Can the right kind of data predict mission success?

By: Terry Gerton

22 July 2026 at 14:26

"I always say if performance matters, it's not a unnecessary tool. If performance is a report card, it's just a waste of time," said John Mullins.

The government needs to do more to measure agency performance

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

22 July 2026 at 14:12

"Going two years without a review would be like flying blind without having the information that's key to how the agency is performing," said Lori Atkinson.

Government Accountability Office sign in front of the agency headquarters building in Washington, D.C. (Image source: Government Accountability Office)

Iran war operational costs climb over $37 billion

All News – Federal News Network

By: Michele Sandiford

22 July 2026 at 13:51

The new estimate includes the cost of the war to date as well as expenses like meal pay that are anticipated through the end of the fiscal year.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Government measures compliance, but does accountability help programs succeed?

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

22 July 2026 at 13:42

"I would love to see more happen with the actual outcomes and move the GPRA indicators to have more of an outcome orientation," said Dr. Abraham Wandersman.

Contractors face uncertainty with cybersecurity regs, AI rules and acquisition policies

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

21 July 2026 at 15:48

"There needs to be a cybersecurity regime for compliance among government contractors," said Stephanie Kostro.

Shield icon of cybersecurity digital data.

As agencies rethink cybersecurity requirements, how will they manage AI risks?

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

21 July 2026 at 15:17

"GSA seems very receptive to additional feedback to refine the clause before they finalize it," said Dan Ramish.

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House passes bill expanding whistleblower protections

All News – Federal News Network

By: Michele Sandiford

21 July 2026 at 13:13

The bill forbids federal officials from asking a contractor to retaliate against someone else. A companion bill passed the Senate in May.

Whistleblower law book and gavel in a court.

DoD pauses CMMC, but contractors still have obligations

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

21 July 2026 at 12:22

"The CMMC program is just a certification program on top of the security controls that are still required and will be required," said Eric Crusius.

AI may be getting the attention, but it’s only as reliable as the data behind it

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

20 July 2026 at 16:43

"I think that's the jump that we're really trying to make here, is go from data accessibility to data understandability," said Richard Coffin.

As Congress sprints to August recess, major decisions await

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

20 July 2026 at 15:01

"The defense funding picture and policy picture has been pretty complicated," said Loren Duggan.

A new Commerce Dept policy pits privacy and transparency against access to information

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

20 July 2026 at 13:29

"These data contain within it a lot of information that has policy implications, economic development, transportation infrastructure," said Paul Schroeder.

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FEMA’s chief financial officer was unlawfully fired, judge rules

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By: Michele Sandiford

20 July 2026 at 13:07

The case centers on former FEMA chief financial officer Mary Comans. She was fired without cause last year.

FILE - A sign for the Federal Emergency Management Agency is pictured at FEMA headquarters, April 20, 2020, in Washington. (Al Drago/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

An IG audit found the VA tool used to determine police staffing levels had serious gaps

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

17 July 2026 at 13:57

"I think we're already seeing the fruits of that in the secretary's announcement and some other changes that have gone about," said Cheryl Mason.

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Democrats look to support laid-off Foreign Service officers

All News – Federal News Network

By: Michele Sandiford

17 July 2026 at 13:22

Former employees, federal unions and lawmakers continue to call for the reinstatement of more than 1,300 laid-off department workers.

As the U.S. ramps up infrastructure investment, imported cement raises national security concerns

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

17 July 2026 at 12:04

"I'm talking about $130 billion a year of economic activity through the cement industry in the United States, and over half a million jobs," said John Teichert.

industrial worker on construction site laying sealant for waterproofing cement

The Navy wants a larger fleet, but it’s not clear it can be built

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

16 July 2026 at 15:15

"It's not hulls that matter. It's launchers that matter, it's inventories that matter. It's the nature of your munitions mix that matters," said Anand Toprani.

FILE- Shipyard workers at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., prepare a submarine for float-off, July 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

Can the Pentagon’s contracting system keep pace with the demands of today’s battlefield?

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

16 July 2026 at 12:53

"I encourage policy folks to start talking speed and to drop the term reform," said Stephanie Halcrow.

Boeing displayed models of some of its military aircraft at the 2014 Association of the Army Expo in Washington, D.C.<br><br><i>(Photo by Shefali Kapadia/Federal News Radio)</i>

Cyber agencies warn critical industries about Russia-linked hackers

All News – Federal News Network

By: Michele Sandiford

16 July 2026 at 11:46

The hackers have spent years quietly extracting configuration data from poorly configured routers across critical infrastructure.

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A recent DOJ operation showed what it takes to find online scam networks

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

15 July 2026 at 15:50

"It takes a lot of planning, but really it takes understanding the different pain points that you can push on these organizations," said Mike Sweeney.

FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2018, file photo, the Department of Justice seal is seen in Washington, D.C. An internet firm is ending the automated registration of website names that include words or phrases related to the COVID-19 pandemic, in an attempt to combat coronavirus-related fraud. Los Angeles-based Namecheap Inc. made the pledge after a federal judge in Texas on Sunday, March 22, 2020, ordered the takedown of a website the U.S. Department of Justice accused of stealing credit card information while offering fake coronavirus vaccine kits. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Before policymakers can improve border security, they need confidence in how they’re measuring it

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

15 July 2026 at 14:47

"We've recommended that DHS develop and implement a process to systematically review the reliability of data," said Heather MacLeod.

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