Federal Drive with Tom Temin

Police rushing to an accident are no help if they themselves don't arrive safely. Yet four in 10 on-duty police officer deaths are the result of car crashes. Now the Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security has launched a research project to analyze the risks, including in-cruiser distractions, in the hopes of reducing these losses. With more details, portfolio manager in the S&T Office of Science and Engineering, Jim Grove spoke to Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee are out with a sweeping bill that would make all kinds of organizational changes in DHS leadership. Many of the proposals go back years. They'll figure in the Biden administration calculus as it tries to stabilize DHS after years of executive vacancies. For insight on the proposals and what the incoming DHS secretary faces in the new administration, Federal News Network's Nicole Ogrysko spoke with former DHS Undersecretary for Management, and now the President of the Homeland Security and Defense Business Council Rafael Borras. Hear more on Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Defense Department is waiting for the go-ahead from the Food and Drug Administration to start distributing COVID-19 vaccines. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the military is ready to go once it gets the green light. But, who in the military will get the vaccine first? Federal News Network’s Scott Maucione joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin for some answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The popular National Cryptologic Museum, like so many others, has been closed to the public. But it hasn't been static. It's acquired new exhibits, and is planning to relocate into a new National Security Agency location, still on the drawing boards. And, it has a new director. Dr. Vince Houghton, who joined the Federal Drive to discuss his new role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After nearly 30 years at the IRS, including three years as head of its criminal investigations division, you learn a thing or two. My next guest decided to see how life looks from the private sector point of view. He's now the director of investigations at the law firm Kostelanetz and Fink, Don Fort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims on Tuesday rejected government lawyers' bid to dismiss a lawsuit stemming from the 35-day government shutdown that ended in January 2019. The class action suit seeks liquidated damages for federal employees who went temporarily without pay but still had to report for work. With more on the ruling and what it means, the Federal Drive spoke to plaintiffs' attorney Heidi Burakiewicz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Council on Disability is calling on Congress to phase out AbilityOne, a New-Deal era program that gives federal contracting jobs to people with disabilities, but allows some of them to receive less than the federal minimum wage. The Trump administration and nonprofits within the program however say it’s time to reform AbilityOne instead of scrapping it. For more on those possible reforms, Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman spoke with the president and CEO of the nonprofit agency Melwood, Larysa Kautz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Qualified Products List maintained by the Defense Logistics Agency turned ugly for one small business when it received a corrective action notice and things went down-hill from there. But the issues are about more than disputed small parts. For how it all ended up in court, procurement attorney Joseph Petrillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As it increases its capabilities in cyber warfare and cyberspace defense, the Defense Department has established a concept it calls the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture. It's supposed to govern investment decisions and make sure systems across the military services work together. But does it? That's what the Government Accountability Office took a look at. For what they found, Bill Russell, the GAO's director of Contracting and National Security Acquisitions Issues, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Defense Department's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) is joining forces with the Defense Innovation Unit to focus on a universal problem: Cancer - in particular, metastatic breast cancer. The work brings together AI, digital imaging, and an unique piece of equipment. For more, the JAIC's warfighter health mission chief, Navy Capt. Hassan Tetteh, MD, spoke to Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats on the Hill and a variety of federal employee groups are ramping up pressure to block the president's recent Schedule F executive order. They're worried agencies may rush to reclassify career federal employees in certain policy-making roles as quasi-political appointees before Jan. 20. And they're worried about the prospects for current political appointees too. Federal News Network's Nicole Ogrysko joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin for the latest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Defense Department has been trying to make artificial intelligence the way of the future, starting with its Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, or JAIC. Now the organization says it’s embarking on a new iteration of itself, JAIC 2.0. Federal News Network’s Scott Maucione had more on Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal contractors are bracing for radical changes in policy, and the threat of a short-term government shutdown, as they look forward the coming transition. With where they're looking for information and how to cope, the president and CEO of the Professional Services Council, David Berteau. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Education Department's student aid program is about to host an online conference for more than 14,000 people in the financial community. It can be that big because it's online. With what's new in student financial aid and what it needs to deliver, the Federal Drive turned to the Federal Student Aid program's director of external events, Debra Byrne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that you've finally tossed the last of the turkey scraps, it's time to get down to business. The business of giving that is. Today is the Combined Federal Campaign's giving Tuesday. But the signs are already indicating a strong season this year. For an update, I spoke with the chair of the coordinating committee for the National Capital Region, Vince Micone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices