Emerging Tech

Global space economy tracking toward $944B by 2033: report

Emerging tech, government investment to fuel space spending.

People

Top Oversight Democrat says he’s open to collaborate with the DOGE

The new Department of Government Efficiency — which, despite the “department” referenced in its name, is an advisory effort, not a government department — has aims to trim the federal workforce and hunt efficiencies in tech and fraud reduction efforts.

Emerging Tech

El Capitan supercomputer is ready to handle nuclear stockpile and AI workflows

The fastest supercomputer in the world, housed at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, was dedicated to U.S. national security missions on Thursday, supported by novel hybrid processing chips.

Ideas

Generative AI in Government: What to Expect in 2025

2025 may be a major year for generative AI adoption across government.

People

GSA administrator: This agency’s workforce delivers effective, efficient government – now and into the future

COMMENTARY |The head of the General Services Administration, which manages administrative functions across the federal government, including real estate, acquisition and information technology, reflects on her tenure.

Artificial Intelligence

VA accounts for majority of all agencies’ safety- and rights-impacting AI

Of the 1,757 total AI use cases reported by federal agencies last year, 227 of them were listed as safety- or rights-impacting. VA accounted for 145 of those identified use cases.

Exclusive Artificial Intelligence

AI startup Anthropic to build out public sector team

Thiyagu Ramasamy, formerly of Amazon Web Services, will lead the effort.

Cybersecurity

Forthcoming executive order seeks to plug holes in federal cyber practices

The eleventh-hour cybersecurity executive action asks agencies to rethink software procurement, supply chains and AI, among other things.

Emerging Tech

Lawmakers call for a review of TSA’s biometric and AI use

Members of the House Homeland Security Committee are asking GAO to investigate the benefits and potential harms of TSA’s usage of artificial intelligence and biometrics.

Emerging Tech

Federal R&D needs sustained funding, OSTP head warns incoming Trump admin

OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar said the U.S. is “at a pivotal moment for federally-funded R&D” as misinformation and proposed budget cuts threaten government-driven innovation.

Exclusive Digital Government

Coming cyber executive order includes a push to mobile drivers licenses

The draft order does not, however, tackle the full breadth of actions that were expected from a promised identity executive order that has yet to materialize.

Cybersecurity

US has ‘a lot of work to do’ on cyber defenses, departing cyber czar says

Outgoing National Cyber Director Harry Coker thinks his office needs more influence over the federal cyber budget but not necessarily more authority on offensive cyber operations.

Artificial Intelligence

DHS launches new AI playbook for public sector

The new guidance is intended for other government organizations to use and draws on lessons learned from three internal pilot programs.

Cybersecurity

White House unveils Cyber Trust Mark program for consumer devices

The label is designed to help consumers make more cybersecure choices when they pick products off the shelf.

Ideas

High-quality government software starts with efficacy, not efficiency

How will the government deliver high-quality, secure software that creates measurable outcomes? Not simply through efficiency.

Digital Government

Officials say federal employee background check system overhaul is finally on the right track

The director of the agency primarily responsible for background checks of federal employees said the change in administration likely won’t affect modernization efforts.

People

OPM CIO announces retirement

Guy Cavallo is the agency’s longest serving CIO in the past decade.

Exclusive Cybersecurity

GAO mulls cost evaluation of nationwide telecom hardware replacement

One major vulnerability exploited by China’s Salt Typhoon hacking unit is a Cisco hardware flaw that can’t be patched and requires physical replacement, according to a person with knowledge of the intrusions.

Artificial Intelligence

HHS’ 2024 AI use case inventory shows move toward internal chatbots

The agency reported 271 AI use cases in 2024, which it said represented a 66% increase from its reported 2023 total.