Artificial Intelligence
White House unveils AI action plan targeting regulation and ‘ideological bias’
The Trump administration’s goal is to make the U.S. a pro-AI innovation economy, relying on less bureaucratic barriers and open-source models to help win the global tech race.
People
OMB wants to break down barriers for CIOs, White House official says
Republicans also included a line in their funding bill to reiterate that CIOs should be involved in agencies' tech budgets.
Cybersecurity
Chinese hackers are exploiting SharePoint vulnerabilities, Microsoft says
The bugs affecting on-premises builds of SharePoint deployments are officially being exploited by at least two major Chinese nation-state hacking units, the company said. Patches have been issued for all affected versions of SharePoint.
Artificial Intelligence
Resuming NVIDIA’s AI chip sales to China could weaken US leadership, lawmaker says
House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., said Beijing-focused export controls should be designed to keep China’s military “from leapfrogging ahead with U.S. hardware.”
Cybersecurity
Operational tech is ‘underprioritized’ in cyberdefense, experts tell Congress
Witnesses' calls for better investment in securing such systems come just two months before a key cybersecurity information-sharing law is set to expire.
Ideas
Let’s ditch the government’s ‘tech for tech’s sake’ approach
COMMENTARY | Agency leaders need to consider key questions before rushing to adopt AI.
Acquisition
New OMB memo lays out GSA's plan to consolidate contracts
New rules that are coming will require agencies to use existing government-wide vehicles and best-in-class contracts before creating new ones.
People
VA launches a departmentwide 'review of its mission' as it seeks changes to its operations
Veterans Affairs is no longer planning mass layoffs, but major changes still expected.
People
New OPM head plans to cement focus on efficiency
Scott Kupor said he won’t be taking orders from DOGE, though he’s “happy to partner with people” that are helpful to his overall goals for the agency.
Artificial Intelligence
Trump to unveil 3 AI executive orders in lead-up to sweeping action plan
A deluge of executive actions on artificial intelligence are set to be released this week, each underscoring the pro-innovation, America-first Trump administration posture toward AI, people familiar say.
Digital Government
Lawmakers introduce bill to digitize government permitting
Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., called the paper-based permitting process “an archaic waste of time.”
People
State Department deputy Michael Rigas tapped as acting GSA head
Stephen Ehikian, who has served as the acting GSA administrator since Trump took office, will be staying on as deputy. Some in the agency speculate the change is due to DOGE fallout.
Cybersecurity
Threat intel firms on alert for government systems impacted by Microsoft SharePoint vulnerability
Governments, schools, healthcare providers and large enterprise firms are at risk, one cyber threat intelligence chief said.
Defense
Microsoft ends use of China-based engineers to patch DOD systems
The move comes after a ProPublica report highlighted a Microsoft program that allows foreign engineers to indirectly interact with U.S. military systems through American “escort” intermediaries.
Ideas
Streamlining the Path to FedRAMP High
COMMENTARY | Achieving FedRAMP High Authorization doesn't need to be so laborious.
People
Trump creates 'Schedule G' to add more political appointees to agencies top ranks
The new, non-career employees will serve in policy-making roles and add "horsepower" to carrying out the administration's agenda, White House says.
People
Private letter warned cuts to DHS intel office would ‘create dangerous intelligence gaps’
The International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts said in a previously unreported missive that staffing cuts that were initially planned for DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis would “undermine” and “degrade” various intelligence-sharing functions.
Emerging Tech
SECNAV: Robots won’t replace shipbuilders, but they could make jobs ‘easier’
Phelan said shipyards should equip workers with tools like automation and robotics to boost training.
Emerging Tech
NIST uncorks the bottle on entire pancreatic cancer genome
The secret to the success of the program was an anonymous cancer patient who fully consented to making the genetic code of her cancer cells publicly available.
Acquisition