The Buzz with ACT-IAC

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Why do Government Shutdowns Happen? with Philip Joyce Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

This fall, our federal government has teetered on the edge of shutdown more than once before a last-minute agreement could be reached. As of this episode, yet another Continuing Resolution has extended the day of reckoning to either mid-January or early February, depending on the agency.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time discord in Congress has disrupted government operations, and it's not likely to be the last. While the process of Congressional appropriations is byzantine and wonky, it has enormous implications for the basic function and effectiveness of government. Shutdowns, even the threat of shutdowns, bring significant negative impacts to the American public, whether they recognize it or not.
This week, we're joined by Philip Joyce, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. He'll take us into the weeds of how and why Congressional budgeting works (or rather doesn't work), the effects of shutdowns, and whether we can prevent this kind of instability in the future.

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Intro/Outro Music: See a Brighter Day/Gloria Tells
Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
(Episodes 1-159: Intro/Outro Music: Focal Point/Young Community
Courtesy of Epidemic Sound)

ICYMI: Kiran Ahuja on the Future at OPM Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

This year, ACT-IAC's Imagine Nation ELC was our largest conference ever, with more than 1200 in-person attendees! We also had more sessions than ever, and The Buzz is excited to bring a selection of recordings from this year's event to our podcast audience.
We're kicking things off with a lively discussion between OPM Director Kiran Ahuja and her colleague Melvin Brown, who serves as the Deputy CIO.

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Federal Insights Exchange: Acquisitions at the VA with Dr. Angela Billups Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

This week, the Buzz is partnering with ACT-IAC's Federal Insights Exchange (FIE). The FIE program hosts short-form conversations between industry and agency leaders to share success stories, challenges, and priorities.
Our guest host Dr. Allan Burman, President of Jefferson Solutions at the Jefferson Consulting Group and member of the Department of Veterans Affairs FIE, sat down with Dr. Angela Billups, Executive Director for the Office of Acquisitions and Logistics at the VA. Together, they discuss Dr. Billup's career journey into procurement, her perspective on how the acquisitions field can improve, and what the future holds for the VA.
If you liked this episode, the Federal Insights Exchange is always hosting more sessions. With 15 agencies represented, there's a whole range of topics and learning opportunities available - but only for ACT-IAC members! Learn more here.

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Closing the Digital Divide for the Quinault Indian Nation with Tyson Johnston Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

Among America's Indigenous communities, the legacy of settler colonialism has left deep scars. As they confront disparities in health outcomes, economic development, and political attention, Tribal governments must routinely do more with less to provide necessary services to their people.
In addition, accelerating resilient infrastructure threatens local ecologies, which many tribes rely on both culturally and economically, in unpredictable ways. Indigenous leaders have no small task before them in preparing for the future.
The Quinault Indian Nation (QIN), located in Washington State along the Pacific Ocean, has undertaken a series of ambitious projects to address some of the unique challenges faced by Tribal Nations like themselves.
To discuss further, The Buzz is joined by Tyson Johnston, Self-Governance Executive Director for the QIN and Chairperson of the Board for Toptana Technologies, a QIN-owned enterprise seeking to bring high-speed broadband to Quinault territory.
Resources:
Ebook on the QIN and the Digital Divide
More info on Toptana

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The Art of Government Memes with Joseph Galbo Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is a small government agency with an important charge - to research and communicate to the public the personal safety risks of the everyday products that we buy and use.
But our cluttered information landscape makes any sort of public communication challenging - let alone for (traditionally) dry messages from public sector agencies with limited budgets. How can the government get people's attention?
This week's guest has some ideas. Joseph Galbo, Social Media Specialist at the CPSC, has helped pioneer some novel strategies to increase the visibility of the agency and further its mission. With little more than some stock photos, an appreciation for internet culture and the media landscape, and a willingness to think outside the box, Joseph and the CPSC team have created a unique online brand for the agency - all of which serves the greater purpose of informing and protecting the American public.
Resources:
CPSC's Website

CPSC Memes at the Library of Congress
We're Safety Now Haven't We (Full Album)
Protect Ya Noggin (Skatepark Safety Remix) by BlakeReid

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ICYMI: A Cybersecurity Breakdown with Yemi Oshinnaiye Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so this week we present a session from ACT-IAC's 2023 Cybersecurity Summit.
TSA CIO Yemi Oshinnaiye kicked off our summit with a broad-ranging discussion of his experience in cyber, why cybersecurity matters, and how the IT community can confront the cyber challenges of the present and future.

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From the Archives: The First USDS Administrator Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

This week, The Buzz presents a session from ELC 2014.
Mikey Dickerson initially came to the federal government on a temporary basis as part of the team assigned to rescue the unfortunate Healthcare.gov rollout in 2013. Less than a year later, he was tapped to serve as the first administrator of the fledgling US Digital Service, which sought to bring a modern service design and delivery approach to the rest of the federal government.
Just months after his appointment, Mikey sat down with Francis Rose to briefly discuss the origins and progress of the new agency.
This conversation then led into a panel discussion on government service delivery with other members of the federal government.
Panelists:
Kevin Cooke, former Deputy CIO at the Department of Housing and Urban Development
Kevin Mahoney, former Chief Human Capital Officer at the Department of Commerce
Marina (Martin) Nitze, former CTO, Department of Veterans Affairs
David Robinson, former Associate Adminstrator, Mission Support Bureau at FEMA
Melisa Starinsky, former Chancellor of the VA Acquisition Academy

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ICYMI: The New Employer-Employee Compact Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

This week, The Buzz presents a session from our first ever Future Evolution of the Workforce Forum.

For decades, the Government has competed with private industry for talent by offering what were generally perceived to be better benefits, job stability, improved working environments and a greater sense of fulfillment via a sense of purpose built around agency mission. Unfortunately, workers entering the job force today do not universally perceive government employment as offering those benefits.
New entrants into the job market have a very different perception of their government than previous generations, and new ideas about the relationships between employers and employees, and about how work fits into their lives and lifestyles. Agencies failing to recognize and address those changes will not succeed in attracting, hiring, or retaining the world-class workforce they need to accomplish their missions.
This panel will discuss the expectations of new entrants to the job market and what OMB, GSA and some agencies are doing to meet them.
Speakers:
Joe Paiva (Moderator) - Creator and Host of Federal News Network's "A Deeper Look"
Javier Inclán - Assistant Inspector General for Management and CIO at the National Science Foundation OIG
Rocio Bauer - Deputy Assistant Secretary of Army (Data, Engineering and Software)
Tony Brannum -Associate CIO at USDA

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The Inflation Reduction Act Progress Report with Grace Smith Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

Last month marked the 1-year anniversary of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. The somewhat simple name belies the breadth and scope of this enormous piece of legislation.
Among other changes like tax code and Medicare reform, the IRA is also the most comprehensive piece of US climate policy in history, and it contains a dizzying number of new programs and incentives that seek to reorient the US industrial base and economy towards green infrastructure.
Despite the bill's potential impact, a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll revealed in August that 71% of Americans surveyed know "little to nothing" about the IRA. This week on The Buzz, we're trying to change that.
Our guest is Grace Smith, an attorney with the Environmental Defense Fund who, along with colleagues at Columbia Law School, maintains the Inflation Reduction Act Tracker. She’ll help get us up to speed on what's in the IRA, how implementation is proceeding, and what’s coming next.
Also check out Rewiring America's IRA Savings Calculator!

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ICYMI: Resilient Infrastructure Risks to National Security Sep 06, 2023

Show notes

This week, The Buzz presents a session from our 2023 Resilient Infrastructure Summit.
DoD, DHS, and the State Department have long recognized that resilient infrastructure’s impacts - including sea level rise, weather-related challenges to installations and operations, and forced migration - can significantly threaten our national security. In January of 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14008 that declared resilient infrastructure to be an essential element of national security and directed agencies to integrate it considerations into their operations. This discussion will highlight the science, risks, and realities that DoD, the Coast Guard, and the Statement Department are wrestling with as they implement adaptation plans and frameworks and incorporate consideration of resilient infrastructure into future planning.
Speakers:
John Conger (Moderator) - Director Emeritus, Center for Resilient Infrastructure& Security
Chelsea Cervantes de Blois, Ph.D. - Resilient Infrastructure Security Analyst, U.S. Department of State
Candace Nachman - Senior Oceans Policy and Program Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard
Ester Sperling - Senior Resilient Infrastructure Advisor, U.S. Air Force

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