The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

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Military mission success depends on understanding what people can do Jul 10, 2026

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Getting the right person into the right role has long been one of the military's toughest workforce challenges. The Pentagon is testing new ways to identify individual capabilities and use them in assignment and career decisions. The approach focuses on measurable performance rather than credentials alone. Joining me to explain what's changed to support this approach is Senior Scientist and Portfolio Lead at Aptima, Julia Brown.

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DoD watchdog urges more transparency in daycare abuse cases Jul 09, 2026

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A new Defense Department inspector general report finds that the military services have policies for reviewing allegations of abuse at on-base child development centers, but they don't always carry them out the same way. Investigators found inconsistent communication between Family Advocacy Programs and child care officials, leaving some installations without timely information needed to make staffing decisions or update parents. The watchdog warns those gaps can keep classrooms understaffed, reduce child care capacity and ultimately affect military readiness. Joining Eric White now to break down the report and what it means for military families is Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen.

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OPM finalizes performance review overhaul for federal employees Jul 09, 2026

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An overhaul to the federal workforce’s performance management system is now set in stone. A final rule from the Office of Personnel Management removes a previous ban on using forced distribution system. It also prohibits employees from challenging the ratings they receive. OPM's new rule marks the first major update to performance management in decades. Here with more, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.

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VHA is modernizing, but the real test is whether veterans and providers get a better experience Jul 09, 2026

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For years, VA modernization conversations have focused on systems and software. John Bartrum says the more important question is what veterans and clinicians experience when those systems either help care flow or get in the way. I spoke with the VA's departing under secretary for health about where technology can improve care delivery across the nation's largest healthcare system.

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Federal agencies are being asked to move faster, but speed starts with something more basic: a good business forecast. Jul 09, 2026

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When agencies define requirements clearly, industry can respond with better solutions and fewer surprises. When they don't, costs rise and timelines slip. The Professional Services Council has been measuring those trends and recently issued their new acquisition scorecard. PSC CEO Jim Carroll joins me now with more details.

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The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Thursday, July 9, 2026 Jul 09, 2026

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Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

The Veterans Health Administration is modernizing everything from clinical systems to care coordination. But the real test is whether veterans and providers actually experience a better healthcare system
Federal agencies are being asked to move faster, but speed starts with something more basic: a good business forecast

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Pentagon consistently failed to analyze the impacts of civilian workforce reductions Jul 08, 2026

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The Defense Department significantly reduced the size of its civilian workforce in 2025. The department however, started shedding its employees prior to 2025. A government watchdog found that the Pentagon didn’t consistently analyze the impacts of these reductions, either during the 2025 downsizing or in prior years. It also found that the Pentagon has no plan to assess lessons learned from its 2025 workforce reduction efforts. For more, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Government Accountability Office’s director of defense capabilities and management Kristy Williams.

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DHS IG investigating reassignments of senior staff under Noem Jul 08, 2026

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Last year, hundreds of Department of Homeland Security employees were reassigned to different jobs. Some were shifted over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to bolster the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Now, the DHS inspector general is looking at whether those reassignments were done legally. For more, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.

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The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Wednesday, July 8, 2026 Jul 08, 2026

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Today on "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton"

NIST's National Vulnerability Database has largely been a helpful resource, but needs some help to continue that
Many pointed to the policy issues with the proposed NDA's the Trump administration wants federal employees to sign, but what about the constitutional factors?
Some federal careers are built to end early, and that changes everything about how you plan the rest of your life

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Many point to the policy issues with the proposed NDAs for federal employees, but what about the constitutional factors? Jul 08, 2026

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The Office of Personnel Management's proposal to institute a standardized NDA that federal workers could be required to sign as a condition of employment has made for much discussion in federal workforce circles. While many are concerned with the chilling effect it could have on workers, some are wondering about the possible violation of first amendment rights. One of them is the organization Protect Democracy, which filed comments of its own opposing the measure. To get a read on its view, I spoke with Jules Torti who is counsel for the organization.

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