The 2026 Playbook: Capacity, Experience & Data That Drives Decisions
As agencies look ahead to 2026, the federal technology landscape is entering a period of realignment — and this time, the shift centers on people, experience, and data. In this episode, Former NASA CIO, Renee Wynn breaks down what leaders should expect as teams return to full operations post-shutdown and begin planning for long-term mission delivery.She explains why organizational capacity building must replace the old “do more with less” mindset, and how focusing on the individual — reducing friction, providing better tools, and creating room for talent to flourish — can unlock performance gains agencies have long struggled to reach. She also highlights the value of time in the saddle, describing how seasoned professionals provide critical guardrails while fresh perspectives help reimagine outdated processes.You’ll learn why understanding your agency’s data — not just the systems that hold it — is becoming the defining factor in whether analytics and AI can actually deliver meaningful insights. She also outlines how nonexistent or misunderstood data can derail mission outcomes, and why success often comes when teams finally feel confident they’ve identified the right data sources to solve the problem at hand.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com
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19:47
America’s New Cyber Playbook: Going on Offense to Stop Nation-State Hackers
The latest edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose breaks down the major shifts expected in the nation’s forthcoming cyber strategy. Former Pentagon CISO and SixGen CEO Jack Wilmer joins the show to explain why the new approach will take a more offensive posture and why raising the cost of cyberattacks for nation-state adversaries may be key to deterrence. Wilmer discusses how agencies like U.S. Cyber Command and the FBI fit into a whole-of-government response, why traditional “name and shame” tactics haven’t worked, and how pre-positioned access in critical infrastructure—like the recent Volt Typhoon activity—poses a growing threat. He also highlights the increasingly important role the private sector will play as both a target and partner in national cyber defense. Francis shares a programming note on the holiday schedule and reminds listeners they can watch the new Innovation in Government TV special from TechNet Indo-Pacific on demand.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com
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Rebooting Government: How Agencies Bounce Back After the 44-Day Shutdown
The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com.
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TSP After the Shutdown: What Feds Need to Know Right Now
On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, Jim Kaplan, Director of External Affairs at the Thrift Savings Plan, joins the show to break down what’s happening inside TSP accounts since the shutdown. Loan activity spiked during October as federal workers sought financial “padding,” and now many borrowers want to repay quickly. Jim explains how TSP loans work, how repayment schedules are automatically re-amortized, and why there’s never a prepayment penalty—because participants are essentially paying themselves back with G Fund interest. He also details how agencies are sending catch-up contributions and matching funds in large batches, the automated processes that ensure participants are made whole, and when employees should check with their payroll offices if contributions don’t appear as expected.Jim walks through what callers are asking the ThriftLine—processing times, repayment rules, loan limits, and what happens if a loan term bumps up against IRS time limits. He also highlights year-end issues like required minimum distributions for retirees, which TSP manages automatically to ensure compliance. As agencies work rapidly to restore pay and stabilize household budgets after the shutdown, Jim emphasizes that TSP systems and staff are fully engaged in supporting participants and beneficiaries through the transition.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com
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Cyber After the Shutdown: Why Asking for Help Is Your Smartest Security Move
Former Federal CISO Brig. Gen. Greg Touhill (USAF, Ret.) delivers timely, practical cyber insight that goes far beyond the IT shop. As the federal government emerges from the longest shutdown in history, agencies are preparing to restart contracting and reconstitute full-speed operations—but the path back to normalcy is far from simple. Touhill explains that cyber and IT teams will immediately activate disaster recovery frameworks, assessing hardware, software, and the often-overlooked “wetware”—their people. With many federal employees departing at the end of the fiscal year and contractors potentially reassigned or displaced, leaders face a dramatically reshaped workforce landscape.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com
Veteran host Francis Rose gives Federal government decision-makers news and information about management, workforce, IT, and acquisition, to help those leaders do their jobs better.
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