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Policy

Tech bills of the week: Limiting data harvesting; AI for financial fraud prevention; and more

Although Congress was off this week, lawmakers still introduced several measures looking to examine the use of AI tools and protect mass gathering from malicious drone threats.

Ideas

Unleashing AI across the US government: The data security challenge holding back decision advantage

COMMENTARY | Agencies are making significant investments in AI, but those efforts will be wasted if they can't secure the sensitive data that the emerging capabilities need to provide real value.

Artificial Intelligence

US tech official calls for ‘transformational’ use of AI in scientific discovery

Chief Technology Officer Ethan Klein said deploying AI agents across workflows will enhance scientific efficiency, which is particularly critical “because that underpins every one of these technologies that we're looking to develop.”

Sponsor Content

Bold vision, bold partnerships: Lessons from Salesforce World Tour DC

From AI-driven services to real-time transparency, discover how public sector leaders are transforming government experiences with smarter tech, partnerships, and citizen-first innovation.

Artificial Intelligence

Pentagon will ‘never again’ rely on a single AI provider, official says

Defense Under Secretary for Research and Engineering Emil Michael said new agreements with Big Tech companies are a “counterstatement” to the ongoing Anthropic-Pentagon conflict as the agency prioritizes flexible contracts.

Cybersecurity

Trump admin will push for ‘long-term’ reauthorization of key cyber data-sharing law

The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act got a temporary revival as part of a funding package last year, but it will expire again in September unless renewed.

Exclusive People

White House taps Education’s tech lead as new deputy federal CIO

Thomas Flagg is a longtime government executive, having worked in the Labor Department for over 11 years prior to joining the Education Department.

Cybersecurity

Senator warns CISA election security pullback could leave midterms vulnerable

Mark Warner, the Senate Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat, pressed DHS over reports that states are no longer receiving the same cybersecurity and protection support ahead of the 2026 elections.

Cybersecurity

US lists offensive cyberattacks in counterterrorism strategy

The mention of offensive cyberattacks highlights the White House’s effort to deter foreign hackers and follows public acknowledgments of cyber operations tied to military activity.

Artificial Intelligence

FDA launches updated AI and consolidated data platform

The Food and Drug Administration’s flagship internal AI tool, Elsa, is being integrated with the data platform so that staff can accomplish work more easily.

Sponsor Content

The Federal Practitioner’s Guide to Supply Chain Risk & Due Diligence

Move beyond risk scores to defensible procurement decisions. Learn frameworks for supply chain threats, FOCI mitigation, and scalable due diligence.

Digital Government

A NOAA-backed tool shows the hidden value of healthier shorelines

The SHORE-BET calculator helps communities estimate the long-term value of marsh restoration and living shorelines, putting numbers behind storm protection, habitat gains and other benefits that are often easy to see up close but harder to measure broadly.

Modernization

How Broadcom’s VMware buy meant a ‘fundamental shift’ for county tech

Leaders said the 2023 acquisition has led to negative changes in licenses, pricing and support, with many now considering moving away from the longtime vendor.

Modernization

VA still on pace with EHR deployment after rollouts earlier this year, officials say

Other agencies are also looking to iterate on their version of the electronic health record system being used at the VA and DOD — including by bringing it onto ships at sea.

Artificial Intelligence

Commerce AI center will evaluate Google Deepmind, Microsoft and xAI models

A renegotiated deal between the three companies and the Center for Artificial Intelligence Standards and Innovation allows private sector models to undergo safety testing in classified environments.

Artificial Intelligence

Agency leader says AI is helping resource-strained workforce identify more fraud

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services official also said the Trump administration’s efforts to combat fraud in government are enabling her to “push the needle” with using the technology.

People

10 years after OPM data breach, identity protection benefits for affected feds start to expire

A federal identity monitoring program created after the hack is ending, affecting employees whose information was exposed and raising questions about long-term responsibility once protections expire.

Exclusive Artificial Intelligence

Trump admin floats policy language limiting contractor say on agency uses of technology

Ongoing drafts of policy documents feature language that would limit the private sector’s ability to dictate how their artificial intelligence models are used in government missions, according to sources familiar with their development.

Cybersecurity

CISA unveils CI Fortify to help secure critical infrastructure during conflicts

For years, U.S. officials have assessed that China is infiltrating non-military critical infrastructure to enable sabotage during a major conflict involving Taiwan.

Artificial Intelligence

Survey: More than half of federal agencies now planning agentic AI pilots

A Market Connections survey sponsored by ServiceNow of more than 200 IT executives across civilian and defense agencies suggests there is significant momentum for agentic AI adoption.

Digital Government

The State Department looks to build on the success of online passport renewal

The agency’s second attempt at moving the passport renewal process online has enabled millions to navigate the process in a fraction of the time it used to take.