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.

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After the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, the federal acquisition landscape is shifting — and this time, the change may be permanent. Former Assistant Secretary of Defense David Berteau joins the show to unpack what government contractors can expect when agencies reopen and how they can turn disruption into opportunity.

Berteau, now an independent consultant, explains why contractors shouldn’t expect business as usual when the lights come back on. He discusses the logistical and operational challenges that accompany a post-shutdown restart — from expired PIV cards and delayed solicitations to the ripple effects of a continuing resolution. But amid the uncertainty, Berteau points to a promising trend: a growing willingness inside government to listen to industry — including innovative, non-traditional partners — about how to get work done better and faster.

You'll learn how the FAR overhaul could transform how government buys for years to come, the changing role of small businesses, and why companies should prepare now to help agencies focus on results instead of inputs. Berteau also warns of deeper, long-term effects on the federal industrial base if trust in government payments continues to erode.

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On this episode of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, retired Major General Arnold Punaro joins Francis to unpack what could be the most sweeping overhaul of the defense acquisition system in decades. Following Secretary Pete Hegseth’s newly announced Acquisition Transformation Strategy, Punaro argues that achieving real results will require nothing short of retraining the entire acquisition workforce—military and civilian alike. He breaks down how the Department of Defense, Congress, and industry—the three sides of the “iron triangle”—are finally aligning to reform a system that has resisted change for years.

You’ll learn why Punaro is more optimistic than ever, emphasizing leadership from all three fronts: the Pentagon’s push for speed and risk-taking, industry’s willingness to innovate, and Congress’s readiness to support multi-year funding and streamlined contracting. But he’s also candid about the challenges ahead—from taming a massive bureaucracy to overcoming a risk-averse culture that punishes innovation.

In a moving close, Punaro reflects on the meaning of Veterans Day and honors the heroism of Corporal Roy Hammonds, who gave his life saving Punaro’s during the Vietnam War.

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On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, former Department of Labor CIO Gundeep Ahluwalia, now Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at NuAxis Innovations, shares how the recent government shutdown—while disruptive—could actually serve as a rare opportunity for transformation. As agencies prepare to restart contracting and program delivery, Ahluwalia urges federal leaders to pause, take stock, and ask a critical question: Are your project outputs truly driving the outcomes you want?

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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.

Former DoD official Jerry McGinn, now Director of the Center for the Industrial Base at CSIS, joins Francis to unpack how the Department of Defense can better “separate the wheat from the chaff” in its innovation efforts. McGinn explains why authorities like the Defense Production Act (DPA) and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program are vital to maintaining a competitive industrial base — and what challenges lie ahead after both programs expired at the end of FY2025.

McGinn discusses the delicate balance between encouraging experimentation and demanding accountability — highlighting that true innovation requires tolerance for failure. He explores why DoD still struggles to transition successful prototypes into production and how better data could help measure what’s working, without stifling creativity.

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Agencies have been in a holding pattern, waiting to roll out long-delayed initiatives and catch up on weeks of missed work. Former GSA Administrator Emily Murphy, now CEO of Government Procurement Strategies, joins Francis to unpack what happens when the lights come back on in government offices—and what leaders must do to re-engage a workforce stretched to the limit.

Murphy shares firsthand lessons from the 2019 shutdown, highlighting how essential workers faced burnout, unpaid labor, and emotional fatigue, while furloughed employees struggled with financial strain and uncertainty. She discusses the critical importance of management acknowledgment, empathy, and clear communication during the post-shutdown recovery.

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Richard Breakiron, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Commvault, joins the show to reveal how AI can move cyber defense from reactive to proactive—and why the smartest agencies are integrating security into every step of modernization rather than bolting it on at the end. You'll learn how Fortune 100 companies are adopting the FedRAMP High framework voluntarily, recognizing that robust, architectural-level security isn’t just a compliance requirement—it’s a competitive advantage.

You’ll also learn how agencies can operationalize zero trust, build dynamic architectures, and use AI to detect threats before they materialize—all while driving efficiency and cultural change.

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