Acquisition
Protest hits GSA’s $1-a-year agreements with OpenAI and Anthropic
Ask Sage claims the pacts circumvent federal acquisitions regulations, lack required security authorizations and mislead agencies about actual costs and capabilities.
Breaking News
People
IRS is canceling its layoff plans, will ask some it fired or pushed out to return
After pushing 26,000 employees out, the tax agency is scrambling to find enough personnel to carry out its duties.
People
Lawmakers look to ease educational requirements for federal cyber workforce
New legislation from Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, attempts to expand the U.S. government’s pool of cyber talent by promoting skills-based hiring.
Digital Government
Trump signs order calling for improved government design
The new “America by Design” effort includes a recruiting push for relevant talent — though the administration has shed many government designers since Trump took office.
Policy
US and EU agree to trade framework prioritizing secure chip sales
Adopting and maintaining U.S.-approved tech security requirements is a key term of agreement in the new trade framework, an EU official said.
Acquisition
GSA, Google reach agreement on Gemini availability and pricing
This pact covering the tech giant's chatbot will also include enterprise search and multimedia generation capabilities.
People
US spy chief announces plans to shrink ODNI
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the agency will shrink by over 40% as part of a 2.0 restructuring that includes a focus on “ending the weaponization of intelligence.”
Exclusive
Artificial Intelligence
Pentagon reductions set back critical AI-data platform
After users flocked to Advana, DOD’s AI office laid out a plan to keep it growing. Then came DOGE.
People
The Trump administration is considering notifying probationary employees they were fired for cause, actually
The proposal comes despite a new audit finding 99.5% of the 7,300 fired IRS probationers had received fully successful performance ratings, or no ratings at all.
Digital Government
Login.gov to add passports as identity proofing option
Trump appointees have called the in-house service a priority for anti-fraud efforts.
Emerging Tech
Microsoft announces plan to transition to quantum resilience by 2033
Microsoft is taking a phased approach to ensuring its products meet a post-quantum cryptography standard.
Cybersecurity
UK ‘agreed to drop’ backdoor encryption demand for Apple, DNI says
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the United Kingdom has abandoned its effort to require that Apple provide its law enforcement and intelligence personnel with “blanket capability” to access customers’ encrypted files.
People
Trump administration seeks permission to finalize mass layoffs at HHS
Many of the department's RIFs have been held up by a July court order.
Acquisition
GSA seeks ideas on AI's role in procurement overhaul
The General Services Administration is starting out with a broad scope in its newest request for information to industry.
Emerging Tech
DARPA aims for interoperability between classic and quantum communication
Marrying quantum information technologies with modern networking infrastructure is part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s plan for safer, faster digital networks.
Exclusive
Artificial Intelligence
Trump administration hopes AI can mitigate staffing losses, federal CIO says
Gregory Barbaccia, who was named the federal chief information officer just a week into the new administration, said one of his priorities is learning how to do more with less.
Digital Government
Veterans Experience Office codified under new law
The office was created in 2015 to gather feedback from veterans and their families that would help VA improve its services, although it was never formally established within the department.
Artificial Intelligence
Senate Democrats decry Trump decision to allow advanced chip sales to China
Upper chamber lawmakers want answers from the Trump administration on the 15% fee Trump said NVIDIA and AMD must pay to be able to sell their more advanced products to a major U.S. adversary.
Digital Government
On Social Security’s 90th birthday, the Trump administration continues to tout faulty stats
At a White House ceremony, the president and Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano repeatedly recited already debunked myths about the Social Security Administration’s customer service and benefits fraud.
Ideas