The GovNavigators Show

In this Memorial Day pop-up episode of the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam break down a week of Washington false starts and delayed announcements, namely the Senate’s stalled reconciliation push and the White House pulling the plug on a major AI EO signing at the last minute. They also spotlight a new HHS fraud oversight initiative aimed at tightening grant accountability using AI-powered audit review. Plus, a reminder of the real meaning behind Memorial Day as the hosts honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Robbie Holmes, founder and CEO of Holmes Consulting Group and member of the GovNavigators Network, for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation on technology, government modernization, and what it really takes to build systems that serve people. Robbie traces a remarkable career arc, from the New York City welfare system and Sony Music to Zagat Survey, Google, USDS, and local government, and draws from each stop to make the case for pragmatic, constituent-centered technology. He reflects on his evolution from AI skeptic to cautious optimist, explains why so many well-intentioned government systems have created more friction than they've solved, and makes a compelling argument for why identity infrastructure and unified case management should be the government's next big bets. 
Show Notes:
CMS: Nationwide Moratorium on Hospice and Home Health Agency Enrollment
GAO: 2026 Annual Report on Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication
House Oversight Committee: Markup on Legislation to Stop Fraud in Federal Programs
Federal News Network: House Committee Advances 9 Anti-Fraud Bills
NPR: Senate Votes to Kickstart Reconciliation to Fund ICE and CBP
Events on the GovNavigators' Radar:
May 20th: GovCIO Federal IT Efficiency Summit at Carahsoft 
May 21st: PSC FedHealth Conference

This week on the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert sit down with Daniel Gaush, Acting Director of the International Cooperative Administrative Support Services Service Center at the U.S. Department of State, for a fascinating look at one of the federal government’s largest and least understood shared services operations.
Daniel explains how the ICASS system coordinates administrative support for more than 300 federal entities across embassies and consulates worldwide, everything from HR and motor pools to security, facilities, and logistics. He shares stories from a 24-year career spanning Morocco, China, Afghanistan, and Washington, including negotiating trade agreements, touring a Chinese nuclear reactor, and managing support operations in wartime environments.
The conversation explores the promise and pain points of shared services: balancing costs, managing interagency consensus, handling global crises, and adapting to major structural changes, such as the integration of USAID functions into the State Department. Daniel also reflects on the unique culture of the Foreign Service and offers advice for the next generation of Americans considering international public service careers.
Show Notes:
Final Report from The President’s Council to Assess the Federal
Emergency Management Agency
What's on the GovNavigators' Radar?
May 13: House Oversight & Government Reform Committee Hearing: DoW Financial Management: Examining Progress and New Audit Approaches 
May 14: House Oversight & Government Reform Hearing: Reducing America’s National Debt: Rooting Out Federal Waste, Fraud, and Overregulation 
May 14-15: ACT-IAC’s Emerging Technology & Innovation Summit

This week on the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert sit down with the GovNavigator Network's Josh Martin, former Chief Data Officer for the State of Indiana turned founder and AI practitioner, for a candid, highly practical conversation about what AI can (and can't!) do in government today.
Josh shares how he’s building AI-powered tools to solve real-world problems, like instantly preparing for vendor meetings or streamlining procurement reviews, and explains why AI’s biggest value isn’t replacing people, but accelerating decision-making. He also offers a clear-eyed warning: agencies that over-automate without human oversight risk serious errors, hallucinations, and reputational damage.
We dive into how governments can responsibly adopt AI, the importance of understanding data and prompting, and why “personal responsibility” is the missing ingredient in most AI strategies. Josh also reflects on his transition out of government, what he misses, and where he sees the biggest opportunities for innovation across the public sector.
Show Notes:
Partial DHS funding measure passed
House Oversight advances nine anti-fraud bills
DoW strikes new AI deal with major companies
New EO pushing fixed-price contracting
What's on the GovNavigators' Radar?
May 2-4: Professional Services Council Annual Conference
May 5: AGA’s Performance Counts Summit
May 6: Service to America Medals
May 14-15: ACT-IAC’s Emerging Technology & Innovation Summit

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