Federal Drive interviews – May 4, 2012

This is the Federal Drive show blog. Here you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.

The Food and Drug Administration is a microcosm of the federal government itself. It has a highly visible mission. It employs a range of people from field agents to scientists to policy analysts. It’s reach is worldwide and its decisions have economic consequences. And, like most agencies, it struggles with limited resources and the need to modernize without interrupting service. Leading this far-flung effort is Commissioner Margaret Hamburg.

Federal agencies have looked in the mirror and admitted they have a problem. Most continue to struggle with managing important records, according to new self assessments collected by the National Archives. It finds that staff at many agencies are simply not up to the task. Either they have too much other work or not enough training. While technology has made their work easier, trends like social media and cloud computing present new challenges.

Agencies continue to struggle with records management

“Doing more with less” is a common expression in federal circles these days, but does there come a point when you’re just doing less with less? That’s what’s happening at the Internal Revenue Service, according both the IRS chief and the NTEU. She recently told Congress that underfunding the agency is costing the country more money than it’s saving.

Audit reveals budget cuts slow IRS capabilities

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