The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

After a year of shutdowns, cuts and uncertainty, many former federal employees are struggling with stress and identity loss. Therapy4Feds offers free and low-cost counseling to help them cope and rebuild. We’ll talk with founder Roz Beroza about why she launched the program and how people can get support.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The new law exempts nontraditional defense contractors from FAR cost principles, certified cost or pricing data, and Defense Department business systems requirements, potentially affecting more than 90% of the defense industrial base. We’ll break down what this means with Dan Ramish, partner at Haynes Boone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology drives many cyber workforce and education initiatives under the NICE program. And for the last decade, Rodney Petersen has been the familiar face in charge of leading NICE. Petersen is retiring at the start of the new year. He recently sat down with Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday to discuss the evolution of the cyber workforce during his time in government and what comes next in the age of artificial intelligence. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Donald Trump announced last week that every service member would receive a $1,776 bonus right before Christmas. The president suggested that the money would come from excess tariff revenues. Turns out, the money is coming from funds Congress already approved to boost military housing allowance. Federal News Network Anastasia Obis has more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The new National Defense Authorization Act spans thousands of pages, but one theme stands out: speed. The Professional Services Council says the law will accelerate delivery of critical technologies and give innovative companies a clearer path to support the warfighter. PSC President Stephanie Kostro joins us to break down what matters most, without making you read all 3,000 pages.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Diana Burley has helped define national cybersecurity standards, advised agencies and built bridges between research and practice. Now, she’s been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, a milestone that reflects her impact on the future of the cybersecurity and the workforce. She joins me to offer some insights from her long career in public service.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act includes key protections from the Military Family Bill of Rights, a framework created by spouses and parents to guarantee safety, dignity, and transparency for those who serve alongside service members. Brandi Jones, Organizing Director at Secure Families Initiative, is here to explain what these changes mean and why families fought for them.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 NDAA could redefine life for military families by including a Bill of Rights they helped write The NDAA is signed, and at over 3,000 pages, it could be your holiday read. But buried in all that text are big changes for defense acquisition A new honor for a leader who’s shaped cybersecurity policy and talent across sectorsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Agencies may soon see more robust requirements when preparing federal employees to join the Senior Executive Service. A new proposal from the Office of Personnel Management looks to reform and standardize SES candidate development programs across government. But without the right attention, planning, and resources, some say OPM’s efforts could fall flat. Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman gets more from the Partnership for Public Service’s vice president of government affairs, Jenny Mattingley.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vendors who file frivolous bid protests will now be held more accountable under a provision in the 2026 defense authorization bill. The “loser pays” language is trying to actively discourage incumbent contractors from filing protests just to keep getting paid. New data from the Government Accountability Office shows vendors are becoming more discerning when it comes to filing complaints, seemingly making this new language less necessary. Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me to discuss the current bid protest landscape. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.