Election Recap with GovNavigators

Blue wave? Tsunami? To quote Governor DeSantis, an “extinction level event for Republicans?” Whatever you call it, Robert and Adam come together this week to unpack a historic midterm election that saw the Democrats take control of both the House and Senate. Our hosts walk us through the election results, the policy implications for government management, and their predictions for the future. Plus, speculations on the upcoming lame duck session of Congress.  Special thanks to Allocore for sponsoring. Show Notes Allocore.com Politico: DeSantis calls midterm bloodbath an ‘extinction-level event for Republicans’ NBC: 2026 Senate Results: Democrats retake control BBC: Razor-tight Mississippi Senate race sparks ballot battle - could there be a recount? CNN: Alaska Dem Chair Surprises CNN’s Pamela Brown with Analogy for Counting Ballots NBC: 2026 House Results: Democrats Win Control NBC: 2026 Governor Results NYT: The Democratic Wave Swept State Houses Across the Country FairVote: Shifts in Incumbency Advantage in the US House Reuters: Abdul El-Sayed becomes first Muslim elected to US Senate NYT: Democrat Holds on to Senate Seat in New Hampshire CBS: 2 Native American women make history in 2026 midterm elections AP: Democrat Annie Andrews wins US Senate election in South Carolina over Republican Darline Graham WaPo: Adam Hamilton wins Kansas Senate race, becoming first Democrat elected to seat in nearly a century BBC: James Talarico becomes first Democrat to win Texas Senate seat since 1988 Time: Democratic Socialist Mayors Will Now Run LA, New York, and D.C. After Nithya Raman’s Win Senator Hassan: Press Release LinkedIn: Mark Bussow announcement The Hill: Incoming House Oversight chair to Republicans: ‘Lawyer up’ GAO: Federal Vacancies Reform Act GAO: FAQs on the Vacancies Act GAO: Antideficiency Act GAO: Congressional Review Act Congress.gov: The Congressional Review Act (CRA): A Brief Overview Ballotpedia: Uses of the Congressional Review Act during the Biden administration NYT: Trump Says in Interview That He Will Accept Election Results White House: President Trump Names Stephen Miller as 33rd White House Chief of Staff Congress.gov: Appropriations Status Table: FY2027 Congress.gov: H.Con.Res.113 - Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2027 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2028 through 2036. Congress.gov: Enforceable Spending Allocations in the Congressional Budget Process: 302(a) Allocations and 302(b) Suballocations White House: Budget of the U.S. Government Punchbowl News: Appropriators to meet on FY2027 spending Politico: Republicans’ last chance to cement their legacy in Trump’s Washington What’s on the GovNavigators’ Radar? November 11th Veterans Day November 12th  Dayforce Federal HR and Payroll Roundtable, Washington, D.C. November 13th  ACT-IAC's Service, Delivery, and Experience Summit 2026, Reston, VA 

How can we be better stewards of taxpayer dollars? This week, Robert and Adam unpack this question with Gus Chiarello, Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources and CFO at HHS as he details his initiative to use information from the Single Audit Act to prevent improper payments and save taxpayer funds. Plus, a case study in Arizona and an inside look into technology’s role in reform.  Thank you Allocore for sponsoring! Show Notes: Allocore.com CBS News: Daylight Savings Time FNN: DoD’s reasons for CMMC pause falling apart in face of RFI responses GSA: GSA Launches Sweeping Fraud Audit of Nearly 700 Federal Contractors in Collaboration with Small Business Administration SBA: SBA Refers Nearly 700 Noncompliant 8(a) Firms to GSA to Conduct Contract Audits Nextgov/FCW: DHS personnel leak exposes contact details and sensitive job information YouTube: I’ll alert the media USASpending: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)   ExecutiveGOV: Gustav Chiarello Confirmed as HHS Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources HHS: HHS Cracks Down on Years of Unchecked Audit Findings HHS: HHS Single Audit resolution Division Congress.gov: Single Audit Act of 1984 CBS News: How a viral video prompted investigations into alleged fraud at day care centers in Minnesota HHS OIG: Minnesota Could Better Ensure That Childcare Assistance Providers Comply With Attendance Requirements CBS News: Records reveal Minnesota's long history with day care fraud warnings George W. Bush White House Archives: Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations AHCCCS: Sober Living Fraud Response Propublica: Dozens of People Died in Arizona Sober Living Homes as State Officials Fumbled Medicaid Fraud Response Arizona Auditor General: 2024 Single Audit Report Arizona Auditor General: 2023 Single Audit Report Arizona Legislature: HHS Assistant Secretary to Testify at JLAC Hearing on Arizona’s Delinquent Single Audit White House: Fraud Leger EPA: GHGRP and the U.S. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks Peter G. Peterson Foundation: Almost 25% of Healthcare Spending is Considered Wasteful. Here’s Why. HHS OIG: 2026 Semiannual Report to Congress What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar? November 3 Election day November 6 GovCIO AI Summit, Tysons, VA November 8 NAPA National Conference, Washington, D.C. 

This week, Cindy Morgan, member of the GovNavigators Network and President of C.O. Morgan LLC, takes Robert and Adam through her past work in federal acquisitions, the need for agency access to technology, and the value of cultivating your professional network. Plus, whether Cindy would ever consider making the return to government. Thank you to Allocore for sponsoring! Show Notes Allocore.com Federal Register: Elimination of Time-in-Grade OPM: OPM Finalizes Rule Removing Governmentwide Time-in-Grade Barrier to Promotions Federal Register: Administrative Leave for Workforce Realignment and Other Purposes OPM: Memorandum on Revised Administrative Leave Regulations YouTube: I’ll alert the media Nextgov/FCW: Inaugural ‘GSA Labs’ cohort identifies $229M in potential savings, agency says GSABlog: GSA Labs Turns Employee Ideas Into Nearly $229 Million in Potential Savings Obama White House Archives: Office of Federal Procurement Policy Service Contract Inventories HHS: HHS Divisions GSA: Procurement Acquisition Lead Time (PALT) YouTube: Kramer Becomes the Moviefone Man NCMA: National Contract Management Association EWG: Executive Women in Government What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar? October 27th  Granicus Building the Federal Experience Ecosystem, Arlington, VA  October 29th  Potomac Officers Club 2026 FedCiv Summit, Pentagon City, VA  Oversight 2.0: The Case for a Reimagined Oversight Function Roundtable October 30th  PSC Defense Conference, Arlington, VA 

Put me in, coach! This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam bring in Rai Moyers, Director of Coaching at Former Gov, to discuss her work setting former federal workers up for success as they figure out what’s next. From her roots as a park ranger with the Forest Service, to her exit from government, to her coaching practices, Rai details her human-centered approach to helping people discover themselves as “the person behind the mission.”  Plus, the power of community for public service professionals.  Thank you to our friends at Allocore for sponsoring this episode! Show Notes Allocore.com GAO: 2027-2032 Strategic Plan YouTube: Something About Mary (Thanks, Adam) WaPo: Lower the US Deficit Interactive FedScoop: AI slop responses to RFPs, RFIs are overwhelming federal agencies GAO: Oready, LLC  WSJ: The Moment Katie Zacharia Found Out Her Five-Day Stint as Press Secretary Was Over  FormerGov.com  Soul Shine Coaching LLC FEDWeek: Under-30 Share of Federal Workforce Remains Low, Says MSPB (2023) FNN: Trump administration expands push to hire early-career federal employees FedsForward.org Wearewellfed.com iPEC: Energy Leadership Index Assessment  What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar? October 17th-21st  2026 ICMA Annual Conference, Long Beach, California October 20th Google Public Sector Summit 2026, Washington, D.C. October 21st  FEDInsider’s Innovation Summit, Washington, D.C. 

Hope everyone’s enjoying a well-deserved day off! On this pop-up episode of the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam run through the news and events of last week, recapping an exciting conference on federal lending and discussing new compliance guidance from OMB. Plus, some presidential action on SI (we got the new name straight eventually).  Special thanks to Allocore for sponsoring! Show Notes Allocore.com White House: Columbus Day, 2026 ACT-IAC: Federal Loan Systems Modernization Forum OMB: Draft Compliance Supplement WSJ: New AI Czar Unveils Goals, Members of White House Task Force  White House: Trump Accounts Put 70 Million Kids on the Path to Financial Freedom 

Drumroll, please! This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam sit down with Mary Peterman, the newly hired CEO of AGA. Learn about Mary’s longstanding involvement in the organization, her view on the role AGA should play in public policy issues, and her thoughts on the impact of AI in government financial management. Plus, how AGA is here to help you adjust to an evolving federal landscape and the rapid technological transformation sweeping the field.  Thank you Allocore for sponsoring this episode! Show Notes Allocore.com America.gov: America.gov FNN: How the Trump administration has been building toward the America.gov launch NYT: At White House, Trump Asks A.I. Titans to Police Themselves White House: Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence White House: Restoring the United States Department of War HHS: HHS Cracks Down on Years of Unchecked Audit Findings HHS: HHS Single Audit Resolution Division NASCIO: Annual Conference AGA: agacgfm.org AGA: AGA Names Mary E. Peterman Chief Executive Officer White House: M-25-30 Ensuring Accountability: How we Oversee, Audit, and Improve Congress.gov: Defense Primer: FY2025 Department of Defense Audit Results What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar? October 8th  ACT-IAC's Federal Loan Systems Modernization Act of 2026 Forum, Reston, VA October 12th-14th  AUSA 2026, Washington, D.C. October 14th-15th  SAP Public Sector Summit, Washington, D.C.  

The oracle is back, and he's not holding back. This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome the return of Charles Cooper, Founder and Managing Partner at Brumidi Group, for a deep dive into the state of play on Capitol Hill with just weeks to go before the midterms. Will there be a government shutdown? What does a lame duck Congress actually get done? And is divided government secretly good? Charles breaks it all down with the kind of context only a seasoned congressional insider can provide, from redistricting math to the seats nobody's watching... yet.Thank you to Allocore for sponsoring this episode.Show Notes:Source: GSA, HHS Uncover $1.2 Billion in Suspected COVID-Related Contract FraudSource: Trump Administration to Remove 760,000 ACA Enrollees Over Fraud ClaimsSource: OPM Gives Agencies Authority to Give Bonuses Up to $25,000Source: Public Trust in Government Falls to 27% — Partnership for Public ServiceEvents on the GovNavigators' Radar:September 27th – 30th: NASCIO 2026 Annual Conference, San DiegoOctober 8th: MeriTalk Tech TonicOctober 19th: FAR Revolutionary Overhaul Public Comment Deadline

Who knew Jaws could come up in a conversation on data? This week, Robert and Adam sit down with Nick Hart, President and CEO of the Data Foundation to debrief their GovDATAx conference and discuss the many factors at play in the national data ecosystem. Learn what progress Nick believes has been made in the federal data sphere and hear what he thinks is still left to be done. Plus, insights on the challenges of balancing representation and data privacy, and how data is the key to fighting fraud.  Thank you Allocore for sponsoring! Show Notes Allocore.com Data Foundation: Website OPM: SF-86 PBS News: Patel testifies in Senate hearing, defending changes to FBI hiring standards on prostitution, bestiality PBS News: WATCH: Patel explains why FBI no longer considers bestiality an automatic hiring disqualifier America’s Pulse: Website Congress.gov: H.R.2069 - Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 White House: Congressional Bills H.R. 1276, H.R. 2069, H.R. 2196 and H.R. 5366 Signed into Law Congress: Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) Data Foundation: GovDATAx Conference Congress.gov: H.R.4174 - Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 FedScoop: A government data policy deadline is nearing. Data leaders are looking to help HHS: HHS Cracks Down on Years of Unchecked Audit Findings BFS: Do Not Pay Congress.gov: H.R.8463 - Pre-Payment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act Data Foundation: Data Foundation Welcomes House Passage of Pre-Payment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act Congress.gov: The Privacy Act of 1974: Overview and Issues for Congress ACF: Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking (CEP) Census.gov: Robert M. Groves Grants.gov: Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 Data Foundation: Datum Awards NCSES: The National Secure Data Service Demonstration Congress.gov: H.R.150 - GREAT Act Data Foundation: Data Foundation Launches Community-Led Strategy to Define a Shared Vision for America’s Data Future Data Foundation: The People’s Data 100 What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar? September 21st – 25th  Defense Scoop’s Defense Tech Week September 22nd  ACT-IAC's Digital Transformation Summit, Reston, VA September 22nd and 23rd AGA’s Internal Control & Fraud Prevention Training, Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, D.C. September 25th  POGO and Arnold Ventures's Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act 20th Anniversary Celebration September 30th FedRAMP Day, Arlington, VA 

From inside the House, it’s Christian Hoehner!  This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome their good friend Christian Hoehner, Policy Director for the Majority staff at the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Christian walks us through the committee’s expansive work, including their new legislation addressing the “dire problem” of fraud and improper payments. Plus, an inside look at the Prepayment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act, and the payoff of bipartisan cooperation. Special thanks to our friends at Allocore for sponsoring this episode! Show Notes Allocore.com AP: US marks 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks GovExec: What does 9/11 mean for young public servants who hardly remember it? PBS: Anthropic researcher's resignation sends warning about the dangers of AI development WSJ: Congress Is Suddenly Waking Up to the AI Doomsday Threat GSA: GSA Expands OneGov AI Offerings with Discounted, Consumption-Based Access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT Politico: Viral AI researcher’s warning ‘scary as hell,’ Cruz says The British Museum: The Bayeux Tapestry GAO: Payment Integrity GAO: Fraud Risk Management House Oversight: Chairman Comer: Congress Must Stop Fraud to Protect Taxpayers House Oversight: House Passes 11 Oversight Committee Bills to Stop Fraud in Federal Programs Congress.gov: Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 Congress.gov: Pre-Payment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act Bureau of the Fiscal Service: Do Not Pay DOJ: Privacy Act Data Foundation: Data Foundation Endorses Pre-Payment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act Ahead of Markup Data Foundation: Data Foundation Welcomes House Passage of Pre-Payment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act Congress.gov: Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act Congress.gov: Fraud Prevention and Accountability Act What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar? September 14th Socure Fraud Briefing on Capitol Hill September 15th  The Data Foundation’s govDATAx, George Washington University National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) Lunch for John Bernard, America’s Pulse Senator Lankford and Senator Hassan’s Roundtable on Executive-Legislative Relations  

Happy Labor Day!  On this pop-up episode, Robert and Adam wish a happy holiday to all, with a special shoutout to our federal workforce. Plus, some quick updates from Congress and upcoming events to tie you over through the long weekend. Show Notes: Allocore.com Federal News Network: House passes short-term funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election Bloomberg Government: House Cancels Two September Session Weeks Ahead of Midterms  What’s on the GovNavigators’ radar? September 9th  GovNavigators Policy Wonk Happy Hour, benefiting the Senior Executives Association, The Exchange, Washington D.C., 5-7 PM September 15th  The Data Foundation’s govDATAx Conference, George Washington University