Emerging Tech
Federal R&D needs sustained funding, OSTP head warns incoming Trump admin
OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar said the U.S. is “at a pivotal moment for federally-funded R&D” as misinformation and proposed budget cuts threaten government-driven innovation.
Exclusive
Digital Government
Coming cyber executive order includes a push to mobile drivers licenses
The draft order does not, however, tackle the full breadth of actions that were expected from a promised identity executive order that has yet to materialize.
Cybersecurity
US has ‘a lot of work to do’ on cyber defenses, departing cyber czar says
Outgoing National Cyber Director Harry Coker thinks his office needs more influence over the federal cyber budget but not necessarily more authority on offensive cyber operations.
Artificial Intelligence
DHS launches new AI playbook for public sector
The new guidance is intended for other government organizations to use and draws on lessons learned from three internal pilot programs.
Cybersecurity
White House unveils Cyber Trust Mark program for consumer devices
The label is designed to help consumers make more cybersecure choices when they pick products off the shelf.
Ideas
High-quality government software starts with efficacy, not efficiency
How will the government deliver high-quality, secure software that creates measurable outcomes? Not simply through efficiency.
Digital Government
Officials say federal employee background check system overhaul is finally on the right track
The director of the agency primarily responsible for background checks of federal employees said the change in administration likely won’t affect modernization efforts.
Digital Government
Agencies still struggle with online accessibility, GSA says
The landscape under Trump 2.0 isn’t clear, either.
People
OPM CIO announces retirement
Guy Cavallo is the agency’s longest serving CIO in the past decade.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
GAO mulls cost evaluation of nationwide telecom hardware replacement
One major vulnerability exploited by China’s Salt Typhoon hacking unit is a Cisco hardware flaw that can’t be patched and requires physical replacement, according to a person with knowledge of the intrusions.
Artificial Intelligence
HHS’ 2024 AI use case inventory shows move toward internal chatbots
The agency reported 271 AI use cases in 2024, which it said represented a 66% increase from its reported 2023 total.
Policy
Here are the tech bills the 118th Congress passed right before the new session
Some proposed tech legislation didn’t make it into law.
Cybersecurity
US sanctions Chinese company that helped facilitate espionage hacks
Integrity Technology Group, known to researchers as Flax Typhoon, contracted with China’s Ministry of State Security to carry out infiltrations into internet of things devices, the FBI previously said.
People
Submit your Fed100 nominations by Jan. 7
We’re approaching the final few days to nominate your colleagues in the federal tech space for exemplary work in 2024.
People
ODNI adds new colleges and universities to its school recruitment program
Recent intelligence community recruitment efforts have focused on STEM.
Artificial Intelligence
DOD announces completion of pilot to identify medical AI vulnerabilities
The Pentagon’s red teaming effort identified more than 800 “potential vulnerabilities and biases” in the use of large language models for clinical note summarization and for a medical advisory chatbot.
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers request briefing from Treasury secretary on Chinese hack
The compromised third-party offering was a commercial remote services tool not listed in the marketplace for FedRAMP, the government’s cloud security compliance framework.
People
Biden to close federal agencies Jan. 9 for Carter day of mourning
The White House unveiled an executive order Monday giving federal employees Jan. 9 off in recognition of the death of the 39th president.
Artificial Intelligence
Transportation’s AI lead sees ‘collaboration with everybody’ at his agency
Meet Mike Horton, the acting chief AI officer at the Department of Transportation.
Ideas