Fed Gov Today

In this episode of Fed Gov Today , Francis Rose sits down with Jim Kaplan, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, to explore how the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is modernizing to meet the evolving needs of federal employees and service members. From mobile app growth to overseas outreach and educational tools, Kaplan reveals how the TSP is becoming more user-...

In this episode of Fed Gov Today , Francis Rose welcomes Kshmendra Paul, one of the federal government’s most influential voices in data strategy, to reflect on two decades of evolving federal data policy and implementation. Paul, who has served as the Chief Data Officer at the VA, Program Manager for the Information Sharing Environment (ISE), and in key roles at the Department of Energy and the D...

Today, Alissa Czyz, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) , joins Francis to expose a critical, costly challenge facing the Defense Department: mismanaged real property. Alissa shares how the Pentagon oversees a staggering portfolio of more than 700,000 facilities valued at $2.2 trillion, but a lack of consistent data across the military serv...

Today, former NSA Technical Director and Synack co-founder, Mark Kuhr, breaks down the rapid evolution of generative AI, agentic AI, and their deep impact on cybersecurity across government. Mark explains that the proliferation of AI tools, like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, creates urgent new risks for agencies around data control and network security. He stresses the importance of securing sensit...

Today, we dive deep into the critical shifts happening in defense acquisition strategies. Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Nick Guertin , joins the program to unpack the Defense Department’s new guidance mandating a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to building military capabilities. Nick shares behind-the-scenes insights on how modularity and open standards aren't just technical bu...

The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube . Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or anytime at FedGovToday.com .

The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube . Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or anytime at FedGovToday.com .

Today we dive into the transformative potential of a new executive order that could finally shake up the federal acquisition system. Francis is joined by Stan Soloway, President and CEO of Celero Strategies and former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Reform, for an insightful conversation on what the executive order really means—and why it could be a rare turning point after decad...

Today, the spotlight is on zero trust—not just as a cybersecurity strategy, but as a cultural and operational shift across government. With the Department of Defense aiming to fully operationalize its zero trust strategy by 2027, the pressure is on agencies to go beyond checklists and truly embed zero trust principles into their missions. Joining Francis is Ryan Zacha, Solution Architect at Booz A...

Today’s conversation turns to one of the most pressing and controversial issues facing the Department of Defense: a sweeping mandate for workforce reduction. Former Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Dov Zakheim joins the show to unpack the urgent memo issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which gives military services and agencies just two weeks to analyze and recommend personnel cuts....

We dive deep into the future of the Defense Department’s cyber and technology workforce with retired Lieutenant General Susan Lawrence, former Army CIO/G-6 and current President and CEO of AFCEA International. As one of the key leaders at the recent 2025 Cyber Workforce Summit, General Lawrence shares exclusive insights into the event’s genesis, its explosive growth, and the collaborative efforts...

Francis welcomes Dawn Simpson, Director of Financial Management and Assurance at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), to discuss the IRS's notable improvements in internal controls and the reliability of its financial data. Dawn outlines how the IRS addressed 21 prior-year deficiencies in information systems, leading to the removal of a previously reported significant deficiency. She e...

Former GSA Administrator, Emily Murphy , joins Francis to break down the implications of an executive order tasking GSA to once again become the government’s central buying authority. Murphy shares her insights on what it will take to successfully transition procurement functions from multiple agencies into GSA, including the structural, personnel, and cultural shifts required to make it work. Fra...

It’s business as usual at one key government agency—even as the federal workforce faces uncertainty. Jim Kaplan, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, joins the show to talk about a major milestone: the G Fund’s 38th birthday. Kaplan reflects on the TSP’s growth from its humble beginnings to serving over 7.2 million participants with $900 billion in assets...

The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube . Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or anytime at FedGovToday.com .

Retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy and current CEO of the Navy League, Mike Stevens, joins Francis to deliver a stark message: the nation owes it to its sea service members to give them the tools, funding, and support they need—not only to accomplish the mission but to come home safely.  Stevens dives deep into the persistent challenges the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard face, fro...

Big changes are on the horizon for the FedRAMP cloud security program — and the reasons behind them are more than just procedural. Former Acting FedRAMP Director, Brian Conrad, joins Francis to break down what’s evolving, what’s staying the same, and why the ultimate goal is about delivering real security outcomes for federal data. Brian shares insights into the most common pain points industry pa...

The face of identity verification is changing—literally. Arun Vemury, Senior Advisor for Biometric and Identity Technologies at the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate , joins the show to break down the Remote Identity Validation Rally, an ambitious initiative tackling the growing challenge of verifying digital identities in an age of deepfakes, AI-generated fraud, a...

We’re getting real about cloud strategy in government. If agencies are moving to the cloud—and most are—it’s time to stop treating it like a buzzword and start managing it like a business. Vijay D’Souza, Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) , joins Francis to share insights from a brand-new guide that compiles 19 leading cloud practices...

The General Services Administration is making a bold move to centralize procurement across the federal government, but not everyone is on board. In this episode of Fed Gov Today , former Pennsylvania Chief Procurement Officer, David Yarkin , joins Francis to discuss the challenges and opportunities of strategic sourcing. Yarkin shares insights from his time in Pennsylvania, where similar efforts l...

We’re diving into a software problem that even DOGE would raise an eyebrow at. Federal agencies are sitting on a mountain of idle software licenses, sometimes with more subscriptions than employees to use them. Former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Chief Technology Officer, Bob Gourley , joins Francis to discuss how agencies can cut waste, streamline software procurement, and adopt smarter lice...

The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube . Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or anytime at FedGovToday.com .

The latest executive order on Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCOs) leaves as much unsaid as it does stated—and that could have major implications for the future of federal HR leadership. Former DHS Chief Human Capital Officer, Jeff Neal , joins Francis to break down what the EO doesn’t say about turning CHCOs into political appointees and why that matters. Jeff shares his own experience transition...

Former DHS Chief Information Security Officer, Ken Bible, joins the show to discuss how agencies like DHS, FEMA, and CISA are navigating cyber workforce challenges under the Cyber Talent Management System (CTMS ). He highlights the risks of attrition in an increasingly competitive cybersecurity landscape and explains why investing in and retaining cyber talent is crucial for securing operational t...

The  Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube . Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or anytime at FedGovToday.com .