Cybersecurity
Trump proposes cutting CISA election security program in FY27 budget
The move is part of $700 million in proposed program cuts, resulting in a net funding reduction of about $360 million. The budget also projects eliminating some 860 positions.
Modernization
The IRS wants to shrink its workforce by nearly 4,000 — and use technology to make up the difference
“Without modernization, the IRS would be unable to sustain performance with a reduced headcount,” the budget document says.
Cybersecurity
Government official impersonation scam complaints doubled in 2025, FBI report shows
The scams, some of which were fueled by AI, can be especially effective because they exploit the built-in authority and urgency people associate with institutions.
Defense
CIA deception campaign helped US rescue downed airman in Iran, director says
Iranian forces were “humiliated” after recognizing they were deceived in the move that bought time for U.S. forces to rescue the weapons officer, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said.
Artificial Intelligence
Secret Service is embedding AI experts across the agency
“I think having this internal team will really help us transform our [AI] adoption across the organization,” Secret Service CIO and CAIO Chris Kraft said about the push to bring fresh tech talent into the agency.
Ideas
The war against fraud should be a war for tech modernization
COMMENTARY | Combating fraud is a noble exercise, but combating longstanding systemic barriers to innovation and performance is often harder.
Policy
Tech bills of the week: Limiting adversaries’ access to US tech; and boosting cyber apprenticeships
This week’s proposals are focused on blocking adversaries from gaining access to critical U.S. technologies and manufacturing capabilities, as well as addressing the nation’s cyber workforce shortage.
Policy
Civilian agencies face 10% cuts in Trump’s 2027 budget
Overall spending would increase thanks to a surge at the Pentagon and non-defense cuts were smaller than proposed last year, though dozens of programs and grants still face elimination.
Policy
Trump’s FY27 budget proposes boosts and cuts to tech operations
Agencies like CISA, NIST and the IRS would see notable reductions in their budgets for next year, while programs at Energy and the VA would get additional financial support.
Policy
President’s budget proposes folding beleaguered DHS intelligence office into headquarters
The plan to restructure the Office of Intelligence and Analysis would require congressional approval and could reshape oversight of domestic intelligence-sharing.
Acquisition
Trade and industry groups warn of risks in GSA’s draft AI procurement guidance
The guidance would establish government rights to use artificial intelligence tools in “any lawful” context, a stipulation that has drawn concern from industry advocates.
Cybersecurity
Suspected Chinese breach of FBI system exposed surveillance targets’ phone numbers
Access to this data could help foreign hackers determine who the U.S. is spying on.
Policy
Single-member surveillance watchdog backs 702 powers, raising independence questions
A staff report from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board praises the value of Section 702 of FISA, though all but one of the board’s members were removed last year.
Digital Government
Social Security delays launch of new nationwide caseload system
The agency is postponing the rollout of new, national systems the same month they were set to be deployed. It was still working out specifics for how it would move claims processing to a national setup.
Artificial Intelligence
Microsoft expands Copilot agentic tools in government clouds
Copilot agentic AI capabilities Researcher, Analyst, Agent Builder and Copilot Studio are now available within the GCC, GCC-High and Defense cloud environments.
Emerging Tech
State official to EU: Work with us on tech policy or fall behind a generation
“We're not willing to be politely silent, because we are not politely invested,” Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg said about the bloc’s tech regulations.
Acquisition
Vendors struggle to navigate the Anthropic ban’s fallout
Tech contractors say ambiguity in how Anthropic’s products are able to be used by companies working with the federal government is leaving “traps” they may unknowingly fall into.
Policy
Trump’s goal to create state-by-state citizenship lists isn’t feasible, experts say
A Tuesday executive order mandating that DHS create state-by-state citizenship lists is Trump’s latest effort to exert some control over state-run elections.
Artificial Intelligence
Old-school spycraft could make a comeback as AI undermines trust
An article in the CIA’s Studies in Intelligence journal argues that artificial intelligence may erode confidence in certain electronic communications and further revive centuries-old human intelligence techniques.
Artificial Intelligence