Federal Drive interviews — May 1

This is the Federal Drive show blog. Here you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional ...

This is the Federal Drive show blog. Here you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.

Today’s guests:

Michael HorowitzJustice Department Inspector General

What happens when a former federal prosecutor becomes a department inspector general? People at the Justice Department are about to find out. Horowitz was confirmed as Justice IG at the end of March. In his first radio appearance, he discussed what he hopes to accomplish in his new role.

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Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.)

Amid the calls on Capitol Hill for cuts to federal workers’ pay and benefits, there are some politicians bucking that trend. The Senior Executives Association has started a new awards program to honor those lawmakers who seem to stand by federal workers despite it all. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Frank Wolf (R-Va.) are the first Public Service Awards winners. Wolf is the lone Republican among the group. He says it’s a no-brainer to stand against leaders of his party on this issue.


Debra RothPartner, Shaw, Bransford & Roth

You’ve heard the phrase “contempt of Congress” a lot lately. Some GOP House members have threatened to cite Attorney General Eric Holder for contempt. They say the Justice Department isn’t turning over all the documents related to Operation Fast and Furious, a controversial gun-tracking program.


Matt Zismantransportation policy analyst, Bloomberg Government

Contracting problems could slow the government’s plan to launch a new kind of air traffic control system. The plan is for NextGen to eventually replace radars with satellites that track planes. But the Federal Aviation Administration inspector general says the agency isn’t doing what it should to award and oversee project-related contracts. Zisman has taken a close look at the IG audit. He shares his take on what the report could do to the $40 billion NextGen project.

Bloomberg report executive summary


Patrick KennedyUndersecretary for Management, State Department

The Secret Service has rolled out new rules for how employees should act in foreign countries. It’s getting help from the State Department. From now on, foreign affairs officers will brief Secret Service employees on areas considered off limits. It’s a good bet that the red light district will be a no go in the wake of the prostitution scandal in Colombia. Some in Congress want to take travel protocol a step further for all government employees. House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa suggests one agency should serve as a model. Again, it’s the State Department. Kennedy discusses State’s rules about what employees can and cannot do overseas, and what happens when those rules are broken.

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John PalgutaVice President for Policy, Partnership for Public Service

Your agency might need to change its marketing strategy. A new Pew Research Center survey finds public opinion of the federal government at its lowest in 15 years. Just three in ten have a favorable view.

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