State Department

• State Dept sees record hiring, but seeks higher budgets through 2030 to fully replenish ranks

  The State Department is bringing in a record volume of new hires, but is calling on lawmakers for increased budgets through the end of the decade to fully replenish its ranks.

  Hiring/Retention

  November 13, 2023
• How exporting weapons becomes risky for contractors who make the exports

  Because of military aid to Ukraine and, presumably Israel, the U.S. defense industrial base is strained right now. Manufacturers of platforms and ammunition must deal with a list of regulatory and legal challenges. For more, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with attorney Justin Chiarodo, a partner at Blank Rome.

  Contracting

  November 09, 2023
• A handful of companies get an atta-boy from the Secretary of State

  At a ceremony earlier this week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented five American companies, large and small, with the department's Award for Corporate Excellence. The awards recognize companies that reflect the administration's focus areas when it comes to corporate diplomacy. To learn more about this year's awards, Federal Drive Executive Producer spoke to Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs at the State Department, Sarah Morgenthau.

  Management

  November 01, 2023
• State Dept, USAID psychiatrists spread thin as demand for mental health services overseas rises

  In today's Federal Newscast: Federal employees’ demand for mental health services overseas is rising, but help for them is spread thin. HHS surpasses targets for hiring military spouses. And bid protests spiked in fiscal 2022.

  Federal Newscast

  October 27, 2023
• State Dept rethinks training for Foreign Service at all levels amid hiring surge

  The State Department is increasing its capacity to train members of the Foreign Service, and expanding the fields of expertise for its diplomatic corps, as the department embarks on its largest hiring of career diplomats in more than a decade.

  Hiring/Retention

  October 23, 2023
• Here’s something else the State Department has to do expeditiously

  An urgent report from the Government Accountability Office is aimed at the State Department. GAO called for State to, in its words, "expeditiously get on with a cybersecurity risk management program." State has a plan, now it has to carry it out. For more on this, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Jennifer Franks, GAO's Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity.

  Cybersecurity

  October 18, 2023
• State Department declassifies diplomatic cables using AI assistant

  The State Department tool cost about $400,000 to develop and is at least 97% as accurate as humans, according to an agency leader.

  Artificial Intelligence

  October 09, 2023
• Why some CIOs say it’s time to rethink governmentwide cyber metrics

  Andre Mendes, the chief information officer at the Department of Commerce, was one of several agency technology executives pushing for more consistency around cyber metrics under the FITARA scorecard.

  Ask the CIO

  October 02, 2023
• Reforming federal hiring: Does the Chance to Compete Act promise more than the government can deliver?

  The massively bipartisan Chance to Compete Act aims to modernize federal hiring — but experts say limitations in HR offices could stunt its potential, while others think the bill doesn’t take hiring reform far enough.

  Federal Report

  September 04, 2023
• New top-secret cloud strategy underpins State Dept bureau’s modernization efforts

  Jimmy Hall Jr., the State Bureau of Intelligence and Research’s chief information officer and director of the Technology and Innovation Office, said he will release a top secret cloud strategy to improve the agility, security and capabilities for the department.

  Ask the CIO

  August 28, 2023
• The story behind recent releases of Americans held in foreign countries

  Two young State Department foreign affairs officers helped secure recent releases of Americans held in by foreign countries. That fact has landed them as finalists in this year's Service to America Medals program, aka "the Sammies." Fletcher Schoen developed the negotiation strategy for basketball player Brittney Griner, among others. And Jennifer Harkins was instrumental in the 2022 release of nine Americans held by Venezuela.

  People

  August 24, 2023
• Fed up with the State Department’s passport delays? So are its employees

  The State Department is on track to issue a record-breaking number of passports this year, but is still dealing with a major backlog of applications and higher-than-average wait times.

  Federal Report

  August 15, 2023
• For this State Department operative, the wheelchair has been a challenge but not an obstacle

  She's a successful State Department negotiator dealing with the United Nations, no less. She's a lifelong athlete, excelling in several sports including rock climbing. And, she conducts her life from a wheelchair. Sofija Korac just received national recognition for work on behalf of people with disabilities.

  People

  August 11, 2023
• State Department’s upcoming AI strategy looks to lay foundation for emerging tools

  The Biden administration is laying the foundation for greater use of artificial intelligence tools across the federal government — but agencies are already charting a path for how federal employees will work with AI tools.…

  Artificial Intelligence

  August 01, 2023