The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

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A new proposed FAR rule is trying to fix one of the government’s most persistent data problems, figuring out exactly what needs to be protected. Jul 01, 2026

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A revised FAR proposal now out for comment aims to unify how civilian agencies define and safeguard controlled unclassified information in contracts, reflecting industry pushback on earlier drafts while addressing long‑standing gaps that left contractors navigating a patchwork of policies. Here to walk us through the details is Zach Prince, a partner at Haynes Boone.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Agencies award $179B to small firms in 2025, down from 2024 Jun 30, 2026

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Despite all the turmoil in federal contracting over the last year, agencies surpassed the 23% governmentwide goal for awards to small businesses in fiscal 2025. The Small Business Administration said last Thursday that agencies awarded 28% of all prime contracts to small firms last year. While agencies reached the overall goal, the total dollars going to small businesses dropped to $179 billion last year from $183.5 billion in 2024. For more on SBA's 2025 small business scorecard, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now to discuss.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Government leaders reflect on past and future of public service Jun 30, 2026

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Leaders across all levels of government convened last week at the Library of Congress in downtown Washington, D.C, for an event celebrating public service. As the U.S. approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, the ceremony sparked inspiration for the next generation of government leaders. Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman was at the event and she files this report.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The "Father of the Nuclear Navy" is still influencing modern day leaders Jun 30, 2026

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Admiral Hyman G. Rickover had a huge task, development a naval nuclear propulsion program that will use the technology efficiently and safely for years to come. Now known as the "Father of Nuclear Navy," it is safe to say that mission was accomplished. During his career however, he brought many into his sphere of influence and advised many other federal leaders and even presidents about nuclear power to make sure it gets the care and attention it needs. Now one of his long time assistants has written a book about the life and career of the admiral, who I jumped at the chance to speak with, seeing as my own grandfather served under him in the U.S. Navy. I had the pleasure of speaking with Joann DiGennaro, who is the co-founder and now president of the Center for Excellence in Education, an organization the admiral himself created.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Tuesday, June 30, 2026 Jun 30, 2026

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Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

The "Father of the Nuclear Navy" is still influencing modern day leaders
Two trends in the TSP don’t seem to line up, but they might actually be the same story
The government is rewriting the rulebook for how it buys and the changes are coming fast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two trends in the TSP don’t seem to line up, but they might actually be the same story Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Net contributions are down and now negative. At the same time, the G Fund has lost its place as the dominant investment. Arthur Stein, Partner with Allworth Financial, says those shifts are connected, and together they point to a change in how the TSP is working for investors.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The government is rewriting the rulebook for how it buys and the changes are coming fast Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

A massive overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation is now moving through formal rulemaking, with the first set of proposed changes touching wide swaths of how contracts are planned, awarded and managed. The documents run longer than Moby Dick, and stakeholders have just 30 days to weigh in. Here to walk us through the key changes is Partner at Haynes Boone, Dan Ramish.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Pentagon is ramping up CMMC program, what does that mean for the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center Jun 29, 2026

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The Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center has long been a key cog in the Pentagon’s efforts to protect sensitive information from leaking to foreign adversaries. But the Pentagon is now ramping up a new evaluation regime under the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program. evaluating potentially tens of thousands of contractors that hold sensitive CUI. For more on what the CMMC program means for DIBCAC, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday talked with Nick DelRosso, the center’s director.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Food insecurity skyrockets among military families, MFAN survey finds Jun 29, 2026

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Food insecurity is on the rise among military families. And more than a third of currently serving families said they had less than $500 in savings. Those are some of the findings of the Military Family Advisory Network’s biennial survey . Over the years, the survey, which is the largest independent research effort focused on the military family population, has helped shape major policy and quality-of-life reforms. For more on the findings, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Dr. Gabby L'Esperance, Military Family Advisory Network’s vice president of research and evaluation.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Postal Service has the authority to expand into government services, so why hasn’t it acted? Jun 29, 2026

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With USPS under financial pressure, expanding into new government services could offer a path forward. But despite having the authority to do more, that effort hasn’t moved much beyond passport processing. A new report from the Postal Service’s inspector general points to a lack of strategy and a fragmented approach inside the organization. David Garcia, Research Analyst with the Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General, is here to walk us through the details.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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