The GovNavigators Show

This week on the GovNavigators Show, hosts Adam and Robert sit down with Dr. Amanda Cash of the Data Foundation and Dr. Adita Karkera of Deloitte to unpack the latest Federal Chief Data Officer (CDO) Survey and what it reveals about the state of data, AI, and capacity across government.
Drawing on six years of survey data, Amanda and Adita explain how the federal CDO role has evolved since the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act and why today’s environment may be the most challenging yet. With more than half of CDOs operating with five or fewer staff, agencies are being pushed to do more with less, even as expectations around AI, data governance, and transparency continue to rise.
The conversation explores the growing overlap between Chief Data Officers and Chief AI Officers, the risks and opportunities of combining those roles, and how agencies can use AI to compensate for workforce gaps. They also highlight the critical role of the federal CDO Council in enabling collaboration and scaling best practices across government.
Show Notes:
Check out the CDO Survey here
CDO Survey webinar recording
What's on the GovNavigators' Radar:
Apr 26 – 28: NASCIO’s mid year conference
Apr 30: Fed100 Evening of Honors

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Drew Friedman, reporter at Federal News Network and nominee for the ECHO Award for Best Government Management Journalist. Drew pulls back the curtain on what it's like to cover the federal workforce in one of the most turbulent periods in recent memory.
The conversation covers the shifting landscape of federal hiring, including OPM's push toward skills-based hiring in the IT space, the latest on Schedule F's successor, and the growing body of litigation challenging the administration's workforce actions, as well as budget issues, and the administration's push to shrink the federal real estate footprint. Drew also reflects on what it takes to keep up with stories this big, and why the Federal News Network team's collaborative approach has been essential to staying on top of it all.
Show Notes:
New OMB Memo on commercial buying
Vote for Drew at the ECHO Awards' website
What's on the GovNaviagtors' Radar:
Apr 21: Grants QSMO’s Industry Day
Apr 22: House Oversight Committee Markup on anti-fraud legislation (TBD)
Apr 26-29: NASCIO Midyear Conference

This week on the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert sit down with GovNavigators Network member Jason Robertson, former regional CFO and senior leader at the U.S. Forest Service, for a conversation on what happens when government systems face real disruption.
Jason shares insights from his two decades in federal service, including managing wildfire funding, overseeing recreation and land use across multiple states, and navigating the complex financial realities of public land management. He breaks down how wildfire policy, procurement, and interagency coordination are evolving, and why looming fire risks and structural changes are colliding in real time.
Now in the private sector, Jason offers a candid view into the massive workforce and knowledge gaps emerging across agencies, and the opportunities those gaps create for new models of support, consulting, and innovation. From shifting procurement pathways to rethinking how agencies deliver on their missions, we explore how disruption is reshaping the federal landscape.
Show Notes:
FY27 Budget Request
Government official impersonation scams increase
Good job, GSA! Underutilized properties sold
What's on the GovNavigators' Radar:
Apr 13-14, 2026: AGA DC Chapter’s Annual Spring Training
Apr 19-22, 2026: Navy League's Sea-Air-Space Conference
Apr 26-29, 2026: NASCIO's Midyear Conference

This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam sit down with Max Spitzer, former Assistant Parliamentarian in the U.S. House of Representatives, for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most misunderstood offices in Congress. Max explains how the House Parliamentarian keeps the chamber running day to day, from advising the presiding officer in real time to shaping precedent that governs how legislation moves. He shares stories from the House floor, including high-pressure moments during the 2008 financial crisis!
The conversation also dives into the mechanics of power in the House: how rules actually work, why the Rules Committee can override almost anything, and what would happen if control of the House flipped mid-Congress. Max also offers a candid take on congressional dysfunction, and why fixing the rules, not just the Speaker, may be the key to reform.
Show Notes:
OMB's FY27 budget proposal
OMB's new memo requiring IT spending data
GAO's emerging tech risks
Federal buildings fail to reach occupancy benchmark
What's on the GovNavigators' Horizon:
Apr 7: Federal Cybersecurity Executive Summit (GovExec, Optiv, ClearShark, Carasoft)
Apr 8: ACT-IAC Contact Center Summit
Apr 13–14: AGA DC Chapter Spring Meeting
Apr 15: Carasoft's AI-Powered Government Solutions Event

This week on the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert sit down with Ryan Hoesing, Chief of Staff for FedRAMP, and Nicole Thompson, Security Director, for a deep dive into one of the most consequential federal IT programs undergoing transformation today.
Ryan and Nicole walk through the sweeping changes to the FedRAMP program and explain what the new “FedRAMP 20x” approach means for agencies and industry. They unpack the shift from authorization to certification, the move toward continuous and machine-readable security data, and why redefining FedRAMP’s role is critical to making cloud adoption actually work across government.
Show Notes:
Continued DHS appropriations uncertainty
Launch of VP Vance's anti-fraud taskforce
New DEI EO
What's on the GovNavigators' Radar:
Mar 31: Oracle Federal Forum
Apr 8: ACT-IAC Contact Center Summit