The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

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As threats increase, Supreme Court justices make the case on Capitol Hill for security funding Jul 24, 2026

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As concerns about threats against judges continue to grow, members of the Supreme Court took the unusual step of personally advocating for additional security funding on Capitol Hill. That appearance may say as much about the pressures facing the judiciary as the dollars being requested. Joining me with her perspective is Isa Ulloa, founder and CEO of the Public Service Alliance.

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What if military readiness starts at the kitchen table? Jul 24, 2026

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For years, policymakers have looked at military family issues through separate lenses; housing, employment, health care or mental health. But a new study suggests families experience those challenges as an integrated whole. And when those pressures build, the consequences extend beyond the household and into military readiness itself. Here to walk through the details is Gabby L'Esperance, Vice President of Research and Evaluation at Military Family Advisory Network.

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What's the right balance between holding employees accountable and helping them succeed? Jul 24, 2026

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The administration says recent personnel changes are intended to make government more effective and improve accountability. But as agencies move from policy announcements to implementation, questions remain about consistency, fairness and the day-to-day realities facing the managers and employees who make government work. John Hatton of NARFE joins me to help us see the forest and not just the trees.

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Two airports opt into TSA’s new privatization model Jul 23, 2026

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The Transportation Security Administration is pushing a new privatized security screening model called Gold-Plus. Now some airports are starting to opt into that initiative. TSA and the airports say it will help modernize airport security screening. But TSA employees are worried about losing their federal jobs. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.

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Army overhauls civilian workforce, looking to speed up removals Jul 23, 2026

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The Army is overhauling how it manages its civilian workforce, issuing a directive that aims to make it easier to reward top performers while speeding up the removal of employees with unacceptable performance. The policy touches everything from disciplinary actions and incentive awards, to leave policies and voluntary separation programs. But those who are up for removal will have less time to defend their work than in the past. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen joins us with more.

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When is a dataset truly dead? On the Data Dish, we're checking the pulse of America's public data systems Jul 23, 2026

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Federal datasets don't always die dramatically. Sometimes they lose a variable here, an update there, and slowly drift into the statistical afterlife. In this installment of the Data Dish, we take a closer look at which federal datasets have truly flatlined and which are merely hanging on. Joining me are Denice Ross and Chris Dick. Denice is Director of Federal Data Policy at the Federation of American Scientists. Chris is a data scientist, demographer, and founder of Demographic Analytics Advisors.

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The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Thursday, July 23, 2026 Jul 23, 2026

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Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

When is a dataset truly dead? And when is it just being kept alive by a stubborn server and a little hope? On the Data Dish, we're checking the pulse of America's public data systems
After years of digital transformation efforts, some experts say government still lacks a common vision for what digital success actually looks like
Nobody likes talking about long-term care. The problem is that waiting often means making major decisions with less time and less information

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After years of digital transformation efforts, does government know what digital success looks like? Jul 23, 2026

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Government has spent more than a decade building digital-service teams. But a new retrospective argues that many successes depended on workarounds rather than lasting institutional change. The authors say the next challenge is creating durable systems that can consistently deliver results and help agencies make better decisions. Here to walk us through their recommendations are Laura Sigelmann and Merici Vinton of the Federation of American Scientists.

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Nobody likes talking about long-term care, but waiting may cost more Jul 23, 2026

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The best decisions are usually made before a crisis arrives. Long-term care planning is a good example. Families that understand their options early have more flexibility than those forced to decide in the middle of a health emergency. Here with some perspective and advice on preparing before the pressure arrives, is certified financial planner Thiago Glieger of RMG Advisors.

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General Dynamics protests DISA’s Enclave contract expansion Jul 22, 2026

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General Dynamics Information Technology is challenging the Defense Information Systems Agency’s decision to expand Leidos’ $11 billion Defense Enclave Services contract to include the combatant commands. The company argues that the agency should have competed the new work. Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis is here with more details.

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