The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

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Suicide prevention training is meant to protect service members, but the Pentagon can’t fully track whether it’s helping. Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Suicide prevention depends on reaching people early, but the military doesn’t always have clear visibility into whether its training is being completed or making a difference. A recent GAO review highlights gaps that go beyond compliance. We hear more from Rashmi Agarwal, Director, Defense Capabilities and Management at GAO.

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Life insurance is one of those benefits people tend to carry, but not always understand Jun 17, 2026

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A lot of people have life insurance, but that doesn’t always mean they know what it’s meant to cover or whether it would actually do what they expect. For federal employees, those questions often start with FEGLI and follow them into retirement. Here to help us sort through some key decision points is Tammy Flanagan, principal at Retire Federal.

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It’s being pitched as a simple way to build wealth early, but whether it works may depend on how it fits real life Jun 17, 2026

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So‑called “Trump Accounts” are being described as a way to give kids an early start on saving, but the real questions are how much value they deliver, and where they actually fit among the choices families already have. Here to help us sort out the considerations is the president of Armed Forces Mutual, Mike Meese.

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The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Wednesday, June 17, 2026 Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

Suicide prevention training is meant to protect service members, but the Pentagon can’t fully track who’s completing it or whether it’s helping
Life insurance is one of those benefits people tend to carry, but not always understand
It’s being pitched as a simple way to build wealth early, but whether it works may depend on how it fits real life

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

USDA employees facing relocation weigh whether to stay or go. Some are eligible for incentives either way Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

The Agriculture Department’s sweeping plans to relocate employees are coming into focus. Employees are starting to receive their relocation notices. In the coming weeks, they must decide whether to move to keep their jobs or quit the agency. At one impacted component staff are being offered incentives if they stay or go. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman has more.

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

DoD repositions the CDAO into the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering Jun 16, 2026

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The Defense Department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office has been in a period of transition lately. Several years after its creation, Pentagon leaders decided last year to fold the CDAO into the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering. Before that, the CDAO reported directly to the deputy secretary of Defense. Andrew Mapes is the acting principal deputy chief digital and AI officer. He talked with Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis about the realignment and how it’s positioning CDAO to deliver AI capabilities at scale.

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Everybody studies government contracting, can outsiders actually move it Jun 16, 2026

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There’s no shortage of analysis about how government contracting works and where it’s broken. What’s harder to pin down is who actually has the leverage to change it. The Baroni Center at George Mason is trying to move from research to influence, and Mike Derrios says that only works if you’re plugged directly into how the system really operates.

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Sovereign AI systems built by national governments are hard, expensive and absolutely necessary Jun 16, 2026

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As countries race to adopt artificial intelligence, the challenge is building capability they actually control, without falling behind or over‑relying on outside providers. Alan Webber, Program Vice President - National Security, Defense and Intelligence at IDC, tells us what it takes to get that right.

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Federal contracting is heading into a different kind of environment, more controlled, more structured and less forgiving Jun 16, 2026

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A series of changes across policy and regulation are reshaping the federal marketplace at the same time. Together, they point toward a system with tighter requirements and sharper expectations around performance and accountability. Here to help us understand the combined impact on the contracting community is Managing Partner at Centre Law and Consulting, Barbara Kinosky.

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 16, 2026 Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

Everybody studies government contracting, the open question is whether anyone outside the system can actually move it
Federal contracting is heading into a different kind of environment, more controlled, more structured and less forgiving
Sovereign AI, systems built by national governments that run on their own data, infrastructure and rules is hard, expensive and absolutely necessary

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