Federal Drive with Tom Temin

The growing backlog of cost audits at the Defense Contract Audit Agency is delaying contract closeouts. And not just for the Defense Department but for several other agencies that use DCAA. The result is that contractors wait for two years or longer to get their final 5- or 10-percent. Alan Chvotkin, executive vice president and counsel at the Professional Services Council, tells Federal Drive with Tom Temin why this is not just an academic curiosity.

The Marine Corps wants to make cyber training part of boot camp. What's more, its ramping up its civilian hiring in cyber positions starting in January. Federal News Radio's Scott Maucione talks with Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command Executive Director Gregg Kendrick on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

Joel Clement says he's no bean counter. He's a scientist and policy developer for the Interior Department. Or was. After being reassigned by Secretary Ryan Zinke, Clement claimed it was retaliation for statements about climate change. Having quit the federal government, Clement is making the rounds with his story. He fills in all the details on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

Administration appointees have been looking for clues for how much their reorganization efforts will shrink the federal workforce.They could look to history for answers.Observers of every stripe have been studying the size and complexity of the federal workforce for decades.They've found some patterns but also one big constant, namely the number of federal employees doesn't move all that much. Federal News Radio's Nicole Ogrysko has more on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

The Internal Revenue Service has claimed it needs more funding to address aging IT infrastructure, but legislators said they need to see where the money will go before the tax agency can ask Congress for more. Federal News Radio's Meredith Somers joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin to explain what the IRS plans to do with more cash.

The Trump administration's appointees have generated plans to reorganize agencies. But plans don't succeed without cooperation and buy-in from the rank and file members. Bob Tobias, professor in the Key leadership program at American University, told Federal Drive with Tom Temin that this is an old lesson that needs repeating.

The Army spends a lot of effort training its cyber soldiers, also known as the 17-C military occupational specialty. Now it's trying to figure how to persuade those soldiers to re-enlist rather than take their expertise to the private sector. The Army hired the Rand Corporation to look into this issue. Jennie Wenger, a senior economist at Rand, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin to talk about the results of a completed study.

Back massages for rats and binge watching Desperate Housewives. The Defense Department studies some weird things. But are they worth it? Senator Jeff Flake wants to know. Hes added an amendment to the 2018 defense authorization bill to add more accountability to science funding. Flake joined Federal News Radio's Scott Maucione with more.

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton a lengthy memo last month concerning a 2016 breach of the agency's Edgar system where companies file detailed financial information online. The SEC has battled cybersecurity weaknesses for years. Greg Wilshusen, director of information security issues at the Government Accountability Office, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin to discuss those challenges.

In the federal government, nothing happens until you fill out a form. That's certainly true of retirement, a topic on quite a few federal minds these days. With a rundown on the paperwork you need to keep in mind, federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan.

The Army's Materiel Command is awash in data especially when it comes to equipment maintenance, parts and supplies. AMC's Logistics Support Activity, or LOGSA, has the task of aggregating that data to pinpoint the Army's logistics challenges. LOGSA just awarded a $135 million contract to IBM, an incumbent vendor that's been supporting logistics work since 2012. Kevin Aven is the co-account lead for the company's Army and Marine Corps business. He talked with Federal News Radios Jared Serbu about whats changing under the renewed contract, including how artificial intelligence is coming into play.

Federal employees can expect to pay more for their health care premiums next year. That may not come as a surprise. The Office of Personnel Management announced the premium rates ahead of open season. Federal News Radio's Nicole Ogrysko joins the Federal Drive to discuss how much they're going up and what else you can expect in 2018.

Addiction and overdose deaths from opioids continue to grow. But the Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, located at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, has been studying how medics would react if an enemy used opioids as a weapon. It's learned a lot. And now it's sharing that knowledge with first responders in the civilian world. Joining the Federal Drive with more, Maj. Gen. Randy Taylor, the senior mission commander of Aberdeen.

Addiction and overdose deaths from opioids continue to grow. But the Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, located at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, has been studying how medics would react if an enemy used opioids as a weapon. It's learned a lot. And now it's sharing that knowledge with first responders in the civilian world. Joining the Federal Drive with more, Maj. Gen. Randy Taylor, the senior mission commander of Aberdeen.

After serving as governor of a populous state, Janet Napolitano took over as Homeland Security secretary early in the Obama administration, she found something encouraging right away. Federal Drive with Tom Temin asked her about her initial impression of the more than 160,000 people she found working for her.