The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

As agencies figure out how to obligate funds before the fiscal year ends, the apportionment database offers a way to assess whether executive branch spending aligns with congressional intent. From impoundments to rescissions, it’s a key tool for tracking compliance, transparency, and the balance of fiscal power. Here to explain how it all fits together is Program Integrity Fellow with Arnold Ventures, Doug Criscitello.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ahead of an agency reorganization, the General Services Administration is walking back mass layoffs across its real estate division. The Public Building Service saw major workforce cuts amid plans to shrink its portfolio of federal buildings, but now PBS is asking hundreds of laid off employees to come back to work. Federal News Network's Jory Heckman is here with more details. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Agencies are being told to change the way they describe positions when promoting job openings. The Office of Personnel Management wants federal job titles to be descriptive, organizational or functional in nature, or in other words, OPM says cut the government jargon. Here with the latest 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.

Bad weather can snarl air travel, and aviation meteorologists are the ones helping air traffic controllers make fast, informed decisions to keep flights safe and efficient. But a new GAO report finds that staffing at FAA’s Center Weather Service Units has dropped to critical levels, adding to the stressors already challenging the airspace system. Here with more details on their findings and recommendations is Director, Physical Infrastructure Team, at the Government Accountability Office, Derrick Collins.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Something is different in the Federal Register online data base. Users noticed in August that numbers got much less precise, search results were truncated, and meaningful summaries had disappeared. Here to report on what's happening and why it matters is VP for Policy and a Senior Fellow and the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Wayne Crews.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

American Oversight is suing the Department of Energy over a new policy that could quietly shut down thousands of public records requests. The rule requires requesters to re-confirm interest in pending FOIA submissions without notice, risking mass closures and undermining transparency. Here to explain the legal challenge and its broader implications is Chioma Chukwu, Executive Director of American Oversight.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 Federal Register is flashing warning signs A new lawsuit says the Department of Energy is quietly dismantling FOIA and public transparency Aviation meteorologists help keep flights safe, but there aren’t enough of themSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From staffing cuts to shifting guidance, federal contracting offices are navigating a year-end landscape unlike any in recent memory. The ripple effects are hitting small businesses and big prime contractors alike. We get perspective from former GSA Administrator Emily Murphy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency has been amplifying its long-running efforts to use artificial intelligence and machine learning. This year, NGA has established several leadership positions focused specifically on AI, and it is developing new standards to ensure AI is applied to the geospatial intelligence mission responsibly. For more on these efforts, 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.

There have been a lot of lawsuits this year challenging the Trump administration's federal employment policies. A few have been successful, but quite a few have also been dismissed over jurisdictional issues. That's because in most cases, executive branch administrative agencies are supposed to handle disputes between the feds and their agencies. But what if those administrative agencies themselves aren't up to the task? A new legal opinion hints that courts might have to step in. Federal News Network's Jared Serbu writes about it in this week's edition of the Federal Report, and he's here to talk some more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.