Advertise on podcast: The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

More than a decade after Black and Asian American NASA employees challenged the agency's performance evaluation system, the case is now focused on the standards federal workers must meet to pursue class-action discrimination claims. Attorneys for the employees argue a recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission decision could reshape those cases governmentwide. Michael Lieder, of counsel at Mehri & Skalet, joins me with details. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Workforce reductions and reorganizations have generated plenty of statistics. A new illustrated collection focuses instead on the words of federal employees who chose to leave government service. Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Artie Moffa, editor at Bicycle Comics Productions, to learn more about the project. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The State Department is turning to a lateral-entry hiring program to bring in specialized talent. The American Foreign Service Association argues another option is finding ways to bring back experienced professionals who recently left government service. Joining me now is John Dinkelman, president of the American Foreign Service Association. 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 Government is recruiting for skills it says are in short supply. Some current and former Foreign Service officers say those skills weren't scarce until recently Behind workforce numbers are individual stories. One new project uses resignation letters to document how federal employees experienced a period of major change A long-running discrimination case involving NASA employees could affect how federal workers pursue class-action claims across governmentSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An industry group that represents companies that handle military household goods moves is warning the Defense Department that some proposed changes to the department’s moving program will force a significant number of moving companies to leave the military market. Federal News Network’s 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.

It's time for another episode of “As the Acquisition World Turns" with Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller. There are several plotlines that unfolded at the end of October and you wrote about them in your reporter's notebook. So let's start with the end of an era. What popular acquisition character is ending their time on this soap opera? The next plotline is the evolution of a popular character in the acquisition story...tell us what's happening? There are two more changes to long-time acquisition programs. Start with the storyline that involves the Navy. Finally, there's an upgrade to a character who plays a central role at DHS. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Modern aviation depends on a constant flow of digital information between aircraft and the ground. GAO found that FAA still has gaps in its ability to monitor and mitigate threats targeting those communications Jennifer Franks, acting Chief Technology Officer at the Government Accountability Office, joins me with the findings. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Major events create a flood of information from many different sources. The challenge for security organizations is turning that information into a common operating picture that supports real-time decisions. Here to discuss lessons from the World Cup are Tim Hanes and Mary Rupert of LMI. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When companies operate under both FDA and SEC oversight, regulators sometimes need a clearer picture of the same set of facts. An updated agreement is designed to support information sharing between the agencies when those situations arise. For what it means for regulated companies and investors alike, I'm joined by Tom Sundloff, partner at Blank Rome. 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 A new information-sharing agreement is designed to give the SEC and FDA a more complete picture of what companies are telling regulators and investors The World Cup tested the ability of security organizations to operate across agencies, jurisdictions and technologies Modern aviation depends on a constant flow of digital information between aircraft and the ground, GAO says FAA still has work to doSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last month, vulnerabilities in the open-source software language known as PHP created panic across the internet. Part of the chaos was one company’s decision to publish the patches for those bugs before an agreed-upon release date. Now, a top Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is calling that behavior “dangerous.” For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ strategy for artificial intelligence revolves around three main pillars. Officials want to accelerate AI adoption, educate and train the workforce, and build enduring, tested, trusted and verified AI capabilities. Matt Parks is the chief artificial intelligence officer for the Corps of Engineers. He tells Federal News Networks Jason Miller those pillars can’t be successful unless cybersecurity is woven throughout each of them. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Access to federal business brings access to information, and that creates responsibilities of its own. A federal court is considering a novel prediction-markets case involving an active-duty servicemember accused of using nonpublic information for financial gain. The outcome could influence how contractors think about compliance, oversight and employee conduct. Joining me now is Alex Blanchard, Senior Counsel at Holland & Knight LLP. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Deltek's latest look at the federal marketplace finds agencies continuing to concentrate work through existing acquisition vehicles and task-order strategies. For contractors and acquisition teams alike, understanding where government plans to buy may matter as much as understanding what it plans to buy. Joining me now with all of the details is Kathleen Sievers, Director of Research at Deltek. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Congress works through the final version of the defense authorization bill, contractors are watching closely for provisions involving intellectual property and access to technical data. Those decisions could shape how companies protect their investments while still providing government access to the technologies it wants most. Here with an industry perspective 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.