirty-five years after the ADA became law, how far have we come—and how far do we still need to go? Why disability and veteran protections are once again in the spotlight, and what that means for contractors How the TSP funds are faring in this period of market volatility, and what investors are doing with their moneySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week marks 35 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act reshaped civil rights in the U.S., guaranteeing access and inclusion for millions. But as workplaces, schools, and public spaces continue to evolve, so do the barriers. To reflect on what the ADA has achieved and what still needs to change to ensure equity and opportunity for all. I'm joined by longtime advocate and disability policy expert Gary Gilbert.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The E-Government Act didn't just become law, it became one of the most influential pieces of IT legislation in more than two decades. Getting it passed took determination, persistence and a little bit of luck. When Congress approved the bill and President George W. Bush signed it in December of 2002 few realized how far reaching its impact would be. As part of Federal News Network's 25th anniversary, the E-Government Act has been recognized as a defining moment in federal management. To explain why it still matters today, Federal News Networks Executive Editor Jason Miller 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 nearly brand new health insurance program for postal workers is at risk of an operational failure. A new inspector general report says recent staffing and funding reductions at the Office of Personnel Management are creating some challenges, and if those problems aren't addressed soon, the IG says it will cause problems during the upcoming Open Season. 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 voted to confirm several Trump administration nominees before leaving town over the weekend, including new national cyber director Sean Cairncross as the President's Principal Advisor on all things cybersecurity. Karen cross faces a raft of challenges as he enters the White House for more 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.

As global threats rise, the U.S. Air Force is facing a controversial crossroads. The Pentagon’s fiscal 2026 budget proposes deep cuts to the F-35 fighter program and the cancellation of the E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft, moves that a group of former Air Force chiefs of staff calls a “strategic blunder.” In a letter to Congress, the group warns that these reductions would shrink an already overstretched force and erode America’s ability to deter or win future conflicts. Here with more on their logic is one of the signers of that letter, Retired Air force lieutenant general Dave Deptula.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the U.S. races to resupply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition, cracks in the defense industrial base are becoming impossible to ignore. The new national security scorecard from Govini warns that decades of underinvestment and offshoring have left America vulnerable not just in Europe, but in any future conflict with China. Joining me to unpack the findings is Government Affairs Senior Vice President at Govini, Jeb Nedaner.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Pentagon may not know who’s making the parts that make the parts. A new GAO report warns that foreign suppliers—often buried deep in the defense supply chain—pose serious risks to national security, especially when their presence goes undetected. Here to break down how these blind spots could leave the U.S. exposed and what the Department of Defense needs to do to fix it is Director, Contracting and National Security Acquisitions, at GAO, Bill Russell.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 Is the Air Force Budget Putting U.S. Airpower at Risk? The urgent challenges facing America’s defense manufacturing base and why the next crisis could find us dangerously unpreparedThe Pentagon’s supply chain has a blind spot and it could be a national security riskSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For months, the public has remained somewhat in the dark on how and where federal workforce reductions have taken place, and it will probably still take a while before there's a complete understanding of the Trump administration's workforce overhauls, but new numbers are beginning to paint a picture of how those changes have played out so far. Here with more 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.