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The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio
Artificial Intelligence
Office Of Personnel Management
Federal Government
Department Of Defense
Cybersecurity
GAO
FEMA
United States Postal Service
Government Accountability Office
Medicaid
Federal Workforce
Leadership
Congress
State Department
General Services Administration
Trump Administration
Small Business Administration
Defense Department
Medicare
OPM

The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton provides expert insights on current events in the federal community. Read more interviews to keep up with daily news and analysis that affect the federal workforce. The Federal Drive is found at FederalNewsNetwork.com and 1500 AM in the Washington D.C. region.

PublishesDailyEpisodes9434Founded9 years ago
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NewsGovernment

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Artwork for The Federal Drive

Latest Episodes

Food insecurity is on the rise among military families. And more than a third of currently serving families said they had less than $500 in savings. Those are some of the findings of the Military Family Advisory Network’s biennial survey . Over the y... more

The Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center has long been a key cog in the Pentagon’s efforts to protect sensitive information from leaking to foreign adversaries. But the Pentagon is now ramping up a new evaluation regime under the C... more

Congress appeared to be closing in on several major issues last week, before the White House shifted the dynamics in a way that could change what comes next. Now lawmakers are reassessing both timing and substance. For a look at where things stand, w... more

With USPS under financial pressure, expanding into new government services could offer a path forward. But despite having the authority to do more, that effort hasn’t moved much beyond passport processing. A new report from the Postal Service’s inspe... more

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Recent Guests

Maya Sandalow
Associate Director for the Bipartisan Policy Center's health program
Bipartisan Policy Center
Episode: A lot of health AI isn’t where you think it is and it’s not overseen the way you might expect
Paul Sheehan
EGOR Program Manager for EGOR at ARPA-H
ARPA-H
Episode: ARPA‑H is testing a model to make research faster, more repeatable and less dependent on where or with whom you work
Maya Sandelo
Associate Director for Health Program
Bipartisan Policy Center
Episode: The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - Friday, June 12, 2026
Leslie Ford
Senior Fellow
National Center for Public Policy Research
Episode: The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - Friday, June 12, 2026
Shannon Portillo
Director of ASU School of Public Affairs
Arizona State University
Episode: Bringing more students into public service starts with giving them a way in and a reason to see themselves there
Matt Terry
Research Manager for The Economist Enterprise
The Economist Group
Episode: What looks like stability in today’s workforce may actually be caution
Brendan McCarthy
Head of Retirement Investing
Nuveen
Episode: What looks like stability in today’s workforce may actually be caution
Gabe Menchaca
Senior Policy Analyst at the Niskanen Center
Niskanen Center
Episode: Federal hiring problems may start with how the jobs are defined
Jim Howe
Senior Policy Advisor
The Nature Conservancy
Episode: A long-running federal river program delivers real returns, but now it’s on the chopping block

Hosts

Terry Gerton
Host of The Federal Drive
Jason Miller
Executive Editor of Federal News Network (interviewer)
Shane Canfield
Host of Lessons in Leadership

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 60 ratings
  • Go Tom and Team!

    I’ve become a huge fan of Tom and his FNN network of competent and deeply knowledgeable reporters. Without fail, this podcast is my go-to source for accurate and non-biased perspectives and information on all aspects of the federal government and the ecosystems within which it exists. Tom is a hilarious and humane host that doesn’t shy away from asking tough questions and providing deep historical context.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Webster Jammer
    United Statesa year ago
  • Please remove second half of the episode

    The stories are ok until they are over and the next part begins.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Hgd137
    United States4 years ago
  • Excellent presentations

    Thank you for the bounty of information. Well communicated (excellent broadcasters) discussing a wide array of topics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Usc33
    United States4 years ago
  • Support working Americans

    Please stop promoting government agencies and unions who do not want to serve the American public. The same people crying about returning to an office are the same ones sitting side by side with other fans in an indoor sports arena. They are the same ones sitting elbow to elbow in a church, without a mask, pretending to be Christian (while their kids sit in a Sunday school class). They are the same ones that are shooing their kids out the door to sit on a school bus and then in a classroom. Are ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Hgd137
    United States4 years ago
  • Please fix!!

    After every episode finishes it begins the lessons learned leadership podcast with a interview with the CEO of Navy Fed Credit Union. Why?! Love this podcast but it is painful to listen to that introduction every single time after the podcast end.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Matt Cactus
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Balanced, informed discussion with tough questions and historical context.
Insightful and well-researched coverage of federal workforce and policy changes.
Listeners appreciate the depth and credibility, with room for tighter episode pacing.
High-quality reporting and a broad view of federal news, though occasional transitions can be jarring.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#108
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#106
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#241
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#26
Finland/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A long-running federal river program delivers real returns, but now it’s on the chopping block
Q: How do you compute that return?
The return is calculated by looking at cleaner water, healthier wetlands and floodplains, more fisheries, and broader recreational opportunities that translate into tangible benefits for local communities and broader economic gains.
The people who rely on Medicaid helped design a plan to curb fraud without putting their own care at risk
Q: If CMS were to take on your recommendations, how would you want them to manage that balance, making sure that folks who need the services can get them, but that there is appropriate oversight to make sure that the system is being administered well?
The approach centers on transparency first, continuous fraud oversight, empowering recipients, and meaningful outcome measurement, with guardrails to prevent abuse, so families know who provides services and how programs perform.
Federal hiring problems may start with how the jobs are defined
Q: What is the fundamental problem with how federal jobs are currently classified?
The problem is that the General Schedule acts as a single, universal pay table for all jobs, which mismatches modern labor markets where different fields compete in their own markets; reform needs to start with rethinking the underlying jobs and moving to occupational-family based pay scales.
The government wants more of your seafood to come from U.S. waters
Q: What kinds of programs will USDA offer to seafood harvesters and aquaculture producers?
Programs span marketing, capital/loans for boats and gear, and technical assistance, with an emphasis on bringing both wild-caught and aquaculture sectors into USDA-led support.
The government wants more of your seafood to come from U.S. waters
Q: What brought about the need to create the Office of Seafood at USDA?
The interviewee explains that seafood producers have long asked for access to USDA programs, and the new office will bring them into USDA's support structure, including marketing, capital, and technical assistance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Federal Drive

What is The Federal Drive about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show consistently covers federal government operations, policy, and governance with a strong emphasis on personnel, procurement, oversight, and leadership. Episodes often weave together reporting on federal workforce trends, agency reorganizations, and emerging tech policy, alongside leadership lessons from public service veterans. A notable strength is the blend of hard policy analysis with practical leadership insights, frequently featuring insiders from watchdog groups, federal agencies, and think tanks. The mix appeals to federal employees, policymakers, contractors, and media observers who want clear, context-rich perspectives on how federal decisions propagate through programs and budgets.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Federal Drive?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Federal Drive:

1. Federal Newscast
2. The Journal.
3. Marketplace Tech
4. Big Take
5. WSJ What’s News

How many episodes of The Federal Drive are there?

The Federal Drive launched 9 years ago and published 9434 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Federal Drive?

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What guests have appeared on The Federal Drive?

Recent guests on The Federal Drive include:

1. Maya Sandalow
2. Paul Sheehan
3. Maya Sandelo
4. Leslie Ford
5. Shannon Portillo
6. Matt Terry
7. Brendan McCarthy
8. Gabe Menchaca

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