The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

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DoD launches pilots to overhaul EEO processes, speed up complaint investigations Aug 24, 2026

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The Defense Department has launched three pilot programs that promise to overhaul the Pentagon’s equal employment opportunity processes. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis has more.

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Golden Dome cost estimate draws Pentagon pushback Aug 24, 2026

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The price tag for the Pentagon’s ambitious Golden Dome missile defense system has become a point of contention between the Defense Department and the Congressional Budget Office. CBO says the vision laid out by President Trump last year could cost taxpayers at least $1.2 trillion over two decades, but Pentagon officials have pushed back on that estimate and questioned some of the assumptions behind it. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen joins me with more.

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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is revisiting decades-old radiation protection standards, prompting debate Aug 24, 2026

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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing updates to the framework that has guided radiation protection policy for decades. The proposal has generated discussion about how regulators should balance public safety, worker protections and the practical application of radiation standards. For the commission's, I'm joined by NRC Chairman Ho Nieh.

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Congress may be out of town, but the institution never really shuts down Aug 24, 2026

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Congress is out of town for the August recess, but the institution keeps running. From Senate procedures most people never notice to questions about AI, ethics and the work that continues when lawmakers leave Washington, Mitchell Miller, capitol hill correspondent for WTOP, takes us behind the scenes on Capitol Hill.

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Military housing has been under scrutiny for years, but the challenge may be bigger than any one landlord Aug 24, 2026

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Military housing has been the subject of congressional hearings, investigations and reform efforts for years. Yet many of the same complaints continue to surface. A new report examines whether the way the system is overseen may be part of the reason. Joining me now to share her latest reporting is René Kladzyk, senior investigator at the Project on Government Oversight.

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The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Monday, August 24, 2026 Aug 24, 2026

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Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

Military housing has been under scrutiny for years, yet many of the same complaints continue to surface. A closer look suggests the challenge may be bigger than any one landlord or property
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is revisiting decades-old radiation protection standards, prompting debate over what level of protection is appropriate
Congress may be out of town, but the institution never really shuts down. We'll take a look at what's happening behind the scenes while lawmakers are away

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CMMC review: DoD’s inconsistent CUI marking continues to plague program Aug 21, 2026

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There are a lot of opinions about how the Pentagon could improve the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program. But most organizations agree the Defense Department could do a much better job marking controlled unclassified information. They say CUI marking continues to be a critical problem driving CMMC costs and confusion. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.

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Medicare and Medicaid looks to move beyond risk-based cybersecurity Aug 21, 2026

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is moving beyond just compliance to risk-based cybersecurity, with a focus on continuous monitoring and attack surface management. It’s a transition officials say is meant to make the agency’s defensive posture more threat-informed. Keith Busby is the chief information security officer at CMS. He talked about the transition with Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday.

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The government is taking a closer look at who is really performing work under small-business contracts Aug 21, 2026

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Recent enforcement actions are giving contractors a clearer picture of what federal investigators are looking for in small-business set-aside programs. Many of the cases turn on a simple question: who is actually controlling and performing the work? Here with insights is William Hart of Rogers Joseph O'Donnell.

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A surprising source is helping uncover compromised government websites Aug 21, 2026

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Federal agencies work hard to secure their online presence, but some website compromises are being uncovered through an unlikely source. Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Greg Pollock, director of research and insights at UpGuard, about what those discoveries reveal about the challenge of keeping track of sprawling government web infrastructure.

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