We Are The Government

Join host Dipka Hesse for the premiere episode of We Are the Government, a podcast celebrating federal workers and their contributions to America's 250-year history. In this episode, we sit down with Howie Simanoff, an auditor for the U.S. Capitol Police in its Office of the Inspector General. Howie shares what led him into the federal government after a 25-year career as an auditor for U.S. accounting giant KPMG where he was also a federal contractor for 15 years. In a twist, Howie was laid off from KPMG just before he could collect his pension. He delves into his empathy toward many long-time civil servants now forced to leave their posts as the federal government shrinks.Howie discusses what it's like to be a "cop" looking for waste, fraud and abuse but also efficiencies and effectiveness inside the operations of the Capitol Police long before the development of the Department of Government Efficiency.Topics Covered: Federal workforce reductions, Capitol Police careers, Inspector General audits, KPMG contractor experience, government efficiency, financial statement audits, federal hiring process, Washington DC government jobs, DOGE impact on federal workers, career transitions from private sector to government, the life of a civil servantsAbout your host: Dipka Bhambhani Hesse is an award-winning Washington, DC-based reporter who distills global energy policy and illustrates its impact on the business of energy and innovation. She has been writing for Forbes since 2018. Dipka started her energy career as a daily reporter 20 years ago where she covered the federal government. That work invited global opportunities in energy public affairs, advance operations and executive support, including as a speechwriter for the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Subscribe & FollowDon't miss future episodes of We Are the Government! Subscribe now to hear more stories, insider perspective on working for the U.S. government in Washington.This podcast is produced as a time capsule for America's 250th anniversary, preserving the stories and contributions of those who have helped build our Republic.Host: Dipka Hesse X: @DBHesseLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/dipkabhambhani⁠YouTube: @theenergyodyssey Thank you to our great team who helped make this inaugural episode possible. A special thanks to David Padrusch and Mathew John for their support, without which this wouldn’t be possible.Guest: Howie Simanoff, Auditor, U.S. Capitol Police, Office of the Inspector GeneralExecutive Producer: Richard Taliaferro (⁠https://www.richardtaliaferro.com⁠)Graphic Artist: David Zerba (⁠zerba.david@gmail.com⁠)