The GovNavigators Show

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

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Rob Bocek, Chief Commercial Officer at Virtualitics, for a conversation on how artificial intelligence is reshaping defense readiness.
Drawing on his wide experience from Navy Special Warfare to Microsoft, Rob explains how AI can help the Department of Defense move beyond fragmented data and toward faster, more informed decision-making. We explore how these tools surface hidden readiness gaps, improve situational awareness, and support leaders operating in high-stakes, time-sensitive environments.
Rob also walks through how Virtualitics is helping defense leaders make sense of massive, fragmented datasets, using AI-powered analytics to surface hidden risks, identify readiness gaps, and support faster, more confident decision-making. He explains how their approach emphasizes explainable AI, enabling operators and commanders to trust and act on insights in real time.
Show Notes:
DHS budget conflict continues
DoW's $200B supplemental request
Fraud Task Force EO
HR shared services push
GSA to establish Acquisition QSMO
What's on the GovNavigators' Radar:
Mar 24:
The Hill and Valley Forum
Mar 25: 
House Oversight Committee hearing: “Doing More with Less: Eliminating Duplicative Programs”

This week on the GovNavigators Show, we're joined by Joel Hinzman, one of the most seasoned voices in government technology and policy, and a member of the GovNavigators Network. Joel has been walking the halls of Congress and the executive branch longer than most, and his career reads like a history of modern government IT. He helped move the House of Representatives onto the internet, put the Starr Report online (and yes, crashed the servers doing it), and spent years at GSA overseeing IT modernization and acquisition policy, before heading to Oracle.
In this conversation, Joel breaks down where Congress still struggles with technology, why AI is the next big test for Capitol Hill, and what the sweeping changes at GSA mean for companies trying to do business with the federal government. He also shares what he's up to now, helping clients navigate procurement, budgets, government affairs strategy, and how to actually turn lobbying relationships into business results.
Show Notes:
OMB Circular A‑123
New Cyber Strategy
Proposal for Federal AI Commission
What's on the GovNavigators' Radar:
Mar 17
AGA Technology & Transformation Summit
Mar 19
RSM Webinar on AI Governance and Responsible Adoption in Government
Mar 26
PRAC’s Grantus Fraudus
Mar 27
ACT-IAC AI Hackathon

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome Wynn Coggins, former Acting Secretary of Commerce and now Chief Growth Officer at Management Science and Innovation, for a candid conversation on leadership forged through crisis, transition, and 35 years of federal service.
Wynn shares the lessons she's carried from her early days as a patent examiner through navigating COVID at the Department of Commerce, serving as Acting Deputy Secretary, and landing in the private sector at Deloitte before her current role. The throughline: surround yourself with people who challenge you, park your ego at the door, and build a culture where failing fast is a feature, not a flaw.
Robert and Adam also cover the week's big news: the introduction of the Federal Loan System Modernization Act of 2026, a bill that would finally bring a single platform to manage the government's sprawling loan portfolio, and the escalating standoff between the Department of Defense and Anthropic, which has now prompted the White House to direct agencies to cancel contracts with the AI company. Plus: Microsoft's major takedown of a global phishing operation responsible for 30 million fraudulent emails a month.
Show Notes:
Federal Loan System Modernization Act of 2026
Check out the The Lending Brief Podcast's new home
What's on the GovNavigators' Radar:
Mar 12, 2026
AFCEA NOVA Naval IT Day
Mar 17, 2026
AGA Technology and Transformation Summit
Apr 22, 2026
ACT-IAC Emerging Tech Demo Day (rescheduled from March 18)