Acquisition

GSA’s draft AI procurement rule has improved but needs further reforms, contractors say

Contractors have until Aug. 3 to give GSA feedback on a proposed overhaul to large language model procurements.

Digital Government

VA wants more input on proposals to streamline benefits application forms

The Department of Veterans Affairs is sourcing feedback on two proposals to shorten the length of benefits forms but has thus far only received a total of nine comments since the recommendations were posted last month.

Cybersecurity

White House announces ‘Gold Eagle’ AI clearinghouse for cyber vulnerabilities

The initiative stems from a June 2 executive order that urged advanced AI developers to grant the government early access to their capabilities to address potential vulnerabilities.

Ideas

Modernization redefined: Why public sector IT leaders must put data at the center of AI architecture

COMMENTARY | Public sector organizations must put data first when making infrastructure choices.

Artificial Intelligence

AI won’t replace human claims processors, VA officials say, as Democrats worry over staffing levels

Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., said some VA employees report claims processing technologies are producing incorrect information.

Cybersecurity

AI, once relegated to helping hackers with certain tasks, can now power every stage of a cyberattack

Researchers determined that AI was used in steps across entire cyber operations to identify security flaws, generate commands and carry out parts of intrusions, sometimes with little human oversight. Both U.S. and Chinese AI models have been involved.

Acquisition

DOD suspends CMMC Phase 2, launches 60-day ‘reform’ review

Citing prohibitive costs for small and mid-size contractors, the Defense Department will keep Phase I self-assessments in place while a new task force studies the cyber and supply chain security program's future.

Digital Government

Beeck Center leader reflects on ‘bipartisan opportunity’ for government efficiency

Efforts at the federal level generated a lot of headlines, but at the state level, where the goal is delivery, a lot more progress can be made, said the head of the Georgetown University-based center.

Cybersecurity

Russian hackers exploit weak router security to breach critical infrastructure, Western allies warn

The guidance comes as the United Kingdom and European Union blamed a major Russian intelligence unit for an attempted attack on Poland’s power grid last year.

Exclusive Cybersecurity

DHS network intrusion was twice ruled a false positive before breach confirmed

Suspicious activity on the Homeland Security Information Network, which is being used to support World Cup games around the U.S., was first detected around mid-to-late May.

Policy

Tech Bills of the Week: Leveraging AI for cancer research; Securing chatbots for underage users; and more

Congress’ latest bills look to apply AI for both public benefit and enhanced federal operations, namely safeguarding AI chatbots, helping the government strengthen pediatric cancer research and securing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Ideas

Don’t just pick the low-hanging fruit — harvest the whole orchard

The instinct is to point AI at low-stakes busywork. The bigger payoff is the high-stakes work everyone’s avoiding. Why don’t we have both?

Policy

Trump empties out election commission leadership just months before midterms

The shake-up raises questions about voting system certification, federal election security coordination, and the commission’s ability to approve key policy decisions.

Ideas

What the Telecommunications Act of 1996 teaches the federal government about governing AI

COMMENTARY | The federal government's responsibility is to establish clear rules before markets become entrenched.

People

Transportation’s tech chief Pavan Pidugu to depart in September

He is the third federal tech lead confirmed to depart federal service this week.

Exclusive People

HUD CIO tapped to lead Interior tech shop, people familiar say

Eric Sidle has a background in the EV industry, having worked with firms like NIO and ChargePoint.

Cybersecurity

Pentagon opens applications for cyber apprenticeship program

DOD Chief Information Officer Kirsten Davies said last month that the apprenticeship had “already generated more than 70,000 inquiries” since it was first announced in late April.

Modernization

How to find alien technology

I wanted to know how astronomers actually go looking for life in space.

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI’s advanced GPT-5.6 models to be publicly released

After working alongside government partners for safety evaluations, OpenAI said it is “expanding preview access globally” for its latest powerful model series.

Defense

Seizing the digital advantage at DOD

Defense Department CIO Kirsten Davies said her office is shifting away from its traditional role as a backend policy shop to become a forward-leaning strategic unit.