Federal Drive with Tom Temin

The U.S. Agency for International Development and the FCC might seem like strange bedfellows. But they've both got an interest in 5G the highly touted next generation of broadband wireless communications. Now they've signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at improving adherence to several policies on 5G in emerging markets. With what it's all about, USAID deputy administrator Bonnie Glick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Sydla, the division director for Information Management Resources at Naval Sea Systems Command’s Industrial Operations, said he’s also getting the NAVSEA IT staff ready for that new perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Contractors doing business with the intelligence agencies must deal with a 2021 budget request that's hundreds of millions of dollars lower than in the fiscal year just ended. It's hard to find a lot of detail about the intel budget, but my next guest has some insight into it. Bloomberg Government senior defense analyst Rob Levinson joined the Federal Drive to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Strange as the election has been, the regular old government, where you live, still has to carry on. For one take on the most important administrative and governance topics ahead, the Federal Drive turned to long time analyst, now a professor at the LBJ School at the University of Texas, Don Kettl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The pandemic is exactly that, a pandemic. That means it's had a profound effect on how agencies operating overseas go about their work. A case in point. The U.S. Agency for International Development. To deal with a problem with many sharp edges, USAID has embarked on what it calls an over-the-horizon strategic review. With what that is, now it works, and its goals, the Federal Drive turned to the acting administrator of USAID, John Barsa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final hours before polls closed Tuesday, the Postal Service managed to sweep 220 mail-processing facilities for any remaining undelivered ballots. That’s because a federal judge ordered USPS to check sites in a dozen districts, many in key battleground states. Now Election Day’s over, but not the the courtroom conflicts. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman joined the Federal Drive with more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been 18 months since the Department of Health and Human Services put four executives on paid administrative leave, for alleged problems with the assisted acquisition services provided by the Program Support Center. At least three of these executives are no closer to resolving their cases. Now Federal News Network now has learned HHS plans to fire Patrick Joy … sources say, as a way to save face. In his weekly Reporter's Notebook, executive editor Jason Miller continues his investigation into the mess of HHS's decision to end PSC's shared services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The debate over the Trump administration's order to create a new civil service Schedule F - most of it has focused on the effects on career employees. But what about the public? My next guest says it will erode trust in government. Bob Tobias, professor in the Key Executive Leadership Program at American University, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin for more insight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The veterans population, thanks to changes in military policy and what may have occurred after military life, has growing numbers of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Now the Department of Veterans Affairs is urged to improve its data collection to help it better meet the needs of such veterans. The director of health care issues at the Government Accountability Office, Debra Draper, had more information on Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you invest long term in a retirement instrument where the rate of return goes down every year for decades? You probably already do. That’s the case with the Thrift Savings Plan’s G fund, favored by many federal investors as a bulwark against volatility. Over the past 30 years, it’s delivered steadily declining rates of return. Federal News Network's David Thornton looked into the G Fund and joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin for more on what he found. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behind every court procedure, whether civil or criminal, are carefully devised rules for judges and other court actors. The rules are embodied in Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure. Those in turn are written by specially selected committees, which have have been more than 80% white men. Is that a problem? Brooke Coleman, professor of law and associate dean of Research & Faculty Development at the Seattle University School of Law, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin for more details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's vote, in reality the vote that's been going on for weeks and may continue longer for weeks, will have big consequences for nearly every segment of the economy. Including federal contractors and the rules they and the government operate under. For what contractors are hoping for from the next administration, the Federal Drive turned to the president and CEO of the Professional Services Council, David Berteau. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Among the many voices pushing for continuous improvement in public administration and public service, the National Academy of Public Administration has published a long list of ideas for the administration that begins this coming January. For what she and the organization are hoping for, NAPA president and CEO Terry Gerton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just how big is the Federal Government. If you count contractors and grantees, it ranges from nine million people to more than 11 million. Writing for the Brookings Institution, my next guest says the next president will have an opportunity to improve the balance of the blended workforce. Brookings nonresident senior fellow Paul Light joined the Federal Drive to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Office of Personnel Management days ago told its workforce... the administration's proposed merger with the General Services Administration is off. The news is welcome to members of Congress and employee organizations who are critical of the O-P-M-G-S-A merger. But lawmakers say... they have bigger concerns now about the agency. Federal News Network's Nicole Ogrysko joins me now to explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices