Shows / The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton provides expert insights on current events in the federal community. Read more interviews to keep up with daily news and analysis that affect the federal workforce. The Federal Drive is found at FederalNewsNetwork.com and 1500 AM in the Washington D.C. region.
Episodes
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
National security leaders gather to discuss the state of the defense-industrial base
As Washington heads into its summer lull, current and former national security leaders gathered Tuesday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
OPM offers incentives for healthcare and insurance employees to leave before Open Season
The Office of Personnel Management is giving many employees in its healthcare and insurance division another chance to accept voluntary incentives and leave…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
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.
A revised FAR proposal now out for comment aims to unify how civilian agencies define and safeguard controlled unclassified information in contracts…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton When it comes to personal security, knowing something is happening isn’t the same as knowing what to do about it…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The next test for the infrastructure investment and jobs act is whether it can deliver, not just distribute
Five years after the passage of the IIJA, attention is shifting from getting money out to making sure projects move and results show up. Oversight is finding…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
When it comes to personal security, knowing something is happening isn’t the same as knowing what to do about it
Security leaders are recalibrating how they read risk in a more fragmented environment. What used to be isolated signals now connect in ways that can change…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Agencies award $179B to small firms in 2025, down from 2024
Despite all the turmoil in federal contracting over the last year, agencies surpassed the 23% governmentwide goal for awards to small businesses in fiscal…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Government leaders reflect on past and future of public service
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 Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The "Father of the Nuclear Navy" is still influencing modern day leaders
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…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Tuesday, June 30, 2026
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…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The government is rewriting the rulebook for how it buys and the changes are coming fast
A massive overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation is now moving through formal rulemaking, with the first set of proposed changes touching wide swaths…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Two trends in the TSP don’t seem to line up, but they might actually be the same story
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…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Food insecurity skyrockets among military families, MFAN survey finds
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…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Pentagon is ramping up CMMC program, what does that mean for the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center
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…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Congress seemed close to resolving several key issues until the White House stepped in, so what happens now?
Congress appeared to be closing in on several major issues last week, before the White House shifted the dynamics in a way that could change what comes next…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Monday, June 29, 2026
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton When there’s broad agreement on disaster response reform, why does action still stall? The Postal Service has the…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Postal Service has the authority to expand into government services, so why hasn’t it acted?
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…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
When there’s broad agreement on disaster response reform, why does action still stall?
Competing FEMA reorganization proposals are now on the table, and there’s actually surprising alignment on what needs to change, but no final plan. That raises…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Army Corps restructuring of value engineering program prompts backlash
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reorganizing its long-standing value engineering program by shifting it from a separate activity and folding it into…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
USPS staves off immediate cash crisis, but warns of continuing financial woes
The Postal Service has pushed back an immediate cash crisis by delaying payments to employee retirement plans. But Postmaster General David Steiner warned…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, a new book points back to one of the founders’ most important ideas, prevention
When you think of Benjamin Franklin, you probably think invention or diplomacy, but Dr. Barry Davis says Franklin’s real legacy may be something more…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Some of the biggest fiscal problems facing the government aren’t surprises, they’re warnings we’ve chosen to live with
The latest social security trustees report doesn’t break new ground, but it does move up the timeline for when the trust fund starts to run out of money. And…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Friday, June 26, 2026
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton As America approaches its 250th anniversary, a new book points back to one of the founders’ most important ideas…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
There’s no perfect answer to when to claim Social Security, but there are real consequences to getting it wrong
The choice to claim Social Security benefits early or delay them comes down to balancing immediate income against long‑term security. That decision often…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Trump’s pick for defense acquisition deputy lacks traditional resume
The Senate Armed Services Committee is holding a hearing today to consider four nominees for senior Pentagon and intelligence positions, key jobs given that…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
White House PQC order ‘lights a fire’ under post-quantum transition
The White House is accelerating the governmentwide transition to post-quantum cryptography. In a new executive order, President Trump directs agencies to meet…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Better decisions depend on data, but only if people can actually use it
We’re starting a new monthly series focused on how federal data works in the real world. Episode one looks at a Federal Data Field Guide aimed at helping users…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Nuclear technology is moving fast, regulation has to keep up
Time at the International Atomic Energy Agency gave Anna Bradford a broader view of how countries approach nuclear safety and innovation. Now back at the NRC…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says it’s entering a new era
A new reform push at ATF aims to reduce friction for lawful businesses and owners, while concentrating enforcement on willful violations. The challenge is…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Thursday, June 25, 2026
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says it’s entering a new era, one that resets how it…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Federal wildland firefighters report increased burnout, low morale
As the summer wildfire season gets underway, federal wildland firefighters are facing an increasingly difficult situation on the job. Three out of four…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
More SEWP for contractors as NASA expands total awards
The wait is over for more than 1,400 vendors. NASA’s SEWP program office awarded spots on its sixth iteration of its governmentwide technology contract. In…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
As drones take on a bigger role in the airspace, the rules around them are getting more complicated
As drone operations expand, regulation could easily fragment across FAA, DHS, DoD and others. Instead, there’s growing coordination to manage both safety and…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Commercial drones have been limited by how far operators can actually see them, that's changing
A new FAA framework could allow drone operators to fly beyond visual line of sight, opening the door to expanded use in infrastructure inspection, agriculture…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Electric aircraft are coming, the rules that will allow them to fly aren’t
It’s not just drones pushing aviation into new territory. Electric aircraft are edging closer to commercial use, but certification is still the gatekeeper. The…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton For years, commercial drones have been limited by how far operators can actually see them, that's about to change…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Marine Corps eyes 5% force growth by 2032
The Marine Corps has a new plan to grow the force by as much as 5% by 2032. The service hopes adding thousands of Marines will spell success in future wars…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Policymakers struggle to factor cybersecurity into federal funding programs
Every year, agencies award billions of dollars in grants and other federal funding to finance infrastructure projects across the country. But few of those…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
A lot of science policy doesn't fail, it just never makes it through the system
The interagency process is designed to coordinate decisions across government, but it can also become a choke point for science and technology policy…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Scientific breakthroughs don’t run on short timelines, but federal funding is starting to
Federal funding and independent universities have long worked together to drive American innovation. But with support becoming less predictable, universities…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Security at major events now depends on how well government and contractors operate as one system
Behind the scenes of mega-events, contractors are running key pieces of event infrastructure, from cyber systems to communications. That’s raising new…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Scientific breakthroughs don’t run on short timelines, but federal funding is starting to A lot of science policy…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
SASC moves to codify Trump’s EO targeting defense stock buybacks
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump announced restrictions on executive pay and stock buybacks as part of the administration’s push to speed procurement…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The public’s opinion of civil servants continues to climb
The public’s overall view of civil servants is trending upward along with increasing public support for a nonpartisan federal workforce. Those latest findings…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
A new House task force is taking aim at everything from free speech to federal programs
A new House Oversight task force is investigating how organizations handle issues like free speech, DEI and federal funding. With hearings now underway and a…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
A stretch of Capitol Hill work is shifting from debate to decisions
Several issues that have been building in Congress around foreign policy, intelligence authorities, affordability, emerging tech and federal funding are now in…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Monday, June 22, 2026
Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton A new House task force is taking aim at everything from free speech to federal programs and for a lot of…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Best of "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton" - - Friday, June 19, 2026
Today on the best of "The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Bringing more students into public service starts with giving them a way in and a reason to see…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
CDC’s Ebola fight contends with staffing cuts and low employee morale
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is battling one of the worst Ebola outbreaks on record, calling on its workforce to help contain its spread…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
SBA kicks off new audit of economically disadvantaged contractors
The Small Business Administration is expanding its scrutiny of socio-economic contracting programs to now include a review of the women-owned small business…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
For DHS contractors, the funding may be back, but turning that into actual work and payment is another story
Even with new money in place, DHS contractors are still dealing with delays, restart friction, and gaps left by the shutdown showing how long it can take for…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
It’s one thing to expand missile production capacity, it’s another to rebuild stockpiles fast enough to meet actual demand
Even with increased funding and production, rebuilding key missile stockpiles could take years, creating a gap between current demand and available supply. We…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Thursday, June 18, 2026
Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Pentagon is spending billions on major weapons systems, but there are growing questions
Even as defense spending rises, many investments are still going into high-cost, limited systems, raising questions about whether the U.S. is building the…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
OPM awards major HR IT modernization contract to Oracle
A long-awaited HR modernization project is taking a big step forward. The Office of Personnel Management has awarded a nearly $400 million contract to Oracle…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
It’s being pitched as a simple way to build wealth early, but whether it works may depend on how it fits real life
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…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Life insurance is one of those benefits people tend to carry, but not always understand
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…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Suicide prevention training is meant to protect service members, but the Pentagon can’t fully track whether it’s helping.
Suicide prevention depends on reaching people early, but the military doesn’t always have clear visibility into whether its training is being completed or…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Wednesday, June 17, 2026
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…
- The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
DoD repositions the CDAO into the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering
The Defense Department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office has been in a period of transition lately. Several years after its creation, Pentagon…