Ideas
Empowering US federal agencies through strategic data sharing: A blueprint for success
COMMENTARY | A robust multi-modal data-sharing framework can drive mission success.
Modernization
VA hopes to use next year’s EHR rollouts to gain momentum for faster deployments
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins said VA is hoping to deploy its new EHR system at 20 to 25 new medical facilities in 2027 as it pursues an accelerated deployment timeline.
Cybersecurity
Industry reps urge Congress to renew backbone cyber information-sharing law
The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, a keystone ordinance that lets the private sector share cyber threat information with legal safeguards, expires in September unless renewed by Congress.
People
NSA cyber chief to retire at end of month, people familiar say
Dave Luber’s planned retirement comes as the intelligence community has already undergone several workforce changes under the Trump administration.
Exclusive
Digital Government
DOGE went looking for phone fraud at SSA — and found almost none
Since SSA installed new anti-fraud checks on claims made over the phone, only two claims out of over 110,000 were found to likely be fraudulent, according to internal documents obtained by Nextgov/FCW.
Artificial Intelligence
House budget bill would put 10-year pause on state AI regulation
The bill before the House Energy and Commerce Committee under the budget reconciliation process would prevent states from enforcing “any law or regulation” for AI models. It may run afoul of Senate rules.
Cybersecurity
DHS head says she’s alarmed CISA doesn't know more about Salt Typhoon hacks
“The thing that has alarmed me the most about CISA is the lack of information that they have, the lack of solutions that they have, and how they protect our critical infrastructure,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told members of the House Homeland Security Committee.
Cybersecurity
US spy chief fires heads of intelligence body that disputed Trump’s Venezuela gang claims
The National Intelligence Council assessment undercuts claims from President Donald Trump that Tren de Aragua is carrying out an “invasion” overseen by Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.
Modernization
Sandia labs to undertake $5B construction effort over next decade
Sandia National Laboratories is growing its physical infrastructure to help advance its core national security research efforts, notably radiation environment testing and power source capabilities.
Acquisition
DHS scraps $2.4B cyber contract amid reorganization
The Homeland Security Department terminates the award to Leidos after a year-long protest battle, but for reasons unrelated to the dispute.
Modernization
Consolidating IT systems can lead to over $100M in cost savings, GAO finds
The Government Accountability Office’s latest duplication and overlap report said improved federal IT portfolio management could achieve such savings “by reducing duplicative IT investments and halting or terminating investments, when appropriate.”
Digital Government
Republicans want Treasury to study free tax filing options — again
The reconciliation text being considered by the House Ways and Means Committee includes $15 million for the IRS to study how to give Americans free ways to file their taxes that would replace both the Free File and Direct File programs.
Acquisition
OPM cancels sole-source Workday contract for HR system overhaul
The White House's workforce modernization push faces delays as the Office of Personnel Management likely will return to a more traditional procurement approach.
Artificial Intelligence
Commerce rescinds Biden-era AI export controls
The controversial rule on what countries can receive and use U.S. artificial intelligence technology and components will be replaced with a new rule and new AI export control guidance.
Artificial Intelligence
US and Saudi Arabia announce tech investments in new partnership
Multiple U.S. and Saudi companies will come together under a joint economic partnership to support artificial intelligence and computing infrastructure development in both countries.
Cybersecurity
Intel agencies doubled use of US person-tied search terms under disputed spying power last year
The number of U.S. person-linked search terms used by spy agencies under Section 702 of FISA skyrocketed last year. But direct FBI queries of U.S. persons decreased as reforms came into place.
Digital Government
Federal retirement applications to go fully electronic next month
DOGE has touted the announcement as a win, but development and testing for the new Online Retirement Application began under the previous administration, per past budget requests.
Artificial Intelligence
Reconciliation text includes $500 million for modernization and AI at Commerce
The text also includes a prohibition on state-level enforcement of AI laws and regulations.
People
Most major agencies must pause RIFs for at least two weeks, judge orders
Court finds the Trump administration has likely acted unlawfully in instituting widespread layoffs.
Digital Government