The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

The 2025 GAUGE Report paints a picture of a federal contracting market rattled by budget volatility, shifting priorities, and political uncertainty. Resource management remains the top challenge, but firms with mature planning practices are finding ways to thrive. And yet, despite the chaos, 65% of contractors remain optimistic about future opportunities. Here to unpack the data is VP of GovCon Strategy at Unanet, Kim Koster.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The White House's new cyber leader is calling for stronger partnerships with the private sector. National Cyber director Sean Cairncross says the Trump administration will advance US interests and thwart adversaries in cyberspace. Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday is here with more on his remarks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's a big day for DoD Space Development Agency, after years of planning and testing, SDA first operational satellites are set to launch from Southern California today. If all goes according to plan, officials say it will mean the start of a new era, not just for the agency, but for tactical communications throughout the military services, Federal News Network's Jared Serbu has details on today's launch and what's ahead.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Too many federal IT projects collapse under their own weight. They wind up with bloated contracts, shifting requirements, and tools no one wants to use. The fix is better ownership through product managers. Here to explain how they can make the difference is Former Director, Technology Transformation Services at GSA, Anne Lewis.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 one overlooked role that could keep agencies from missing the mark in tech deployments How federal tech leaders are rewriting the rules for AI and cyber hiring You can’t trust who’s investigating the toughest cases If you can’t track their trainingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

GSA and FedRAMP are fast-tracking cloud authorizations for AI tools, while Congress is pushing to prioritize skills over degrees in federal cyber jobs. Together, these moves signal a shift in how agencies adopt innovation and build talent. Here to share how federal contractors can prepare is Jim Carroll, CEO of the Professional Services Council.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Criminal investigators in the military face some of the toughest criminal cases in federal service. But a new GAO report finds that the agencies responsible for training them aren’t consistently tracking who’s completed what. Without clear oversight and program-wide evaluations, agencies may be sending investigators into the field without the full preparation they need, putting criminal trials and public trust at risk. Here to fill us in on GAO's findings and recommendations is Director in GAO's Defense Capabilities and Management team, Kristy Williams.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Despite proposing major cuts to the IRS budget, the Trump administration asked Congress for funds to hire 1000s of customer service representatives ahead of next year's filing season, but House lawmakers are pushing for even steeper IRS budget cuts than what the Trump administration proposed. Here to help us sort this out is Federal News Network's Jory Heckman.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 When feds leave, a new project makes sure their wisdom doesn’t walk out the door with them Is Congressional irrelevance a choice or just the cost of modern politics? We can't keep looking away from our $37 trillion national debtSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. national debt has surged past $37 trillion, raising alarms about its long-term impact on economic stability and generational equity. While some argue that low interest rates make high debt manageable, fiscal experts warn that relying on favorable conditions is a risky bet. Eroding public investment, budget gimmicks, and declining trust in economic data all compound the challenge. Dr. Carolyn Bourdeaux, Executive Director of the Concord Coalition, is here to explain what’s at stake and what can be done.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.