Summary

In this episode of FEDtalk, hosts Natalia Castro and Jason Briefel are joined by Catrina Bonus and Jessie Lane from Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) to discuss National Police Week and the 25th anniversary of WIFLE. They talk about the history and mission of WIFLE, which is dedicated to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in federal law enforcement. They also highlight the various programs and initiatives that WIFLE has implemented to support women in law enforcement, including community engagement, mentorship, and partnerships with federal agencies, military organizations, and international partners. The conversation also touches on the importance of diversity and inclusion in law enforcement and the significance of National Police Week in honoring fallen officers. The conversation highlights the importance of gender diversity in law enforcement and the efforts of WIFLE to promote and support women in the field. The guests discuss the 30x30 Initiative, which aims to increase the representation of women in law enforcement to 30% by 2030. They emphasize the need for not just hiring, but also promoting and retaining women in leadership positions. The conversation also touches on the unique strengths that women bring to law enforcement, such as compassion and de-escalation skills. WIFLE's annual leadership training is mentioned as a key event that provides education, networking, and recognition for women in law enforcement. To register for the 2024 WIFLE Leadership Summit, August 5-8 in Washington, DC, visit: https://wiflefoundation.org.

Summary

In this episode, the hosts Jason Briefel and Natalia Castro recap Season One of FEDtalk and discuss key considerations for the federal government moving forward. They explore the concept of the federal government in flux, highlighting the impact of technology and the need for adaptability. They also discuss the evolution of federal power and the importance of capacity issues across the branches of government. The hosts emphasize the need to focus on people and the role of politics and accountability in government. They reflect on the federal community and encourage civil servants themselves to embrace and lead change for a better government.

Takeaways

• The federal government is in a state of flux due to rapid changes in technology, society, and the economy.
• Adaptability is crucial for the government to effectively respond to these changes.
• Capacity issues exist across all three branches of government and need to be addressed.
• Focusing on people and civil servants embracing change themselves is essential for improving the government.

Sound Bites

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Recap of Season One

03:15The Federal Government in Flux

06:00The Impact of Technology on Government

09:46The Need for Adaptability in Government

11:39The Evolution of Federal Power

19:39The Importance of Focusing on People

23:47The Role of Politics and Accountability in Government

26:39Reflections on the Federal Community

30:19Moving Forward and Embracing Change

39:26Closing Remarks

Summary

This episode of FEDtalk focuses on congressional oversight and its function in the constitutional system. The guests, Tim Stretten from the Project on Government Oversight’s (POGO) Congressional Oversight Initiative and Elise Bean from the Carl Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, discuss the importance of effective oversight, the challenges faced in conducting oversight, and the role of training and assistance for congressional staff. They emphasize the need for bipartisanship, time and resources, and credibility in conducting oversight. The guests also highlight the role of other oversight partners such as inspectors general and the Government Accountability Office. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of oversight in promoting a more ethical and effective government.

Takeaways

• Congressional oversight is a core power of Congress to gather information necessary for legislation and ensuring proper administration of existing laws.
• Effective oversight requires bipartisanship, time and resources, credibility, and a focus on producing legislative change.
• Training and assistance programs, such as congressional oversight boot camps run by nonprofits like POGO and the Levin Center, help educate congressional staff on how to conduct better oversight.
• Collaboration with other oversight partners, such as inspectors general and the Government Accountability Office, can enhance the effectiveness of congressional oversight.
• Challenges in oversight include partisanship, lack of institutional knowledge, and resistance from agencies.

Chapters

00:00Introduction

00:31Focus on Congressional Oversight

01:26Introduction to the Levin Center and POGO

04:20Congressional Training and Assistance

06:41Importance of Bipartisanship in Oversight

08:02Congressional Oversight Boot Camps

09:29Qualities for Effective Oversight

13:23Challenges in Partisanship and Lack of Oversight

26:23Challenges in Agency Responsiveness

28:34Improving Congressional Staff Capacity

31:19Collaboration with Inspector General Community

36:00Importance of Institutional Knowledge and Staff Tenure

40:32Congressional Oversight Standards

Key Links & Resources:

Levin Center for Legislative Oversight and Democracy (levin-center.org)

Congressional Oversight Staff Resources (pogo.org)

We Held our 18th Oversight Boot Camp in D.C. • Levin Center (levin-center.org)

Our Work: The Lugar Center