Federal Drive with Tom Temin

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ IT shop is preparing for budget cuts across some of its priority areas next year — but not for its growing workforce. VA’s Office of Information and Technology (VA OIT) is requesting $7.6 billion for IT systems and telecommunications support in its FY 2025 budget proposal.The department’s tech office would also receive $1.4 billion to modernize IT systems through the Toxic Exposures Fund authorized by the PACT Act. Its FY 2025 budget request amounts to a $49 million, or 0.6%, cut from enacted levels. Kurt DelBene, VA’s assistant secretary for information and technology and chief information officer, said the 2025 budget request reflects the overall federal spending caps the Biden administration and congressional Republicans agreed to, as part of a deal to lift the federal debt ceiling last year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Examiners at the Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) typically have to look at thousands of documents to determine whether an application is valid. Thanks to Federal Drive Host Tom Temin's guest, those examiners now have artificial intelligence tools to work faster and more accurately. For his work, he's a finalist in this year's Service to America Medals program, and the first of the finalist interviews we will be bringing you this year. Talking with Temin is the Director of Emerging Technology and Chief AI Officer at USPTO, Jerry Ma. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do federal employees make more or less than people with similar jobs in the private sector? It's a question often asked, often answered, and never settled. The latest effort comes from the Congressional Budget Office, which looked at the question using 2022 wage data. It found federal pay and benefits superior for those with high school diplomas or less education. But the private sector paid better for those with doctorates or professional degrees. For an evaluation, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with the staff vice president at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, John Hatton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes federal procurements don't go according to the rules. Sometimes its worse, when bribes and kickbacks come into play. That's what the Justice Department's Procurement Collusion Strike Force tries to discover and prosecute. Now the strike force is expanding, with four new members. For details, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with the Dan Glad, the director of the Strike Force. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: The Justice Department expands its procurement fraud strike force. Yet again, an attempt to answer the question of whether federal employees are underpaid. How patent examination technology caught up to the 21st century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a couple years of uncertainty, satisfaction among federal employees is beginning to rise at many agencies. In a preview of the latest Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings, out of the top 10 agencies in each of the four categories — large, midsize and small agencies, as well as agency sub-components — prioritizing employee engagement was the common thread, the Partnership for Public Service said. “At a time when our nation faces both critical challenges and exciting opportunities at home and abroad, an engaged federal workforce is vitally important,” Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, said in a statement. “The top-ranked agencies have excelled at keeping their workforces engaged and motivated and, as a result, they are well positioned to deliver results for the public.” The preview of the 2023 Best Places to Work rankings, which the Partnership published Thursday morning in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group, comes a few days ahead of the full rankings’ upcoming release on May 20. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: This Defense Department challenge brought in 200 great ideas for talent management. Problems surfacein government audits of trillions in grants. This contractor's dispute over cost accounting standards hasroots dating back17 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sikorsky Aircraft and the Defense Department have been arguing in court for the past 17 years, over the company's compliance with cost-accounting standards. One reason it has been running so long is the government keeps asserting violations but takes no action. For more on the importance of this case, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Haynes Boone procurement attorney Zach Prince. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your agency gives grants, you probably know about the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. That's where so-called single audits go. Single audits of spending by non-federal grant or aid recipients are required by law. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found the whole clearinghouse process, operated by the General Services Administration, has a few problems. Agencies don't have the data they need to do single audits. For the details, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with GAO's Director of Financial Management and Assurance, Jim Dalkin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year the Defense Department staged an innovation challenge. It wanted new ideas for talent management. And did it ever get them. It got 200 ideas. Now officials have picked nine finalists. For an update, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with program analyst Beth Stewart and challenge director Dr. Jeannette Haynie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices