One of the key highlights of the Defense Department’s recent memo on multi-factor authentication for unclassified and secret networks is the clarification that DoD Public Key Infrastructure — not the common access card itself — is the department’s primary authenticator. Previous policies would often go back and forth between describing the CAC or PKI as DoD’s primary credential, creating confusion. Plus, the memo finally introduces passwordless authentication methods designed to give service members faster, more flexible access to systems. For more, Federal News Network’s Anastasia Obis spoke with Alex Antrim and Adam Oliver, senior solutions engineers at Yubico..

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Transportation Department is pushing back against the old adage, “if it ain’t broke, why fix it?” Instead, DOT is looking at all of its technology systems and infrastructure and asking how they can drive better outcomes, particularly through modernization. For more on how Transportation is modernizing many of its legacy systems, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller caught up with Pavan Pidugu, the chief digital and information officer at the Department of Transportation, to learn more.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The White House’s new Great American Recovery Initiative reframes addiction as a chronic disease that needs steady support, not just clinical services — a shift meant to close the gap between how many Americans struggle with substance use and how few receive help. It calls for stronger coordination across government, healthcare, and communities to make recovery more accessible, more connected, and more rooted in real life. We’ll dig into what that means on the ground with Melissa Sosinski, host of Empathy Affect podcast, who’s spent years talking with leaders and people with lived experience about what recovery really looks like.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

DOJ’s first antitrust whistleblower reward signals a more aggressive approach to rooting out market‑allocation and procurement‑related fraud, especially in digital marketplaces. With employees now financially incentivized to report before companies self‑disclose, the competitive landscape for leniency has shifted. We explore how enforcement is changing with Ann O’Brien, partner at Shepherd and Co-Leader of the firm's Antitrust and Competition Practice Group.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

OMB’s new memo rescinds the Biden‑era requirements and shifts software and hardware security to an agency‑driven, risk‑based model. SBOMs and attestations move from “must” to “may.” That means CIOs and CISOs can tailor what they ask for from vendors, but they’ll also carry the burden of proving those choices keep mission systems safe. We’ll dig into what this change unlocks and where it could create blind spots with Jean‑Paul Bergeaux, Federal CTO at GuidePoint Security.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

• The White House has scrapped the one‑size‑fits‑all SBOM mandate and told agency leaders to own their cyber risk. Now flexibility meets accountability
• The government’s first $1 million antitrust whistleblower award could reshape how companies think about risk... and about their own employees
• A new Executive Order aims to rethink how the nation tackles addiction, shifting from treatment alone to a broader, community‑anchored approach to recovery

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over the last several weeks, lawmakers have been examining several bills that would affect federal employees in different ways. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, in particular, recently advanced legislation that may bring changes to federal benefits and hiring practices. Joining me with a review of these bills is Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Postal Service typically sees its best financial results in the first quarter of each fiscal year. That’s because of the year-end holiday season and sometimes a surge in political mail. But USPS is starting this fiscal year with a $1.3 billion net loss. It posted a rare net profit for the same period last year. The American Postal Workers Union says USPS should focus on affordable services and improved service to win back customers. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman spoke with APWU President Jonathan Smith.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.