Acquisition
OPM chooses Workday for no-bid contract to overhaul HR system
With White House deadlines and directives looming, the Office of Personnel Management goes with Workday to quickly implement a human capital platform with the intent to be a model for other agencies.
Defense
Trump’s Pentagon-personnel nominee wants to curb DOGE data access
But Anthony Tata, a retired Army general, couldn’t outrun past inflammatory and social media posts during his confirmation hearing.
Ideas
Total experience: The missing link in government transformation
COMMENTARY | Agencies have a significant blind spot: a narrow focus on external users, with insufficient attention paid to the internal workforce experience.
Modernization
Some Republicans question Trump’s IRS budget cuts
The administration has proposed a $2.5 billion cut to the tax agency.
People
USPTO’s emerging tech and AI head to leave agency
Jerry Ma, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s director of emerging technology and chief artificial intelligence officer, said the Trump administration “will likely preside over the most consequential period thus far in AI's history.”
Modernization
VA must ‘put onus back on Oracle’ to right EHR deployment, secretary says
VA Secretary Doug Collins told lawmakers he’s focused on addressing internal problems “that really caused the initial problems in the rollout.”
Acquisition
Pentagon seeks input on plan to streamline software authorizations
A new request for information follows a promise made by Katie Arrington to overhaul how the Defense Department runs its authority-to-operate process.
Cybersecurity
Signal clone used by Waltz to archive messages suspends services after reported hack
Smarsh, the Oregon-based owner of TeleMessage, said Monday it was “investigating a potential security incident” and suspended its services out of an abundance of caution.
Acquisition
Trump administration releases first wave of acquisition regulation changes
This set of revisions would significantly shrink the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as well as empower contracting officers and acquisition teams to use their "business judgment" in pushing innovation.
Cybersecurity
Federal cost cutting leads cyber contractors to rework ties with government
Federal agencies are trying to do more with less on cybersecurity spending as DOGE pursues spending reductions. Officials still insist that the private sector is needed to combat hackers.
Emerging Tech
Inside OSTP’s ‘promote’ and ‘protect’ science and tech strategy
Michael Kratsions, director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, defined the key policy pillars in the White House’s approach to furthering U.S. technology innovation.
People
SpaceX alum tapped as Interior CIO
Interior is the latest federal agency to undergo leadership turnover in its technology shop since Trump took office in January.
Emerging Tech
Former NSF heads criticize funding, staff cuts at science agency
Former National Science Foundation and National Science Board leads sent a letter to congressional leadership saying the cuts to the agency run contrary to the Trump administration’s priorities.
Acquisition
GSA’s new procurement strategy challenges the reseller ecosystem
Skepticism about OneGov is emerging as the government pushes for more direct relationships with original equipment manufacturers.
Modernization
GSA pushes full repayment for the Technology Modernization Fund
President Donald Trump first signed the fund into law in 2017.
Digital Government
Here are the tech takeaways from Trump’s budget proposal
The White House has suggested sweeping reductions to many civilian agencies, though it promises to maintain investments in emerging technologies.
People
Treasury’s acting CIO to depart
The change leaves the Treasury Department’s tech leadership bench practically empty.
Cybersecurity
Top NSC official wants to normalize offensive hacking as tool of US might
At the RSAC Conference, Alexei Bulazel said hacking back against adversaries could be the new norm for America’s cyber strategy. He signaled support for various federal cyber offices, but acknowledged they’d be geared in the direction of Trump-era goals.
Modernization
VA tech panel’s top Democrat worries layoffs will harm EHR rollout
Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., is concerned that staffing vacancies, coupled with the department’s reduction in force plans, will put “more pressure onto the VA to execute on an expedited calendar for implementation” of its new EHR system.
Emerging Tech