Modernization
Social Security occupational data update appears stalled after agency drops regulatory overhaul
The Social Security Administration has spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to update the occupational data used in disability adjudications. When the agency will actually move to newer data is unclear.
Digital Government
Nearly 20 Democratic states inadvertently share driver data with ICE, lawmakers say
Nlets, a nonprofit law enforcement info-sharing network, can share state residents’ information with immigration agencies, federal lawmakers said Wednesday.
Exclusive
Digital Government
Labor Department looks to pilot intaking unemployment claims for states
The effort follows the department’s notice that it may create a national claims database, a move critics say raises cybersecurity, privacy and surveillance risks.
Digital Government
Class action lawsuit alleges data consolidation within USCIS is illegal
Plaintiffs represented by a coalition of advocacy groups have argued that drawing searchable data from other government agencies into a system maintained by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services “far exceed” that system’s scope.
Digital Government
Democratic report: DOGE is risking Americans’ data by operating outside federal law
A report released by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., said a lack of restrictions on DOGE employees’ collection of sensitive data can result “in serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities, privacy violations, and risk of corruption.”
Digital Government
Senate Finance Chair wants details from SSA following whistleblower allegations of data endangerment
Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, says he has reviewed information from SSA’s former chief data officer alleging that DOGE put sensitive agency information at risk. Now he wants information from the agency itself.
Ideas
The federal government’s data protection depends on resilience — not just cybersecurity
COMMENTARY | An increasingly AI-driven threat landscape demands a resilience-first mindset across federal agencies.
Digital Government
Trump is outpacing his first term in deleting environmental information
The restriction of language and removal of information makes it harder to address climate issues, say the authors of a new report on environmental information under Trump 2.0.
Policy
House NDAA draft mandates database of contractors used in covert operations
The early stage defense bill draft would create an internal list of contractor clients that assist the U.S. military in its secret operations “to facilitate deconfliction and risk assessment.”
Digital Government
Inside efforts to capture federal data after ‘the big takedown’
America’s Data Index aims to serve as a “weather forecast” on the state of government data.
Ideas
How the federal government can tackle its on-prem sensitive data dilemma
COMMENTARY | The new cyber battleground isn’t just in the cloud — it’s also in legacy on-prem servers teeming with forgotten data that are ripe for exploitation.
People
Key data leadership roles are becoming vacant as DOGE pushes for access
Trump signed the Evidence Act in 2019, but now many of the roles associated with it are unoccupied.
Digital Government
DOGE is building a ‘master database’ of sensitive information, top Oversight Democrat says
Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., is calling on the Social Security Administration’s watchdog to investigate whistleblower claims that the efficiency team is compiling potentially sensitive data across several government agencies.
Artificial Intelligence
Top oversight Dem files resolution to demand answers from DOGE on AI use
The resolution of inquiry from Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., would make the White House provide Congress with further information about DOGE’s use of federal data and AI.
Digital Government
Trump pens executive order pushing agencies to share data
The order comes as the administration is dealing with many lawsuits over DOGE access to federal systems and has sparked concerns about further data access among others.
Cybersecurity
Democrats open investigation into DOGE access to national security information
Multiple media reports have indicated DOGE has accessed classified or highly sensitive data across the government.
People
Science Dems press NASA about data security as DOGE turns its attention to the agency
A space agency official told House lawmakers that DOGE “has identified an individual who will be employed by NASA.”
Digital Government
Longtime GSA employee quits rather than give Musk ally access to Notify.gov
The leader of the Technology Transformation Services at GSA wanted access to a text messaging platform for government agencies.
People
Democrat lawmakers question DOGE’s access to personal data
House and Senate Democrats have sent a slew of letters to federal agencies and White House officials expressing concerns about the level of access that Elon Musk’s DOGE unit has to sensitive information.
Artificial Intelligence