Efficiency, Experience, and Execution: Financial Leadership Across Government

Original Broadcast 5/4/25

This week’s edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose features exclusive conversations with federal financial leaders shaping the future of government operations. Irv Dennis, CFO of HUD, outlines the agency's sweeping modernization and accountability efforts; CX pioneer Martha Dorris details progress and challenges in customer experience across government; and Rear Admiral Matt Lake, CFO of the Coast Guard, discusses balancing operational needs with long-term recapitalization. These leaders demonstrate how smart investment, cultural change, and data transparency can drive mission success.

HUD's Efficiency Blueprint: Grants, Contracts & Culture

Irv Dennis, the newly reinstated Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, introduces the HUD Efficiency Task Force. The conversation outlines initiatives to simplify grant processing, enforce contractor accountability, modernize outdated IT systems, and instill a culture of performance among HUD staff. Dennis emphasizes sustainability, transparency, and internal empowerment as cornerstones for long-term transformation.

Key Takeaways:

• HUD manages $78 billion in grants annually, but visibility beyond the primary grantee level is limited; Dennis aims to use AI and a centralized data lake to improve accountability.

• A new Center of Excellence will unify 65 different grant programs into one streamlined process, reducing inefficiencies.

• IT modernization and workplace performance culture are key to making HUD’s transformation sustainable beyond political administrations.

Elevating CX in Government: Data, Trust & Strategy

Martha Dorris, President and CEO of Dorris Consulting International and a long-time federal customer experience leader, discusses how CX maturity has evolved due to data-driven accountability and policy shifts like Section 280 of OMB A-11. She reflects on the role of CX strategists, the challenges of proving value amidst fiscal constraints, and the significance of recognition programs like the Service to the Citizen Awards.

Key Takeaways:

• Agencies now collect more trust, satisfaction, and empathy data, but struggle to consolidate and use operational data internally.

• Momentum has grown through policy and cultural shifts, but recent staffing cuts may threaten CX continuity unless rebuilt strategically.

• The Service to the Citizen Awards highlight tangible impacts federal employees make on the public and internal stakeholders.

Coast Guard’s Financial Compass: Building for the Future

Rear Admiral Matt Lake, Assistant Commandant for Resources and Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard, explains the Coast Guard’s financial priorities, including how the service is balancing daily operations with the need for rapid modernization. From acquiring a commercial icebreaker to investing in resilient infrastructure, Lake emphasizes acquisition agility, workforce development, and long-term budgeting as keys to operational readiness.

Key Takeaways:

• The Coast Guard must recapitalize aging cutter fleets from the 1960s while maintaining high operational tempo, especially at the southern border.

• Innovative acquisitions, like the commercial icebreaker, demonstrate fast, efficient procurement when coupled with congressional flexibility.

• Long-term planning is essential; investments must be sustainable, and organic maintenance capabilities are critical to mission continuity.