The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

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Three initiatives causing industry new concerns about DoD acquisition reforms Aug 31, 2026

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The Defense Department’s third message to industry since early May is prompting many contractors to strongly doubt whether Secretary Pete Hegseth’s goal of revitalizing the defense industrial base still is a priority. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg’s August 18 memo on cost and pricing is the latest example in the last three months of the Pentagon adding more compliance and complexity to contractors working for the DoD.

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Trump officially plans for civilian federal pay freeze in 2027 Aug 31, 2026

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Most civilian federal employees will not see a pay raise in 2027. An alternative pay plan from President Trump recommends a nearly governmentwide pay freeze. Exceptions will be carved out, though, to give larger raises to federal law enforcement and military personnel. Here with the latest, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.

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The Naval Postgraduate School has a new high performance AI computing system from NVIDIA Aug 31, 2026

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NVIDIA donated an advanced AI computing system to the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) through the NPS Foundation, which installed it along with funding for complex research projects and operational problem-solving supporting the NPS-NVIDIA Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. The new platform gives NPS students and faculty access to frontier AI computing power and operates within the school’s existing infrastructure.

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Congress returns next week faces a mountain of legislation, and fewer easy options available Aug 31, 2026

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Congress has no shortage of fiscal issues waiting when lawmakers return next week. What may be in shorter supply is the flexibility Congress has traditionally used to put together deals and postpone hard decisions. For a closer look, I'm joined by Loren Duggan, deputy news director at Bloomberg Government.

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A new review of AI use finds the postal industry is still sorting out what works at scale Aug 31, 2026

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Postal operators around the world are testing artificial intelligence in everything from package processing to customer service. A new review from the USPS Inspector General looks at where those efforts are producing measurable results and where the technology remains more promise than practice. Here to walk us through those findings is Rick Schadelbauer, research specialist with the USPS Office of Inspector General.

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The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Monday, August 31, 2026 Aug 31, 2026

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Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

As the Defense Department looks for ways to build expertise in artificial intelligence, the Naval Postgraduate School has received a new high-performance AI computing system from NVIDIA
As agencies and businesses look for practical applications of artificial intelligence, a new review finds the postal industry is still sorting out what works at scale
Congress returns next week facing a growing debt burden, pressure to address Social Security and another funding deadline, all while lawmakers have fewer easy options available

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More troops reported sexual assaults last year as incidents fell Aug 28, 2026

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The Pentagon says sexual assaults in the military decreased in 2025, with an estimated 20,500 service members experiencing unwanted sexual contact. At the same time, more victims reported what happened to them. But advocates say the numbers may not tell the whole story, arguing that survivors still face serious barriers to reporting and getting justice. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen is here to dig into the new report.

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Cyber vulnerabilities posed by AI push agencies to do more to get out from under legacy technology debt Aug 28, 2026

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Adversaries’ use of AI to find new cyber vulnerabilities or increase the speed of their attacks means agencies have to do more to get out from under their legacy technology debt. This summer, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued a new binding operational directive laying out how agencies should prioritize high-risk vulnerabilities for more immediate action, while deferring lower-risk vulnerabilities. Chris Butera is the acting deputy executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA. He talked about the directive and the challenge with Federal News Network’s Jason Miller.

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A Navy nurse is on a mission to improve trauma care across military medicine Aug 28, 2026

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Military medicine trains constantly for trauma care, but some of the tools and processes designed for adults don't always translate well to children. After identifying one of those gaps, Navy Cmdr. Emily Latimer led a research effort that found a better approach for administering blood to critically injured pediatric patients. That innovation earned her the Defense Health Agency Nursing Award for Evidence-Based Practice. Commander Lattimer joins me now to discuss what her team learned and what it says about readiness across military medicine.

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The most important retirement conversation you can have with your spouse may be the one neither of you wants to have Aug 28, 2026

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Most couples build a retirement plan around the assumption that they'll navigate retirement together. But every retirement plan eventually becomes a one-person plan. That's why financial planner Thiago Glieger says one of the most important acts of financial preparation is making sure a surviving spouse inherits a roadmap, not a maze of decisions, paperwork and uncertainty. He joins me now to talk through these crucial considerations.

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