Federal Drive Show Blog – March 29

On the Federal Drive show blog, you can listen to our interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day, as well as links to other stories...

This is the Federal Drive show blog. Here you can listen to our interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day, as well as links to other stories and resources we discuss.

Today’s guests:

Dr. David Chu
Review Panelist
National Academy of Public Administration

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A new report commissioned by Congress warns against implementing a key provision of the STOCK Act, which calls for posting senior federal executives’ financial information online. The provision was temporarily suspended last year while the report from the National Academy of Public Administration was being conducted. And now, the group is calling for another delay. Academy fellow David Chu spoke with the Federal Drive about how NAPA came to its conclusions.

Nancy Kingsbury
Managing Director, Applied Research and Methods
Government Accountability Office

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The number of federal labs working with anthrax and other dangerous pathogens is growing. In fact, a new report from the Government Accountability Office suggests agencies might have too many high-containment labs since there is no clear central strategy for managing them. Nancy Kingsbury, managing director for applied research and methods at GAO, spoke with the Federal Drive about the details of the report.

Trey Hodgkins
Senior Vice President, Global Public Sector Group
TechAmerica

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Congress never tires of tinkering with federal acquisition…or so it would seem from the spending bill President Obama signed into law this week. A provision requires four agencies to get FBI approval before they buy certain Chinese-made electronics, and that has U.S. tech companies worried. Trey Hodgkins, senior vice president for the global public sector group at Tech America, spoke with the Federal Drive about some of industry’s concerns.

Preston Turner
Logistics Director
Project Manager, Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment

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Before soldiers step foot on the battlefield, they have to be issued many different pieces of equipment. That process used to be done by 21 different contractors. Now, the Defense Department has brought it in house. It says the new process will save it almost $38 million by 2014. Preston Turner, logistics director for Project Manager Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment, part of the Army’s Soldier Program Executive Office, talked with the Federal Drive about the efficiencies in the system.

Ed Zurndorfer
Registered Employee Benefit Consultant

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Are you all caught up on your taxes for the last three years? A new report from the IRS says nearly $1 billion in unclaimed tax refunds are about to expire. How do you know if some of that money is yours? Ed Zurndorfer, a registered employee benefit consultant, spoke about this with Emily.

RELATED LINK: IRS tax forms

Also on the show:

From Our Reporters:

  • With a 2013 budget now in place, the Pentagon says it’s making changes to the way it intends to implement civilian employee furloughs for the remainder of the year. The changes DoD is making will soften the blow of furloughs at the agency, but the impact will still be substantial, according to Pentagon officials. Federal News Radio DoD Reporter Jared Serbu attended the Pentagon briefing where the announcement was made. Read Jared’s story and listen to his full report.
  • It’s the end of an era. Tom Burbage, general manager of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, has been the face of the Lightning-2 for Lockheed Martin since the program began shortly after 9/11. Today is his last day on the job. He addressed the media this week for a final reflection on his last 12 years. Federal News Radio’s Lauren Larson was at the event. Listen to her report.

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