Federal Drive with Tom Temin

DNA has long been used to identify human remains. Such is the case at the identification lab operated by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Now some new scientific methods have emerged called next-gen sequencing. To go deeper into what that is and how it can help, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with DNA operations director at the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Tim McMahon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: Identification of long-lost military services members gets a boost from new science. Fresh whistleblower protection legislation stalls amid congressional chaos. Two new proposed buying rules from the Pentagon have contractors on edge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Treasury Department and the IRS are calling on teleworking employees to return to the office for half of their workdays, starting in a few months. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told employees in an email Thursday that teleworking employees will need to return to the office 50% of the time, on any given month, starting on May 5. “Our top priority, regardless of where employees are located at any point in time, will continue to be meeting our goals of serving taxpayers, ensuring tax compliance and maintaining our vital technology and operations,” Werfel wrote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Department of Homeland Security’s top artificial intelligence official believes the DHS mission will compel technology experts to join the department’s recently announced “AI cadre.” DHS announced plans this month to recruit 50 AI technology experts in 2024. They will join a cadre that DHS is modeling after the U.S. Digital Service, a White House organization that provides technology experts and consultation services to federal agencies. Eric Hysen, DHS’s chief information officer and chief AI officer, said the department will leverage Office of Personnel Management direct-hire authorities to quickly build out the cadre. OPM issued those direct hire authorities in the wake of President Joe Biden’s AI executive order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: What goes on at the TSA's big operations center. Small and minority-owned businesses see more opportunity than ever. Congress can't be too concerned about the state of affairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russian brutality on parade once again. No end in sight for the Middle East conflict. No federal 2024 budget and the border crisis rolls on. What a great time for Congress to take a recess. For an up-close look at what Congress has done, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Loren Duggan, Bloomberg Government deputy news director Loren Duggan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gigantic federal spending programs, outside of regular appropriations, look like a big opportunity to small and minority-owned businesses. That is according to a group called Reimagining Main Street, which surveyed its constituents. For more, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Tammy Halevy, the executive director of Reimagining Main Street. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly every moment a security issue takes place somewhere in the transportation system. Thousands of incidents each week get reported to the Transportation Security Administration's big operations center in Herndon, Virginia. For more of what goes on there, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Toby Punchard, supervisory air marshal in charge at the Transportation Security Operations Center. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It took 13 years — with some stops, starts and stumbles in between — but as of today, the federal government now has a single website designed to deliver detailed, searchable information about all federal programs. The Office of Management and Budget flipped the switch Thursday on the new Federal Program Inventory, a platform it’s been building via various pilot efforts since December 2020. Officials acknowledge it doesn’t yet capture every single program: For now, only “domestic assistance” programs are included. But that broad category encompasses most federal spending, ranging from Social Security and Medicare to the smallest community block grant programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After operating more or less steadily for the last six decades, Federal Executive Boards (FEBs) across the country are on the verge of a transformation. Even though FEBs have been in operation since 1961, inconsistent funding and a lack of structure have hindered their ability to scale up support of the nationwide federal workforce. But with the FEB program now housed under the Office of Personnel Management, Deputy Associate Director for FEBs Kelly DeGraff is hoping to change that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Fresh off a 5% pay raise, federal employees can look forward to some other enhancements coming their way, like the possibility of another hefty pay raise next year. For more on this and a few other matters, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with John Hatton, the Vice President for Policy and Programs at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few endeavors have engaged the world's best minds than predicting the weather. Forecasting has improved since the days of sailing ships. Now artificial intelligence is blowing in like a Category 5 hurricane. To get more on what the forecast is, on the horizon, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with someone who thinks AI will reshape weather forecasting: Amy McGovern is head of the National Science Foundation AI Institute for Research in the field of weather and climate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: Artificial intelligence is starting to help one federal function that really needs it. Are federal employees headed for another big raise next year? The State Department’s acquisition office undergoes a total makeover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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