Cyber Defense
Exclusive
Trump’s CISA nominee said he left Coast Guard to address GOP hold
Sean Plankey confirmed the intent to Nextgov/FCW and said he’s “prepared to lead the nation’s cyber defense agency to protect the federal civilian networks and our nation’s critical infrastructure from physical and cyber attacks.”
Potential US-built hacking tools obtained by foreign spies and cybercriminals, research says
iVerify has described the activity as the “first known mass iOS attack” campaign of its kind. Google said fragments of the exploit first appeared last February, with ties to an unnamed “customer of a surveillance company.”
Why the convergence of AI and cybersecurity must be a top priority for the administration
COMMENTARY | Here’s what a strategy could look like.
US cyber responses will be ‘linked to adversary actions’ and involve industry coordination, official says
That dynamic will be outlined in a national cyber strategy, which will be released “soon,” said ONCD’s Alexandra Seymour.
New Treasury initiative targets improved cyber risk management for AI tools
The department says it plans to release deliverables from a public-private working group in phases throughout the rest of February.
DEF CON bans hackers, technologists named in Epstein documents
Vincenzo Iozzo, Joichi Ito and Pablos Holman are barred from future attendance after Justice Department files revealed their roles in efforts to secure Jeffrey Epstein’s access to DEF CON.
CISA orders agencies to patch and replace end-of-life devices, citing active exploitation
The directive gives agencies three months to identify unsupported edge devices, a year to begin removing them and 18 months to eliminate them entirely.
White House cyber shop is crafting AI security policy framework, top official says
ONCD chief Sean Cairncross also said a bedrock National Cyber Strategy, initially expected last month, is coming “sooner rather than later” without specifying a date.
NIST releases a new draft cybersecurity framework for systems that never stop moving
Sometimes the most important cybersecurity work is not flashy.
Watch for GenAI browsers, purple teaming and evolving AI policy in 2026
COMMENTARY | Government IT leaders cannot afford inaction, especially as AI adoption accelerates.
OMB reverses Biden-era software attestation order
A new executive branch memorandum instead allows agencies to lean on software bills of materials, or SBOMs, in lieu of a universal attestation framework.
Funding bill extends TMF and cyber measures through September
The authorization for the Technology Modernization Fund had lapsed in December, leaving its leadership unable to make new investments.
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Trump officials consider skipping premier cyber conference after Biden-era cyber leader named CEO
Jen Easterly, who led the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency under Biden, was named CEO of RSAC Conference Thursday.
Experts see NSA nominee’s Pacific experience as a boost to US cyber posture on China
Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd currently serves as deputy commander of Indo-Pacific Command.
Report: Workforce shortages, security fears among biggest hindrances to agency AI adoption
A report issued by Google Public Sector shed light on the state of play for federal AI adoption, finding most efforts are currently in pilot programs and held up by security concerns.
Predictions 2026: Three ways government tech will surprise us this year
2026 looks like a year when government technology settles into its next phase of maturity.
GSA strikes OneGov agreement with Cohesity
Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum said the latest deal “will strengthen and enable robust and secure AI infrastructure across the federal government.”
UL Solutions withdraws as lead admin for FCC cyber label program amid probe into China ties
It’s not immediately clear who would administer the program, which was launched under Biden to help designate cyber-secure consumer electronic devices.
Microsegmentation: the unsung hero of cybersecurity (and why it should be your top priority)
COMMENTARY | We need to stop treating microsegmentation like an optional upgrade.
Cyber experts pinpoint what to look out for in 2026
Expect significant innovations in AI-driven cyber tools and a closer convergence between cybersecurity and geopolitics, they said.
