Federal Newscast
News & Politics Podcasts
THE FEDERAL NEWSCAST, (length about seven minutes), is a daily Monday through Friday, high-information compilation of nine 40-second news stories and news packages, generated by the non-partisan, non-political, private-sector team of reporters at Federal News Network. Federal News Radio Producer/Newscasters Eric White and Michele Sandiford assemble and read the stories on the THE FEDERAL DRIVE with TERRY GERTON, the weekday morning-drive program, heard from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. (ET) on the Federal News Network app (and website), on any smart speaker, and on WFED 1500 AM, a 50,000-watt 'Class A' powerhouse radio station in the nation's capital. The podcast is most popular with FNN's audience of highly educated listeners, who conveniently access THE FEDERAL NEWSCAST, 24/7, on any podcast platform . Listen to it (as just mentioned) or read the stories each weekday morning at FederalNewsNetwork.com, where the news items contain hyperlinks for those who want more information on a given story.
Location:
United States
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Description:
THE FEDERAL NEWSCAST, (length about seven minutes), is a daily Monday through Friday, high-information compilation of nine 40-second news stories and news packages, generated by the non-partisan, non-political, private-sector team of reporters at Federal News Network. Federal News Radio Producer/Newscasters Eric White and Michele Sandiford assemble and read the stories on the THE FEDERAL DRIVE with TERRY GERTON, the weekday morning-drive program, heard from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. (ET) on the Federal News Network app (and website), on any smart speaker, and on WFED 1500 AM, a 50,000-watt 'Class A' powerhouse radio station in the nation's capital. The podcast is most popular with FNN's audience of highly educated listeners, who conveniently access THE FEDERAL NEWSCAST, 24/7, on any podcast platform . Listen to it (as just mentioned) or read the stories each weekday morning at FederalNewsNetwork.com, where the news items contain hyperlinks for those who want more information on a given story.
Language:
English
Episodes
Republican lawmaker raises concerns about funding Federal Employees Health Benefits program
11/5/2025
As Open Season approaches, one Republican is raising concerns about funding for the Federal Employees Health Benefits program. Oklahoma Senator James Lankford is questioning the Office of Personnel Management on how it plans to avoid exhausting the FEHB’s trust fund. He says it’s a concern, since there aren’t any incoming contributions to the trust fund under the government shutdown. In response to Lankford’s questions, OPM said that if needed, it would be able to let health carriers request additional funding from contingency reserves. But for the time being, OPM says all FEHB plans have sufficient funds to pay claims.
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Duration:00:06:58
All 15 TSP funds post positive returns in October
11/4/2025
Funds in the Thrift Savings Plan continue bring back strong returns month over month. In October, all 15 funds increased over their September numbers. The C and I funds were the top earners, returning 2.34% and 2.13%, respectively in October. The G, F and L income fund were the only funds to garner returns of less than 1%. Year to date, 13 of 15 funds are returning more than 10% with the I fund coming in at just over 28%.
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Duration:00:06:09
Colorado’s Attorney General sues Trump Administration over Space Command relocation
11/3/2025
Colorado’s attorney general is suing the Trump administration over its decision to move U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama. Attorney General Phil Weiser filed the lawsuit last week, arguing the president’s move is unconstitutional and violates federal law requiring notices and reports to Congress before relocating a major military headquarters. Weiser said President Donald Trump openly admitted the move was meant to punish Colorado for its mail-in voting system. The lawsuit also names Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Department of the Air Force and Air Force Secretary Troy Meink as plaintiffs.
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Duration:00:06:59
Plans to keep the FBI headquarters in D.C. are moving ahead in Congress
10/31/2025
Plans to keep the FBI’s new headquarters in the District of Columbia are moving ahead in Congress. Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advanced the Trump administration’s proposal to move the FBI to the Ronald Reagan Building just blocks away from the crumbling J. Edgar Hoover Building. The Biden administration planned to relocate the FBI headquarters to Greenbelt, Maryland.
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Duration:00:06:40
The government shutdown takes a $7 billion toll on the U.S. economy, so far
10/30/2025
The second-longest government shutdown is projected to put a toll on the U-S economy. The Congressional Budget Office expects the shutdown will take a $7 billion hit to the economy, so far. That sum would climb to $14 billion if it drags on for another month. About 750,000 federal employees are currently furloughed and many others are working without pay.
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Duration:00:07:13
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board reminds feds about loan options
10/29/2025
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board is reminding federal employees of their current options for loans. All loans from the Thrift Savings Plan remain in good standing during a government shutdown, even if participants don’t make payments on time. The TSP board has also received recent feedback from participants on its loan program, with some calling it a “true lifesaver.” Others say the TSP loan and withdrawal options have relieved at least some of their stress. TSP operations continue as usual during an appropriations lapse, since the TSP board is not funded by Congress.
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Duration:00:06:28
Government shutdown puts SBA loans on hold
10/28/2025
The government shutdown is putting loans from the Small Business Administration on hold. SBA estimates that $170 million in loans have been paused each day. That adds up to more than $4.5 billion dollars over the length of the shutdown. SBA paid out more than $45 billion in loans to 85,000 small business in fiscal 2025. That’s a record high for the agency.
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Duration:00:06:28
Air Force opening up unused land for private AI centers
10/27/2025
The Department of the Air Force is opening up its unused land across five military bases to private companies to build artificial intelligence centers. A request for lease proposals posted last week follows President Donald Trump’s executive order to use federally owned land and resources to quickly build AI data centers. In addition, the Air Force said the service “cannot afford to disregard or discount the value of any asset, and must optimize the real and potential value of those assets.” Each project must be valued at more than $500 million and require at least 100 megawatts of power to qualify. Companies can lease property on Air Force bases in Tennessee, California, Arizona, New Jersey and Georgia. The government can purchase services and power from the centers but it’s not required to do so. Proposals are due by November 14.
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Duration:00:06:42
Number of federal employees exiting government this year continues to grow
10/24/2025
The number of federal employees exiting the government this year continues to grow. The Partnership for Public Service has added thousands more to its running tally of how many feds have left their jobs since January. The latest estimate surpasses 211,000 employees who are either already gone, or who may exit soon. The organization says the increase comes from the layoffs agencies announced earlier this month ... although those are being temporarily blocked. There were also some updated numbers on how many Defense Department personnel have taken a deferred resignation.
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Duration:00:06:45
VA Secretary warns more staff to be furloughed if shutdown continues
10/23/2025
The vast majority of employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs keep working during a government shutdown. But VA Secretary Doug Collins says more than 30,000 of the department’s employees have been furloughed. That’s about double what the VA outlined in its latest contingency plans. Collins says the VA will have to furlough more staff from VA’s central office next week if the shutdown continues. He’s calling on Democratic lawmakers to pass a stopgap spending bill to end the shutdown.
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Duration:00:06:08
Government shutdown takes toll on air traffic controllers
10/22/2025
The current shutdown is taking a toll on air traffic controllers. In response to a recent union survey, 700 employees working in air traffic control jobs detailed stories of financial difficulties, like turning to local food banks, canceling medical treatments and seeking part-time jobs. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, or “PASS,” says those hardships can carry over into the workday. The longer the shutdown goes, the more air traffic controllers feel their anxiety and stress levels rise. The union warns that can be a big distraction on the job.
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Duration:00:04:54
Hawaii, Alaska and New Mexico among states hardest hit by government shutdown
10/21/2025
Hawaii, Alaska and New Mexico are among the states being hit hardest by the partial government shutdown. A new report by WalletHub, a personal finance company, ranked the impact of the shutdown across all 50 states and Washington D.C., across five key metrics, including each state’s share of federal jobs to federal contract dollars per capita to national park access. WalletHub found Washington, D.C. is being impacted the most with a score of 76.33 out of 100, as 25% of all jobs are related the government. Hawaii and New Mexico earned scores of 71 each, respectively. Minnesota, Indiana and Iowa are the three states at the bottom of the list, scoring 15 or below out of 100.
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Duration:00:05:11
House Judiciary Cmte Democrats launch new federal watchdogs website
10/20/2025
House Judiciary Committee Democrats have launched a new website for federal watchdogs. That comes after the Trump administration pulled funding for the Council on Inspectors General for Integrity and Efficiency. CIGIE had provided website infrastructure services for at least 28 inspectors general offices. The Judiciary committee’s website provides report repository and hotline contact information for IG offices that relied on CIGIE’s funding. Many of the IG offices have set up temporary websites while Democrats in Congress have pressed the White House to restore CIGIE’s funding.
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Duration:00:05:45
More resources are popping up for federal employees during the shutdown
10/17/2025
More resources for federal employees during the shutdown are continuing to pop up. Several credit unions are offering no-fee loans to furloughed federal employees. Local food banks are offering options for those who may need it. And feds who have been laid off this year can also get a $2,000 loan – with no fees and no interest – from the Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund. The offerings come as hundreds of thousands of federal employees face missed paychecks for the foreseeable future. Civilian feds received a partial paycheck late last week – it will be their last payday until the shutdown ends.
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Duration:00:05:30
Lawmakers demand White House ensure back pay for furloughed employees
10/16/2025
Democrats are demanding that the White House follow a 2019 law to ensure back pay for furloughed employees after the government shutdown. In a letter to the Office of Management and Budget, House and Senate lawmakers wrote that the law is clear: Furloughed employees are owed back pay, just as excepted employees are. The letter comes after OMB questioned whether the law actually guaranteed pay for furloughed feds. OMB’s legal opinion, though, quickly received backlash from lawmakers, unions and other employee organizations.
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Duration:00:07:38
Army Human Resources Command develops internal AI chatbox
10/15/2025
The Army’s Human Resources Command has developed an internal AI chatbot called “Ask HR” — the chatbot will enter beta testing once the government is funded. The bot has access to Army regulations, Military Personnel Messages and other HR data, which allows soldiers to quickly find information. The new tool is part of a broader effort to create a “digital front door” for human resources, which combines the Army’s existing call center and online services to improve the overall soldier experience. Army officials also said they are also exploring the use of generative AI to identify talent more quickly and improve officer retention.
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Duration:00:06:35
Lawsuit challenging Trump administration’s shutdown layoffs faces a judge
10/14/2025
Plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s latest mass layoffs will make their case to a federal judge tomorrow. The administration sent RIF notices to more than 4,000 federal employees last week. Government employee unions say reduction-in-force procedures are normally prohibited during a shutdown and that the Trump administration gave unlawful orders to exempt RIF activities. The Supreme Court this summer allowed the Trump administration to proceed with earlier mass layoffs across the federal workforce.
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Duration:00:06:28
Pentagon offers VIP treatment for service members released over COVID vaccine
10/10/2025
The Pentagon is making the reinstatement process smoother for service members who were booted from the military over the COVID vaccine. In a new memo, the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness said applicants seeking reinstatement now receive special-category VIP treatment. That includes notifying commanders in advance of their arrival, getting priority processing at Military Entrance Processing Stations and an assigned escort to expedite their screening. In addition, the department will proactively review personnel records and discharge characterizations for service members involuntarily separated solely due to COVID-19 vaccine refusal.
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Duration:00:06:07
Federal retirement claims drop in September
10/9/2025
The number of federal employees filing retirement claims in September was the lowest all year. Just over 6,300 employees submitted their retirement paperwork to the Office of Personnel Management. At the same time, OPM also processed the fewest number of current claims in September, just over 7,900. Despite the lower number of claims, OPM says it took six days longer, on average, in September than in August to process claims. The current retirement claims backlog is at 23,500, which dropped for the fourth straight month.
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Duration:00:06:52
The number of TSP millionaires continues to grow
10/8/2025
The number of so-called TSP millionaires is continuing to go up. As of October 1st, nearly 190,000 participants in the Thrift Savings Plan have accounts totaling over $1 million. That’s about 2.6 percent of all TSP accounts across the board. It also means roughly 19,000 more feds have crossed the million-dollar threshold in the last three months. Most TSP millionaires have spent decades investing in their accounts.
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Duration:00:06:17