Fed Gov Today

Today, Francis sits down with Dan Mathews to explore a foundational question: How can the federal government effectively reduce its real estate footprint?  Mathews shares firsthand insights from his tenure at PBS, detailing how federal agencies are rethinking their physical presence to align with hybrid work trends and long-term cost savings. Listen and learn how interagency coordination, budgeting constraints, and political realities have shaped the pace of change. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fed-gov-today/id1658568583], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4uZKvNEsaU5R7YQE3bkg6Z?si=ff40b1ebad464495], or at FedGovToday.com [http://fedgovtoday.com/].

Former OPM Associate Director, Ron Sanders [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldpsanders/details/experience/], joins Francis to unpack a bold new hiring memo from the Office of Personnel Management and the Domestic Policy Council that could transform how agencies bring in new talent. You will learn about the unprecedented introduction of four mandatory essay questions for federal job applicants—a move aimed at curbing mass, low-effort applications and filtering for genuine interest and capability. Sanders explains what’s working, what’s worrisome, and what’s still undecided—including the risks of not collecting workforce diversity stats and the possible fallout from removing long-standing recruitment initiatives. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fed-gov-today/id1658568583], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4uZKvNEsaU5R7YQE3bkg6Z?si=ff40b1ebad464495], or at FedGovToday.com [http://fedgovtoday.com/].

The Fed Gov Today TV Show [https://fedgovtoday.com/] airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@FedGovToday]. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fed-gov-today/id1658568583], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4uZKvNEsaU5R7YQE3bkg6Z?si=ff40b1ebad464495], or anytime at FedGovToday.com [http://fedgovtoday.com/].

Learn how the most significant overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in four decades could reshape the way the federal government buys goods and services.  Julie Dunne, former Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service at GSA and now Principal at Monument Advocacy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieadunne-dc/], joins Francis to explain the key changes already in motion and what’s still to come. She details how the revisions aim to streamline acquisition, cut outdated rules, and emphasize the importance of time and commercial practices in government buying. Julie also explains the potential impact of new “sunset clauses” for non-statutory FAR provisions, which could help reduce regulatory clutter and improve efficiency over time. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fed-gov-today/id1658568583], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4uZKvNEsaU5R7YQE3bkg6Z?si=ff40b1ebad464495], or at FedGovToday.com [http://fedgovtoday.com/].

Today, we explore a pivotal moment for agency leaders as budget season intensifies on Capitol Hill. With funding and restructuring requests on the table, Francis speaks with Tim Soltis, former Deputy Controller at the Office of Management and Budget [https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfsoltis/], about what it takes to turn policy ideas into operational success. Soltis brings insights from his recent article, where he proposes a bold restructuring concept: lean, centralized leadership teams running core mission operations in key agencies like the Department of Defense, DHS, and the VA, to test whether a streamlined model can deliver better efficiency and accountability. You can find a link to Tim’s article on today’s show page at fedgovtoday.com [https://fedgovtoday.com/]. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fed-gov-today/id1658568583], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4uZKvNEsaU5R7YQE3bkg6Z?si=ff40b1ebad464495], or at FedGovToday.com [http://fedgovtoday.com/].