Former GSA executive, Erv Koehler, dives into the federal government’s long-running challenge with bid protests—and offers practical, innovative solutions. From football-inspired “timeouts” to rethinking price assessments, Erv explains how the government can cut down on frivolous protests without undermining legitimate contractor concerns.

You’ll learn how the Government Accountability Office's recent stats—showing that over half of protests lead to some form of remedy—reveal both the value and the burden of the current protest system. He discusses how implementing a protest “timeout” policy could incentivize contractors to think twice before filing baseless objections.

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The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com.

Todd Harrison, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Francis to examine the fiscal year 2026 defense budget proposal from the Trump administration, which totals $848 billion. Harrison discusses how the reconciliation process is being used to fund Department of Defense programs and compares it to the previous use of Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding.

He explains the procedural and political differences between the two methods and outlines the implications for future budgeting, particularly in FY27. You’ll learn how these fiscal mechanisms influence national defense planning, what’s at stake for high-priority programs like Golden Dome, and how political dynamics could shape future funding decisions.

Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.