Cybersecurity
Trump to nominate former RNC official to be national cyber director
It’s not clear how Sean Cairncross would address ongoing ONCD efforts, as the Trump administration has sought to refocus certain cyber priorities in the federal government.
Modernization
PSI wins $156M Veterans Affairs testing recompete
Planned Systems International conducts tests and manages projects related to the rollout of the new Oracle Cerner electronic health record.
People
Trump orders agencies to plan for widespread layoffs and attrition-based hiring
The order tasks agencies to work in conjunction with Elon Musk’s DOGE to dramatically reduce government capacity.
People
Democrat lawmakers question DOGE’s access to personal data
House and Senate Democrats have sent a slew of letters to federal agencies and White House officials expressing concerns about the level of access that Elon Musk’s DOGE unit has to sensitive information.
Artificial Intelligence
Vance calls for more open AI policy at Paris summit
Vice President JD Vance laid out the Trump administration’s priorities on artificial intelligence policy with an emphasis on unleashing American innovation via lighter-touch regulations.
Cybersecurity
Coast Guard workforce lacks maritime cyber expertise, watchdog says
The maritime service says it will develop “competency requirements” for relevant personnel by the end of December. It’s also planning new procedures to document maritime cyber incidents.
Acquisition
DEI programs vanish across the GovCon landscape
Contractors are dropping diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as they review the risks of being seen as not compliant with the Trump executive order.
Cybersecurity
AI-cybersecurity firm Andesite secures added $23M in funding
The company, which is led by former CIA officials and other ex-national intelligence chiefs, also unveiled a new security operations center product, the firm first told Nextgov/FCW.
Updated
People
Judge extends pause on ‘deferred resignation’ deadline
U.S. District Judge George O’Toole reportedly said he was considering converting the existing temporary restraining order blocking the administration from advancing its deferred resignation program into a preliminary injunction, but he did not indicate how he would rule in the case.
Digital Government
OPM skirted agency norms in assessing the privacy of its new email system
Anonymous federal employees filed a lawsuit alleging that the new email system could be placing their sensitive personal information at risk.
People
DOGE deputies land at State Department tech bureau with USAID emails
One of the people, 19-year-old Edward Coristine, reportedly had extensive interactions with cybercrime groups.
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmakers move to ban DeepSeek’s AI from government devices
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., charged that China is using DeepSeek “to steal the sensitive data of U.S. citizens.”
Updated
People
Federal judge blocks USAID leave notices and reinstates workers
Attorneys representing the Trump administration confirmed Friday that upwards of 2,200 employees, many of whom are stationed overseas, would have been put on administrative leave Friday night, absent the court’s intervention.
Digital Government
Solving the cloud cost equation
Agencies should take a deliberate approach to the cloud.
Emerging Tech
DARPA taps Microsoft, PsiQuantum for scalable quantum computer research
As part of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, the two companies are now in negotiations under the validation and co-design phase of the quantum computing program.
Digital Government
Senate Democrats call for DOGE to halt until details are provided
The letter to the White House chief of staff and counsel notes that some of billionaire Elon Musk’s actions via DOGE “may be illegal or unconstitutional.”
Defense
What Google’s return to defense AI means
More competition in a hot market—and the plain fact that only the Pentagon will set boundaries.
Breaking News
Policy
Russ Vought, champion of Schedule F and slashing agency budgets, wins confirmation to OMB
Trump's pick for budget chief was confirmed by the Senate after Democrats held the floor for a full day to speak in opposition to him.
People
Senate Dems call on VA secretary to protect veteran data from DOGE
Lawmakers asked VA Secretary Doug Collins “to deny and sever” DOGE’s access to department systems that include information about veterans.
Policy