Policy
Bill prioritizing American customers for AI chips not expected to make it into final NDAA, sources say
With the defense authorization bill being finalized this week, the chips-centric GAIN AI Act lost steam, according to sources familiar with the proceedings, but an amendment prohibiting U.S. investment in Chinese technology is expected to be included.
Civilian agency spending cratered during shutdown
October spending during the shutdown dropped by as much as 80% for some agencies compared to October 2024.
House Science Dems call for investigation into NASA Goddard cuts
The administration’s ongoing push to close labs and facilities at the Goddard Space Flight Center “risks permanently degrading Goddard’s scientific and technical capabilities with these moves,” Democratic members of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee wrote.
Congress weighed measure to curtail scope of DHS intelligence office
A provision, ultimately left out of the Intelligence Authorization Act, would have removed commonplace collection and analysis authorities granted to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, rendering much of the office’s functions inert.
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SSA abandons planned disability program overhaul expected to cut benefits for thousands
Trump administration officials informed the co-founder of a nonprofit disability advocacy group that a proposed rule — which would have updated decades-old occupational data, in addition to changing eligibility considerations — will no longer be moving forward.
Trump administration resumes funding for inspectors general hub after previously blocking it
OMB’s move to restore CIGIE funding until Jan. 30 comes as the president has already fired or replaced more than 20 agency inspectors general.
‘We’re closer to the end': Lawmakers signal some progress in bipartisan talks to end shutdown
The funding lapse is set to reach record levels but senators in both parties voice mild hope of progress.
DHS proposes biometrics expansion for immigrants, dropping age restrictions and requiring biometrics from some US citizens
A new DHS regulatory proposal would allow CBP and ICE to collect biometrics from children under the age of 14.
House Republican questions government stake in tech companies
Georgia Congressman Rich McCormick disputed the Trump administration’s approach to investing in the private sector while aligning with its broader low-regulatory regime.
Shutdown is ‘holding my veterans hostage,’ VA chief says
Some critical services are paused and many employees are not getting paid, Doug Collins says, though he will not guarantee their back pay.
Report: Government needs a sweeping anti-scam strategy to counter modern fraud
Though many federal agencies have fraud-prevention responsibilities, no one agency has the authority to coordinate such efforts.
Trump budget office is hiding federal spending information, ethics nonprofit alleges
Federal courts have ordered the Office of Management and Budget to publish information about how agency funding is disbursed, but Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington contends that officials are using footnotes to obfuscate disclosure.
Facing a shutdown, budget negotiations are much harder because Congress has given Trump power to cut spending through ‘rescission’
Lawmakers are navigating a familiar budget crisis, but a rarely used presidential tool is shifting the balance of power and raising stakes for both parties.
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Lawmakers look to restart suicide lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth service
Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate are looking to restart the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program after the Trump administration shut down the dedicated line on July 17.
Democrats rally behind hardball strategy to upcoming shutdown fight
House and Senate Democratic leaders say they are united in making policy demands as part of upcoming spending talks.
Government pacing toward increased IT contract spending despite DOGE cuts
A new administration and new priorities haven’t slowed the federal government’s spend on IT.
HHS promises 'an active enforcement stance' against health data blocking
The department said it plans to hold providers and IT developers accountable for limiting the use and exchange of electronic health information.
US and EU agree to trade framework prioritizing secure chip sales
Adopting and maintaining U.S.-approved tech security requirements is a key term of agreement in the new trade framework, an EU official said.
How Trump’s DC takeover could supercharge surveillance
The emergency declaration, combined with new tech, will give government broad new abilities to watch and monitor citizens.
Democrat asks agency watchdogs to tally the cost of DOGE
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is estimating that the efficiency project has racked up around $21.7 billion.
California lawmakers urge Trump admin to halt cuts to national labs
Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, along with Rep. Zoe Lofgren, said budget cuts to national laboratories have already led to layoffs, with some other labs warning that “they may need to start laying off thousands of scientists and technical staff in the near future.”
