Original Broadcast Date: 12/21/25
This episode of Fed Gov Today explores how federal leaders are approaching management reform, technology modernization, and workforce culture in a rapidly changing environment.
The program opens with a deep dive into the Trump administration’s new President’s Management Agenda (PMA). Former senior OMB officials Loren DeJonge Schulman and Margaret Weichert explain how PMAs are built, balancing urgent problems, long-standing management challenges, and presidential priorities. They note strong continuity across administrations on issues like workforce, procurement, data, cybersecurity, and fraud reduction. Both emphasize that real progress depends on clear accountability, strong metrics, agency ownership, and sustained leadership—not just high-level goals. They also highlight Congress’s critical role, particularly in funding multi-year technology investments and enabling shared services and consolidation.
The show then turns to technology transformation in federal health care, focusing on the Department of Veterans Affairs. Christen MacMillan of Maximus discusses how artificial intelligence and digital tools help address provider shortages, reduce administrative burden, and expand access to care, especially in rural and underserved areas. She explains how automation, decision support, telehealth, and data integration allow clinicians to spend more time with patients while maintaining appropriate governance and a “human-in-the-loop” approach to AI.
In the final segment, Jothi Dugar, Chief Information Security Officer at NIH, discusses changing cyber culture one person at a time. She introduces the concept of “cyber wellness,” emphasizing transparency, psychological safety, and leadership empathy in high-stress cybersecurity roles. Dugar explains how simple practices—like mindfulness, open communication, and approachable leadership—can improve performance during crises and reduce burnout.
In the first segment, Fed Gov Today focuses on the Trump administration’s new President’s Management Agenda (PMA) and what it takes to make it real. Francis Rose speaks with Margaret Weichert, former OMB Deputy Director for Management, and Loren DeJonge Schulman, former OMB Associate Director for Performance, who both helped build PMAs in prior administrations.
Schulman explains that PMAs often draw from three “buckets”: fixing what is clearly broken, pursuing opportunities tied to presidential priorities, and tackling perennial management challenges like workforce, procurement, data, grants, and cybersecurity. Weichert adds that the Trump approach leans more top-down, shaped by what voters trust or distrust about government and what has the biggest long-term fiscal impact.
Both guests note that many themes carry across administrations—shared services, smarter buying power, fraud and improper payments, hiring priorities, and cyber. They stress that continuity creates usable “levers” for progress, but success depends on disciplined execution: consistent metrics, near–real-time data, feedback loops, and clear accountability. They also highlight the value of naming responsible leaders and agencies, not just listing goals. Finally, they argue Congress matters—especially for enabling consolidation and funding multi-year tech modernization—so management reform can move from incremental gains to meaningful transformation.
Key Takeaways:
The second segment of Fed Gov Today focuses on how artificial intelligence and digital tools are reshaping health care delivery across the federal government, with a spotlight on the Department of Veterans Affairs. Francis Rose is joined by Christen MacMillan, Clinical Market Lead at Maximus, to discuss how technology is helping providers meet growing demand amid nationwide workforce shortages.
MacMillan explains that AI-enabled tools act as force multipliers for clinicians by reducing administrative burden and expanding access to care. Automation helps providers quickly organize and review massive volumes of medical records, freeing up time to focus on patients rather than paperwork. Decision-support tools assist with diagnostics and triage, while telehealth and virtual care options extend reach to rural and
The conversation emphasizes that effective use of AI goes beyond infrastructure. Training, user experience, and trust are critical to adoption, along with strong governance and a clear “human-in-the-loop” approach. MacMillan notes that AI is designed to support—not replace—clinical judgment, enhancing providers’ ability to deliver personalized, high-quality care.
Overall, the segment highlights how thoughtful technology integration can improve efficiency, expand access, and strengthen outcomes while keeping people at the center of federal health care delivery.
Key Takeaways:
The third segment of Fed Gov Today shifts the focus from technology to people, exploring how leadership and culture shape cybersecurity performance across the federal government. Francis Rose speaks with Jothi Dugar, CIT, CISO, NIH, about building resilient cyber teams in a high-stress, always-on environment.
Dugar explains that cybersecurity work is inherently chaotic, with constant threats and little downtime, making transparency and authenticity essential when bringing new talent into government. She introduces the concept of “cyber wellness,” which emphasizes operationalizing mental and emotional well-being as part of cybersecurity management rather than treating it as an optional benefit.
The discussion highlights how small, intentional leadership practices—such as mindfulness moments, open communication, and psychological safety—can significantly improve readiness and performance during crises. Dugar notes that stressed teams are more reactive, while teams that feel supported and grounded respond more effectively to incidents.
She also stresses the importance of approachable leadership, especially for staff most vulnerable to burnout, such as security operations teams working around the clock. By listening, acting on feedback, and showing genuine care for employees as whole people, leaders can strengthen morale and mission performance.
Key Takeaways: