Federal Drive with Tom Temin

Another shutdown countdown is upon us. If you're thinking, "didn't we just go through one?" You're right. All this uncertainty is taking a toll on agency operations and the folks that run the places. To get an idea of how these constant battles could effect things going forward, Federal Drive Executive Producer Eric White spoke with Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new report from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) tested the durability of a new kind of way for people to vote. Electronic poll books, or e-poll books, look to replace paper records and allow access to digital voter registration records. As you can imagine though, with convenience comes the opportunity for that information to fall into the wrong hands. So have should e-poll books be secured? To dive into the topic, Federal Drive Executive Producer Eric White talked with Christy McCormick Chairwoman of the EAC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: Federal Guidance for how to standardize elections. Shutdowns add to mistrust in Congress, and federal agencies it seems. A new source of tension emerges between contractors and the Defense Department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite budget uncertainty from a lack of permanent funding and a potential government shutdown by Nov. 17, on top of the normally slow budget approval process, the Air Force is trying to be nimble and flexible where possible, said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. Kendall said the budget uncertainty and potential shutdown, brings Air and Space Forces’ programs “to a screeching halt.” “There are about a dozen or more new starts – things that we need Congressional authorization to start,” Kendall said at a CNAS event on Monday. “So not having an authorization bill yet and not having an appropriations bill means we have to wait until those things are passed to begin.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Postal Service, citing higher costs beyond its control, is falling behind on plans to reach long-term financial stability. USPS on Tuesday reported a $6.5 billion net loss for fiscal 2023. Under its 10-year USPS Delivering for America (DFA) plan, the agency expected it could “break even,” and start to dig out from years of billion-dollar net losses by this point. Those financial challenges are expected to continue for the rest of this fiscal year. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said USPS “will not reach break-even results in 2024.” USPS estimates it will end FY 2024 with a $6.3 billion net loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It will be this new congressional leadership's first test to try and avoid a government shutdown. As usual, the ones who will be doing most of the watching will be federal contractors. There is a new initiative from the White House though, that will give them plenty to keep busy while the waiting game ensues. To get a pulse check on the contracting industry, Federal Drive Executive Producer Eric White talked with David Berteau, President and CEO of the Professional Services Council. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anyone working in the last few years has likely encountered the DEI movement: diversity, equity and inclusion. The Biden administration expanded that by adding an "A" for accessibility. For more on this, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin talked with Janice Underwood, who led DEI in the Commonwealth of Virginia, before becoming the top DEIA director at the Office of Personnel Management. Now she's a new fellow at the National Academy of Public Administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In July 1973, a fire damaged or destroyed up to 18 million Army and Air Force official military personnel files at the National Archives and Records Administration’s National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. These records are important for veterans who are looking to make claims with the Veterans Affairs Department. So how did the government do in helping those whose records were lost or damaged in the fire? The VA's Office of Inspector General looked to answer that question with a recent audit. To learn what it found, Federal Drive Executive Producer Eric White talked with Brent Arronte, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations with the VA OIG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: What does the Veterans Affairs Department do when disaster strikes one of its record-storage facilities? The administration's DEI leader brings experience from work at the state level. Keeping fingers crossed about a potential government shutdown, contractors have new White House initiative scrutinize. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In November, the nation reflects upon the service and sacrifice of veterans and military families. A few days ago, we celebrated Veteran’s Day and think of the more than 18 million living veterans in the U.S. and those who served before them. November is also National Military Families Month; this can be a time to reflect on the sacrifices they and service members make. Today, there are more than two million service members and 2.6 million family members. Sacrifice can come in many forms, and while military families sacrifice on a day-to-day, they can struggle more during a government shutdown. With a potential shutdown just days away if Congress does not pass funding by Nov. 17, military families could experience more financial strain and services they rely on could stop. A September 2023 survey by Blue Star Families found that 84% of currently-serving respondents said they would be greatly or somewhat impacted by a government shutdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It sure came fast. Just a workweek remaining until the continuing resolution expires. The fever is building on Capitol Hill to do something to avoid a government shutdown. For the latest, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke to Bloomberg Government Deputy News Director Loren Duggan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Among the recent inductees to the National Academy of Public Administration, is a former state budget official. For how the federal government looks from a state point of view, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with that official, Shelby Kerns, who is now the Executive Director of the National Association of State Budget Officers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Small Business Administration and the Defense Department recently launched an effort to boost private capital investment in critical technologies. The program will provide federal guarantees to investment in companies the Defense Department considers critical. To discuss, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin talked with the SBA's Associate Administrator for the Office of Investment and Innovation, Bailey DeVries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: How DoD and SBA encourage investment in critical technologies. What federal largess looks like from the perspective of a state-level budget official. A government shutdown is (or is not) a week away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Department of Homeland Security is pledging to promote greater transparency and data-driven analysis through the Office of Homeland Security Statistics as part of a bid to centralize statistical activities across all its major missions. The new organization announced on Thursday will replace and expand on DHS’s Office of Immigration Statistics. While immigration-related data will continue to be a major focus of OHSS, the office will also publish reports on areas ranging from law enforcement use-of-force incidents to cyber attacks on federal networks. “In establishing this new office, we’ll begin releasing data more quickly, with greater granularity and covering a broader scope of DHS activities,” Marc Rosenblum, executive director of OHSS said, during an inauguration event at DHS headquarters on Thursday. “Simply growing the reporting and data governance that accompanies that will be a big undertaking.” Robert Silvers, under secretary of homeland security for strategy, policy and plans, said the creation of OHSS is part of “maturing” DHS and going from “ad hoc, to institutionalized and systematic” in its processes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices