People
NSA cyber director to step down after 34 years of service
His departure comes amid heightened security fears in 2024 and debate over whether to renew a controversial spying power.
Artificial Intelligence
DOD's AI strategy leans on high-quality data
Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer Craig Martell said private sector companies will play a crucial role in the Pentagon’s adoption of AI technologies and the pursuit of high-quality data.
Artificial Intelligence
OPM pushes ahead on AI workforce policy, but key deliverables are overdue
The agency announced a job analysis survey on Monday for feds doing AI-related work, but the federal HR shop is lagging on AI in Government Act of 2020 implementation.
Cybersecurity
US, international partners disrupt LockBit ransomware operations
Officials have also developed a tool for victims targeted by LockBit to potentially decrypt their compromised data.
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmakers urge VA to tread carefully with AI
The Department of Veteran Affairs’ 2023 inventory of AI use cases listed over 100 instances where VA is working to use emerging technologies, with at least 40 of those examples in an operational phase.
Artificial Intelligence
Tech companies vow to fight deepfake election content
Some House and Senate lawmakers praised the voluntary commitments but want legislation to require labeling and disclosure.
Acquisition
CIO-SP4 faces more court challenges
In the meantime, the National Institutes of Health's IT acquisition arm has extended the current contract into the fall.
Defense
Navy leaders want more code-loving sailors at sea
One wants to take ad hoc data science efforts and fold them into a formal training cycle.
Cybersecurity
The imitation game
The emergence of low-cost deepfakes has led to a high-stakes race to develop technologies that can detect and label synthetic media.
Acquisition
VA pharmacy tech glitches put 250,000 veterans at risk, officials say
Data transmission errors in the VA's new commercial health record could potentially lead to providers missing important prescription information on patients who visit multiple agency facilities.
Artificial Intelligence
FTC cracks down on AI impersonation scammers
The Federal Trade Commission is looking to extend its authority to target fraudsters impersonating individuals in scams. The proposed rule covers the misuse of generative artificial intelligence and other technologies.
Digital Government
White House launches federal spending inventory
The new online information service was mandated in 2010 legislation.
Cybersecurity
FBI disrupts botnet controlled by Russian security services
The news comes just weeks after the U.S. announced it went on the offensive against a China-linked botnet operation.
Acquisition
House Oversight lawmaker probes government purchase of Chinese security cameras
A letter to the General Services Administration's CIO asks why he signed off on the equipment purchase, despite alternatives being available.
Cybersecurity
Microsoft and OpenAI swept AI chat logs to find hackers. Expect that to become the norm.
Big tech firms and their affiliated cybersecurity or AI offerings will likely roll out similar security research, though some say it raises privacy concerns.
Policy
Section 702 renewal could pass in funding bill, sources say
Backers of 702 reauthorization in the House Intelligence committee will likely use recent news of classified intelligence gathered using the surveillance power as a way to convince colleagues to support its renewal.
Digital Government
Labor Department experiments with AI in unemployment systems
The agency plans to use the current “calm” in unemployment claims to better prepare for the next storm.
Emerging Tech
NIST calls for quantum tech experts to join advisory group
As global agencies are preparing to set standards in quantum technology, NIST is working on forming a U.S. delegation to represent American perspectives.
Defense
US reviews export controls in Britain, Australia for high-tech arms sales exemptions
A State Dept. official told a House panel that work to align AUKUS partners with U.S. export control requirements is ‘going very well'.
Digital Government