The GovNavigators Show

This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Maureen Klovers and April Harding, co-founders of We the Doers, who tackle the big question: How do we make government more efficient and effective? They discuss their project to measure success in government based on what matters to citizens and use that framework to see what changes make a difference. Maureen and April also describe their initiative to map out the convoluted employment termination process across agencies and usher in “Fast But Fair Firing.” The episode digs into the importance of data standardization, problem definition and implementation of reforms, and why biannual budgeting might be the key to fixing Congress. Together, they figure out how to, as Robert puts it, “Stop the crazy, restore sanity.” 
Show Notes: 
NCHSA: Bipartisan Bicameral Housing Reform 
DOL: Unemployment Insurance Fraud Prevention 
Jen Pahlka: Recoding America Book 
Senate Committee on Finance: The Unemployment Insurance Modernization and Recession Readiness Act 
NOTUS: The Trump Administration Keeps Ghosting Its Congressional Watchdog 
Gary Bass (Of the Gary Bass Rule of Three): Biography 
We the Doers: wethedoers.org 
POPVOX Foundation: Departure Dialogues Project 
We the Doers: Workshop Report 
DOL: Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) 
 
What's on the GovNavigators' Radar? 
June 22nd: 
National Academy of Public Administration Celebrating the American Public Servant Gala (GovNavigators sponsor) 
 
June 23-24th: 
2026 Senior Executive Leadership Summit 
 
June 24th: 
Celonis Process Intelligence Day (GovNavigators sponsor) 
GovExec SAP NOW 250

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome Larry Allen, Associate Administrator for GSA's Office of Government-wide Policy, now 15 months into the role. Larry brings a big update on the historic FAR overhaul, with the first four chapters expected to be out for public comment within the next two weeks. He describes the enthusiastic engagement from the acquisition workforce and shares what it will really take to relieve the burden on contracting professionals as agencies rebuild after staffing losses. The show digs into AI's growing role in acquisition, the administration's ambitious executive order agenda, and how GSA has maintained its momentum through the transition to a permanent administrator. Larry also covers the complete overhaul of the Federal Property Management Regulations, a revamp of the Federal Travel Regulations, and drops some breaking per diem news for FY27. 
Show Notes: 
GSA Office of Government-wide Policy: OGP Overview 
GAO: The Nation's Fiscal Health Report 
Social Security Trustees: 2026 Annual Report Summary 
FISA Section 702: U.S. Intelligence FISA Section 202 Overview 
Financial Data Transparency Act: Final Rule Details 
FAR Overhaul: RFO 
DEI EO 2025: Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing 
DEI EO 2026: Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors  
Firm-Fixed Price Contracting EO: Promoting Efficiency, Accountability, and Performance in Federal Contracting  
GSA: Edward C. Forst Sworn in as GSA Administrator 
GSA: Federal Managment Regulation 
GSA: Federal Travel Regulation 
EO on Gold Standard Science: Restoring Gold Standard Science 
House Armed Services Committee: FY27 NDAA House Version 
What's on the GovNavigators' Radar? 
June 16th: 
VeeamOn Tour DC 2026 at Convene, Washington DC (Adam moderating) 
Defense One Tech Summit, Arlington, Virginia 
June 22nd: 
National Academy of Public Administration Celebrating the American Public Servant Gala, Library of Congress (GovNavigators sponsor) 
June 23rd: 
ACT-IAC Insights to Action for Procurement Market Dynamics (Robert co-moderating) 
June 24th: 
Celonis Process Intelligence Day 
GovExec SAP NOW 250

This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Andrea Sampanis, Director of the Grants Quality Service Management Office (Grants QSMO) at HHS, and Stacie Massey, Deputy Director for Grants and Financial Reporting at the Office of Budget and Management for the state of Ohio. Andrea takes us on a deep dive into the new SIN launch for grants management services, walking us through what the new Special Item Number (SIN 518210GM) means for federal agencies and how cooperative purchasing opens it up to state, local, and tribal governments as well. Stacie brings the recipient side of the equation, sharing what it's actually like to manage $11 billion in grants across a patchwork of systems and agencies, and why this SIN changes the game. They also dig into the shift from compliance-heavy grants management to outcomes-focused oversight, the proposed Uniform Grants Regulation and what it means for the field, and why data standards are the foundation everything else is built on.

Show Notes:
Federal News Network: Grants QSMO Shifting Approach to Meeting Market Demands
OMB: Proposed Uniform Grants Regulation (UGR) — Comments Due July 13, 2026
OPM: Policy Career (formerly Schedule F)
Policy/Career Executive Order: Implementing Schedule Policy/Career in the Excepted Service
AI Executive Order: Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security
What's on the GovNavigator's Radar?
June 10–11th: Government Service Delivery 2026 Conference
June 11th: GovExec 35th Annual Government Procurement Conference
July 21–23rd: AGA Professional Development Training (PDT)

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome back Charles Cooper, Managing Director at Brumidi Group and GovNavigators' resident oracle of all things Capitol Hill. With six months until the midterms and a staggering legislative to-do list full of reconciliation, the farm bill, the surface transportation bill, 12 appropriations bills, the NDAA, FISA, and more, Charles breaks down why Congress is already fracturing along election-year fault lines. He explains why the White House and rank-and-file members are increasingly operating on different frequencies, makes his signature bold prediction on a government shutdown, and offers a candid look at what savvy clients are doing right now to position themselves for the lame duck and beyond. He also weighs in on the bipartisan fraud prevention push out of House Oversight and whether momentum can survive the politics. As always, the oracle has spoken.
Show Notes:
House Oversight Committee: Markup Sweeping Legislation to Stop Fraud in Federal Programs
OPM: Draft Rule Eliminating Time-in-Grade Requirement
OMB: Cybersecurity Incident Logging Update
NDAA: House Armed Services Committee Markup
What's on the GovNavigator's Radar?
June 3rd: 
House Oversight Committee Hearing on Medicaid Fraud 
June 5th:
 Data Foundation 2026 Data Summit 
June 10-11th:
Government Service Delivery 2026 Conference 
June 11th:
GovExec 35th Annual Government Procurement Conference 
June 16th:
VeeamOn Tour DC 2026

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.