How the Federal Government Reboots After a Shutdown: The 3 Critical Priorities That Matter Most

In this episode of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, the gears of government are grinding to a halt — and the aftershocks are just beginning. As agencies brace for and recover from a federal shutdown, former Federal CIO Suzette Kent, now CEO of Kent Advisory Services, joins Francis to break down the three critical concepts every leader must master to get government back on track: people, risk, and what’s “on the clock.” Kent reveals how to prioritize the citizens and federal employees most affected, assess hidden vulnerabilities that emerge when offices go dark, and manage the time-sensitive tasks that can make or break mission success once operations resume. Drawing on her firsthand experience navigating the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, Kent shares real-world lessons on cross-agency dependencies, payroll chaos, contractor disruptions, and cybersecurity blind spots that can spiral out of control if not addressed immediately.

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