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We hope to enlighten and enliven your week with news and insightful, entertaining guests all on the topic of government management.
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In this special Labor Day pop-up episode of the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert reflect on the importance of the labor movement, tease some big news for the Navigators family, and preview what’s ahead as Congress returns to town. With the fiscal year’s end approaching, expect debates over rescissions, reconciliation, the NDAA, and the President’s Management Agenda—plus the looming possibility of a government shutdown.
This week, the GovNavigators welcome Jason Miller, Executive Editor at Federal News Network, for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of federal acquisition and IT leadership. From the long-awaited FAR overhaul and GSA’s contracting shifts to the evolving role of the federal CIO, Jason unpacks what these changes mean for agencies, industry, and small businesses alike.
Show Notes
EO: Improving our Nation Through Better Design
Events on the GovNavigators' Radar
August 25, 2025: A Hole in One with ACT-IAC
September 16-18, 2025: Partnership for Public Service’s GovHR Conference
September 18, 2025: GAIN 2025 (Marketing Conference)
This week on the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert sit down with George Guszcza, President and CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences, along with Tom Scott and Paul Firth of Alvarez & Marsal, for a timely discussion on modernizing federal real estate. From shifting work patterns and aging infrastructure to public-private partnerships, our guests highlight the challenges and opportunities facing agencies today.
Show Notes
OPM Award Guidance
Jason Miller Op-Ed: DHS Contract Reviews
DOJ Guidance
New Grants Guidance
Events on the GovNavigators' Radar
Celonis: Public Sector Process Intelligence Day (08/19/25)
Data Foundation: Virtual AI Forum: Data and Policy in the Age of AI (08/20/25)
ACT-IAC: A Hole in One (08/25/25)
This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam meet with Darren Ash, former federal CIO of multiple agencies, most recently at the Department of the Interior. Ash shares wisdom gained over an expansive career in government, including how IT innovation can transform public service.
Show Notes
NEW EO: Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking
GSA: Adding Leading AI Software to Award Schedules
GAO: Ruling on DOT Impoundment
NIST: Updated Digital Identity Guidelines
FOR ADAM'S FELLOW EM-DASH LOVERS: Wisdom from Poe
Events on the GovNavigator’s Radar
August 19, 2025: Celonis’ Public Sector Process Intelligence Day
August 20, 2025: Data Foundation’s AI Virtual Forum: Data & Policy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Nominate presenters by 7/31 here; register here.)
Karen Lee, co-founder of FedsForward, joins the GovNavigators to talk about her journey through federal service, the challenges of transitioning in and out of government, and how her organization is building scalable tools to help civil servants navigate career change.
Show Notes
Upcoming Events
August 5, 2025
August 19, 2025
August 20, 2025
This week, the GovNavigators sit down with Brian Friel, Co-Founder of BD-Squared, for a discussion on how federal procurement looks in the age of consolidation. An expert in procurement data, Friel offers great insight into how past efficiency efforts have led us to this administration's push to rid the federal government of duplicative and unnecessary contracts.
Show Notes:
Events on the GovNavigators' Radar
July 28-29th: AGA’s Professional Development Training
July 30th: Rare HSGAC markup scheduled
August 5th: Data Foundation’s Evaluating for Efficiency: Lessons from GAO and IGs
August 19th: Celonis’ Public Sector Process Intelligence Day
August 20th: Data Foundation’s AI Virtual Forum: Data & Policy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
This week on the GovNavigators Show, Nick Mastronardi, founder and CEO of Polco and a former Air Force economist, joins the show to talk about transforming local government with data. Nick shares his journey from national security to civic tech, explains how cities are using performance metrics to make better decisions, and reveals what 400 jurisdictions have taught him about trust, ROI, and the power of listening at scale.
Show Notes
This week on the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert dive in with Eric Leckey, former Associate Administrator for Mission Support at FEMA, about the state of emergency response management. With hurricane season upon us and the administration considering big changes to the agency, Eric reveals how FEMA has adapted overtime, and offers valuable insight into what may be on the agency's horizon.
Show Notes
Events on the GovNavigators' Radar
July 17th: GovExec Government Efficiency Summit
July 17th: Shared Services Leadership Coalition Webinar
This week on the GovNavigators Show, former IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel joins us to unpack the Trump administration’s rapid-fire push to modernize the IRS—and what gets lost when speed outruns strategy. Drawing on decades of federal service, including senior roles at OMB and DOJ, Danny reflects on his team’s detailed IRS transformation plan, contrasts it with today’s approach, and raises big questions about transparency, workforce cuts, and cybersecurity risks. Plus, a bonus deep dive into the future of financial reporting under M-25-30, the limits of paperwork-based oversight, and why civics literacy might be the government’s most underrated reform tool.
Show Notes
OMB: M-25-30
IRS: IRS FY25 Budget Justification
The GovNavigators prepare for Independence Day weekend in this special pop-up episode of the GovNavigators Show. Unfortunately, leadership in Congress likely won't be enjoying the fireworks, as the administration insists everyone stay in town until the "Big, Beautiful Bill" is on the President's desk. Meanwhile, Russ Vought calls for a shakeup in federal auditing, and HUD gets a new headquarters.
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