Artificial Intelligence
Trump memo pushes national security agencies to move faster on AI
The directive calls for deeper partnerships with AI companies while directing agencies to guard frontier models and the data centers that power them from foreign adversaries.
People
VA CIO nominee vows to create program management office
Gary Shatswell, President Donald Trump’s pick to helm VA’s IT operations, told lawmakers creating the office is “one of the first tasks that I will be going after” if confirmed to the role.
Policy
Tech bills of the week: Regulating DOD uses of AI; Protecting the work of digital creators; and more
Legislative measures introduced this week touched on enhancing the tech fluency of the U.S. Foreign Service, offering legal recourse for recipients of illicit images and modernizing VA’s identity proofing and authentication systems.
Cybersecurity
Warner unveils bill to restore cyber information-sharing program funding
The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee also sent letters to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and to every governor urging them to support state and local cyberdefense.
Cybersecurity
New coalition will enter legal debate over industry’s role in government cyber missions
Its formation occurs amid a broader discussion over whether existing laws are suited for cyber activities that increasingly depend on cooperation between the government and private sector.
Ideas
The path to better program management: a road still less traveled
COMMENTARY | In spite of important reform efforts and legislation, our government still faces problems in managing and implementing major programs and systems modernizations.
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmakers propose AI framework that would preempt state laws for 3 years
A bipartisan House proposal looks to codify existing programs, set an all-hands-on-deck approach to AI governance and allow for the federal preemption of state AI laws for 3 years.
People
Trump signs order moving thousands of federal employees into Schedule F
Roughly 8,000 career federal employees were stripped of their civil service protections Wednesday, making them effectively at-will employees.
Policy
EPA’s research efforts are swayed by administration priorities, official says
The Environmental Protection Agency’s formerly independent research office was replaced last year by a new unit housed within the agency’s Office of the Administrator.
Modernization
EHR modernization needs better cyber and privacy collaboration, GAO says
The Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization office needs to improve its interagency coordination to address potential privacy and security vulnerabilities in the new system, according to the watchdog.
Artificial Intelligence
HHS wants states to use more predictive analytics in child welfare
The artificial intelligence push is part of the Trump administration’s agenda to modernize the child welfare system and address the shortage of foster homes across the U.S.
People
Trump to soon nominate CISA head, DHS secretary says
Markwayne Mullin said a nominee to lead the cyber agency is coming soon, even as questions remain over whether an IBM security executive remains a leading candidate.
People
Pulte appointment threatens fragile spy powers deal
Senate Democrats are warning that Trump’s move to install the FHFA director at the head of the nation’s top intel office could make it harder to pass an extension for Section 702 of FISA.
Digital Government
GSA publishes ‘Elimination, Optimization and Automation’ playbook for government agencies
The playbook’s framework has already helped the agency save hundreds of thousands of hours, and other agencies can now make use of it to launch their own automation initiatives.
People
Former DOGE duo launches AI company as a ‘DOGE for the private sector’
The pair behind the venture, Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Fox, are named defendants in a lawsuit over the mass cancellation of humanities grants that the government recently lost.
Artificial Intelligence
US opposes global AI standards but sees value coordinating on ‘real-world harms,’ State official says
The White House wants to shape global AI norms by maintaining and advancing the nation’s tech superiority, but sees “potential benefits” in collaborating with international partners on some issues.
Exclusive
Artificial Intelligence
Anthropic held cyberthreat briefings with agency CIOs last month
Discussions included how to defend digital assets following the debut of advanced AI models, like Anthropic’s Mythos.
Breaking News
Artificial Intelligence
Trump signs AI executive order after postponement last month
The order encourages developers of advanced AI to grant the U.S. and certain critical infrastructure operators 30 days of pre-release model access. Earlier drafts had set 90 days of early access.
Breaking News
People
Trump appoints housing official to be acting director of national intelligence
The selection is unconventional for the nation’s lead intelligence official, a role tasked with managing 18 distinct agencies like the CIA and NSA.
Cybersecurity