Breaking News People

SCOTUS: Trump can temporarily move forward with mass firing of some probationary employees

The Supreme Court's ruling applies to 16,000 recently reinstated feds, but some of those are still protected by another court decision.

Cybersecurity

Top NSA, Cyber Command officials pulled from premier cybersecurity conference

Notifications about their speaking engagements went out Tuesday afternoon, just days after President Trump fired the head of NSA and Cyber Command.

Emerging Tech

DARPA begins scaling a quantum computer with 15 companies

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency selected the inaugural cohort for its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative as federal researchers work to identify the best path for quantum computing.

Digital Government

DHS cancels S&T grants under a new mission focus for the directorate

The Department of Homeland Security’s national security research subdivision, the Science and Technology Directorate, will stop current grants and refocus its mission priorities.

Digital Government

SSA reorg plan contemplates field office closures, contradicting public statements

A March draft of the Social Security Administration's reorganization plan proposes "consolidating" field offices while shuttling customer service to AI and other automated platforms.

Artificial Intelligence

US needs to fast-track AI to counter China, DOD’s former AI lead says

When it comes to continued U.S. leadership in the AI space, former Pentagon chief digital and artificial intelligence officer Radha Plumb said “I worry sometimes that it’s passing us by.”

People

NSA firings stoke fears of Trump installing a partisan loyalist to lead spy agency

“We saw it’s possible, without adequate oversight, for our spy agencies to do inappropriate things,” a former senior intelligence official said, referencing the 1970s congressional investigations that revealed many spying abuses against Americans.

People

DOGE guts HHS small business office in reorg effort

Only the OSDBU executive director remains to advocate for small businesses at the Department of Health and Human Services, which obligated $39 billion in contracts last year.

Artificial Intelligence

Industry awaits how OMB AI guidance on paper will be implemented in practice

The Trump administration’s new artificial intelligence use and acquisition guidance touches on safeguarding civil liberties, but experts have expressed skepticism about its implementation.

People

CISA to make comprehensive staff cuts in coming days, people familiar say

The nation’s premier cybersecurity agency, which sits in the Department of Homeland Security, has been in the Trump administration’s crosshairs for some time.

Ideas

The need for collaborative global cyber diplomacy is growing

COMMENTARY | Strengthening global cyber collaboration is needed now more than ever.

People

Industry layoffs mount as cancelled contracts and DOGE efforts take hold

Just shy of 2,500 workers in Maryland and Virginia are poised to lose their jobs as 13 companies issue mass layoff notice.

People

Trump fires head of NSA and Cyber Command

Gen. Timothy Haugh’s removal was spurred by far-right activist Laura Loomer, who, earlier Thursday, reportedly urged the president to terminate multiple National Security Council staffers.

People

2025 Industry Eagle Award: Arun Gupta

Gupta has made it his mission to break down the silos between government, academia and venture capital to bring the best of all three worlds to bear on some of the biggest challenges facing our nation.

People

2025 Government Eagle Award: Venice Goodwine

Goodwine's career has wound through military, industry, academia and government.

Ideas

America's digital infrastructure belongs to you

COMMENTARY | We’ve seen unprecedented attacks on our nation’s federal digital infrastructure, from removing or restricting datasets and tools, to taking websites offline, to widespread layoffs.

Artificial Intelligence

Energy selects 16 sites for AI data center construction, new energy development

The Department of Energy identified 16 locations on its own land to build the new infrastructure.

Cybersecurity

Tariffs create more volatile environment for cyberattacks, industry executive warns

Tenable Co-CEO Steve Vintz told Nextgov/FCW that the potential trade wars stoked by the Trump administration’s tariffs facilitate conditions that incentivize hacking activity around the globe.