Federal Drive with Tom Temin

A recent memo from the Trump administration referred to certain kinds of diversity and inclusion training as "anti- American propaganda." Federal Drive with Tom Temin discussed that memo last week - a memo which promised more guidance for agencies. Agencies got more guidance this time in the form of an executive order. The EO bans certain types of training the administration deems divisive. The EO is baffling some federal employment attorneys, and it's raising all kinds of other questions about what existing training programs can and can't continue. Federal News Network's Nicole Ogrysko joined the show to explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Among the topics House and Senate negotiators are discussing during the conference committee over this year’s defense authorization bill: What to do with the Defense Department’s third-highest ranking position, the chief management officer. The Senate version of the bill includes language that would eliminate the position entirely. But now there’s a bicameral, bipartisan effort to save the CMO. It’s one of several news tidbits Federal News Network’s Scott Maucione wrote about in this week’s edition of the DoD Reporter’s Notebook. He joined the show to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A virtual private network vulnerability that has been known since December. Stolen credentials of a power user. A poorly configured firewall. It didn’t take long for the hacker to own this unnamed federal agency. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency explains in the sort of depth rarely seen in public before how this agency suffered a cyber attack. In his weekly feature of the Reporter's Notebook, executive editor Jason Miller writes about this case study and why it's a warning to public and private sector companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While the nation argues about racial discrimination, another group continues to suffer the slings and arrows of unequal treatment. Namely, pregnant women in the military. A House passed bill would require all organizations to make better accommodations for pregnancy. Joining me to walk through it and what it would mean to government agencies, Federal Practice Group partner Heather White. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two Pentagon components, the Defense Innovation Unit and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, have teamed up with one another, along with Phillips Corporation, on an artificial intelligence project. It aims to establish an early warning system for infectious diseases. To learn more about the Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure, or the RATE project, Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke with the Chief of the Digital Battlespace Management Division at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, John Hannan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government’s recent track record with large indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts has been spotty at best. Of course there’s the JEDI contract, which has been bogged down in legal challenges for two years now. Another example: GSA’s cancellation this summer cancellation of the Alliant 2 Small Business contract, with no clear replacement in sight. Larry Allen says the problems around IDIQs are a sign of the times. He is president of Allen Federal Business Partners and joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin with his take. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Far from providing a moment of unity, the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg sparked something new for Congress to argue about. While awaiting a possible nomination by President Trump, the Senate will likely take up the continuing resolution issue as the last of the sand slips through the hourglass. Joining the Federal Drive with more, WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The topic can get emotional. Should animals be used in medical research. Recently I aired an interview critical of the Veterans Health Administration for its use of cats in research experiments related to bodily functions of paraplegics. I did receive a rebuttal statement from VHA, but they have not responded to our requests for an interview. My next guests represent and organization the advocates in favor of the ethical use of animals in medical research. She's the executive director of Americans for Medical Progress, Paula Clifford. Also joining the Federal Drive is the communications director, Jim Newman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cybersecurity is an enduring issue for federal agencies, and not just here on earth. Now a presidential executive order has handed the Homeland Security Department responsibility for cybersecurity of space assets on which so much modern information and technology depends. Joining the Federal Drive with what they'll be up to, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk and Resilience Policy, Matt Hayden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Army says it wants to become a model of diversity, equality and inclusion. To do so it’s added an annex to its 2019 People Strategy. The five year plan has some new requirements for federal managers and commanders. Federal News Network’s Scott Maucione joined the Federal Drive with the details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two of the leading voices in Congress on artificial intelligence have introduced a resolution recognizing steps the federal government has taken so far in AI research, recognizing how much more progress is needed. The resolution doesn’t have any binding effect of legislation, but Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) and Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL) say it raises the profile of AI’s implications on the workforce, national security, research and ethics. For more, Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman spoke with Illinois Democrat Robin Kelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it even possible to change the culture of something as bulky as the United States Navy? So that diversity and inclusion are woven into mission and performance? Charles Barber is going to try. He's an Army veteran brought in as advisor to the vice admiral in charge of personnel and diversity. He joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Constitution gives Congress a lot of authority over the structure and operation of the military, even if the president is commander in chief. My next guest argues, Congress ought to use that authority more than it does, which is very little. He's a professor of law at the University of California Hastings Law school, Zach Price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A proposed interagency council would look around the world for companies and products to banish from the federal supply chain. As it did with Kaspersky Labs and Chinese telecom gear, the government would base future bans on national security grounds. It all promises to make things tougher for contractors. For one view, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin turn to law firm Jenner and Block partner, Cindy Robertson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An arbitrator has delivered a telling assessment of the president's 2018 workforce executive orders: They're a violation of a longstanding federal labor relations law. Yup, federal employee unions are still fighting those executive orders on collective bargaining and official time. The National Treasury Employees Union says it scored a recent victory in the ongoing legal battle over them. Federal News Network's Nicole Ogrysko joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices