Federal Drive with Tom Temin

The largest federal employees union says industry is price-gouging the Defense Department. The American Federation of Government Employees urges Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to consider emergency waivers, to recapitalize DOD's own production capabilities. This as commitments to Ukraine diminish U.S. supplies of ordnance and launch platforms. For industry reaction, the president and CEO of the Professional Services Council, David Berteau. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A persistent problem for the federal Bureau of Prisons is the rate at which former convicts come back. 45% of released inmates end up re-arrested within three years. A 2018 law required the Justice Department to measure individuals' risk of recidivism and take steps to prevent it. The Government Accountability Office has taken a new look at the program, and found room for improvement. The GAO's director of homeland security and justice issues, Gretta Goodwin spoke with the Federal Drive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Navy famously has a challenge in keeping its ships, ship shape and ready. Bolted to naval ships are the weapons systems that form a ship's purpose. Naval Supply Systems Command has a special unit for that called Weapons Systems Support. At the Sea Air Space conference this week, the Federal Drive caught up with Weapons Systems Support commander, Rear Admiral Kenneth Epps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The State Department makes it easier for people with disabilities to join the Foreign Service. It sets a new standard of medical clearance for prospective diplomats, and settles a 20-year-old discrimination lawsuit. The department will also pay plaintiffs $37 million dollars, after it rejected or delayed hiring more than 230 individuals who were unable to obtain a “Class 1” or “Worldwide Available” medical clearance. For more, Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman spoke with the acting deputy assistant secretary, Jameela Akbari.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The debate over federal telework has sharpened. Congressional Republicans passed a bill earlier this year to get feds back in their offices. They're calling for more data on the impact of telework. Now the American Federation of Government Employees finished a survey with three thousand responses. A majority say telework works. Federal News Network's Drew Friedman spoke with AFGE Deputy Legislative Director Daniel Horowitz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of The Federal Drive with Tom Temin: Justice is urged to tighten up its program to keep former convicts from returning to prison. How the Navy keeps its guns ready to fire no matter where in the world they are. The defense industrial base is in a big federal union's crosshairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Human migration patters, the billowing drug trade, allies nervous about China, it's all picked up the pace for the U.S. Coast Guard. At this week's Sea Air Space Conference, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin got the lowdown from the Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Linda Fagan, starting with the Coast Guard's 2024 budget priorities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After year of rising suicide and sexual assault rates, the Defense Department is expanding its mental health programs. Federal News Networks Alexandra Lohr joins the Federal Drive to tell us about some of those initiatives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pilot training outside of the cockpit, in a simulator, is known as synthetic training. It's getting more sophisticated and realistic. For more, at this week's Sea Air Space Conference, Tom Temin spoke with an Air Force synthetic training officer with the Air Combat Command, Major Joseph Silverio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Customs and Border Protection wants to improve its detection of illegal and dangerous shipments coming to U.S. shores. And simplify procedures for low-value, low-risk packages. It's asking industry for help it expand what the agency calls the Section 321 Data Pilot. The Federal Drive got details from CBP's executive director of trade policy and programs, Brandon Lord. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The General Services Administration is weeks away from releasing the solicitation for the next great multiple award contract, OASIS-plus. The final request for proposals will be a culmination of thousands of comments and feedback from industry and government and two draft solicitations. Tiffany Hixson is the assistant commissioner for the Office of Professional Services and Human Capital Categories in the GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service. She tells executive editor Jason Miller about how the final RFP will reflect the last 10 months of work to get OASIS-plus correct. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of The Federal Drive with Tom Temin: Simulated pilot training has come a long way. How Customs and Border Protection hopes to streamline inspections of import shipments. How the armed services are trying to tackle the problem of sexual assaults and mental health overall within the ranks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of The Federal Drive with Tom Temin: NASA explores the future of an airspace filled with flying taxis. Lessons from one big agency on how to get out from under technical debt. Congress is on a long recess, so nothing too bad can happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not for lack of things to do is Congress on a two week recess. But the first three months of the 118th Congress have produced some results of note. The Federal Drive got a quick review, and a look at what's ahead from Bloomberg Government deputy news director Loren Duggan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aviation is changing thanks to the emergence of new types of manned and unmanned aircraft. NASA's Advanced Air Mobility Mission seeks, in its words, to help emerging aviation markets operate safely. The program pulls in many public and private partners. Joining the Federal Drive with a flyover view, NASA research and test pilot Gerrit Everson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices