People
Judge overturns firing of Democrats on intelligence and privacy oversight body
The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board has played a major role as a watchdog of controversial intelligence collection programs.
Exclusive
Acquisition
GSA prepping plans to move NASA SEWP and NIH contract vehicles under its management
The General Services Administration’s role in federal acquisition may soon expand further.
People
Gerry Connolly remembered for his passion and bipartisanship
The long-time representative from Northern Virginia has died at 75 following a battle with cancer. He is being remembered for his advocacy of federal workers and the contractor community as well as championing initiatives to improve how the government buys goods and services.
Cybersecurity
US, international and industry partners topple infrastructure of popular info-stealer malware
The collaborative effort worked to seize the takedown of some 2,300 domains that backed the web infrastructure of Lumma Stealer, sold to help hackers steal passwords and deploy ransomware around the world.
Acquisition
Inside GSA’s AI strategy: Using the tech while learning how to buy it
In deploying its own AI chatbot, the General Services Administration is also developing frameworks for government-wide acquisition at the same time.
Digital Government
USDA wants to modernize farmer services, even as staffing cuts could hurt the effort
The department plans to digitize farmer-facing applications that are still on paper.
Digital Government
VA now has ‘100% visibility’ into its software license inventory, official says
Jeff VanBemmel, director of end user operations at VA’s Office of Information and Technology, told lawmakers that the department’s total inventory of software licenses includes 4,433 commercial off-the-shelf products and another 224 software-as-a-service offerings.
Modernization
House bill wants VA to pilot cloud-based medical supply management system
The bipartisan proposal from Reps. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., would direct the agency to test the system at one VA medical facility before potentially expanding it out further.
People
CISA’s deputy cyber chief plans to depart
Matt Hartman’s final day is not known but his departure was announced Tuesday.
Exclusive
People
Dragos policy executive to be CISA’s chief of legislative affairs
In a recent interview, Kate Diemidio said she wanted government-industry information-sharing mechanisms to improve and for CISA to deliver more actionable data back to the private sector.
Cybersecurity
US should rethink current views of Russia’s cyber might, new report says
A think tank paper argues that Moscow’s network of hackers is more fragmented than U.S. officials once believed — a dynamic that may have led to exaggerated expectations of Russia’s cyber capabilities during its 2022 Ukraine invasion.
Emerging Tech
NIST works to bring more everyday understanding to quantum science
The agency is celebrating 2025 being designated as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology with an educational campaign.
Artificial Intelligence
AI use in financial services could add to bias risks, GAO warns
A new Government Accountability Office report suggests federal regulators offer updated guidance to weed out bias in financial institutions' artificial intelligence systems.
Policy
Scientific research needs more precise federal funding, White House tech leader says
“To get more bang for America's research bucks, we need to enhance the creativity and precision of our funding,” OSTP Director Michael Kratsios said.
Digital Government
GSA, Salesforce agree to major Slack discounts for government
The General Service Administration announced another cost-savings offering through its OneGov effort.
Policy
FBI to reassign 1,500 employees outside of D.C. area, vacate current HQ, Patel says
The location of the FBI’s headquarters has been a contested issue for more than a decade, as the downtown Hoover building deteriorates.
Acquisition
GSA’s procurement chief details administration’s acquisition reform plans
In a wide-ranging interview with GovExec TV, Larry Allen addressed the agency’s new OneGov strategy, AI opportunities and the centralization of federal procurement functions.
Digital Government
Legislative watchdog rebuffs DOGE efforts to install on-site team
“DOGE’s attempted intrusion into an independent, nonpartisan legislative branch agency is a direct assault on our nation’s sacred separation of powers,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee.
Digital Government
SSA changes phone fraud policies after finding very little fraud
The change follows reporting by Nextgov/FCW about the policy and its contributions to a slowdown in retirement claims processing.
Ideas