Policy
Lawmaker looks to shake up VA’s software management
Legislation from Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., prioritizes waste reduction when it comes to the roughly $1 billion that VA spends annually on software assets.
Policy
New bill seeks ‘phase-out’ of LiDAR tech tied to foreign adversaries
The ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., said his new bill “takes a proactive, commonsense step to secure our supply chains, protect advanced technologies from compromise, enhance Americans’ security, and ensure these systems are built by trusted partners.”
Cybersecurity
Cyber takes back seat to immigration in global threats hearing
Witnesses briefly touched on concerns about encrypted messaging and the threat China poses in cyberspace, as well as efforts to protect infrastructure that supports the worldwide internet.
Artificial Intelligence
Bipartisan, bicameral bill looks to help the government hire more AI talent
The proposal follows the exodus of hundreds of thousands government employees — including AI and tech talent — under the Trump administration’s push to shrink the government workforce.
Policy
Lawmakers seek details behind SSA plan to slash office visits
Nextgov/FCW first reported the agency’s intention to reduce field office visits last week.
Artificial Intelligence
New House commission to scrutinize AI's impact on the economy
The House Democratic Commission on AI and the Innovation Economy will address policy issues like guardrails for AI and its economic, safety and health impacts.
Cybersecurity
Defense authorization bill includes billions for cyber, intelligence matters
The NDAA notably deviates partly from President Donald Trump’s national security strategy, which seeks some distance between the U.S. and Europe. It also makes a sweeping regulatory harmonization demand.
Modernization
Technology Modernization Fund reauthorization not included in NDAA
The revolving fund — set up in 2017 to back government modernization projects — will expire at the end of this week without congressional action.
Policy
House Homeland leaders seek briefings from Apple, Google on ICE-tracking apps
Republican lawmakers say crowdsourced tools that flag immigration enforcement activity may endanger federal personnel and disrupt operations.
Digital Government
Trump signs law requiring the IRS to clean up adjustment notices
Lawmakers hope that clearer notices when the IRS makes simple math or clerical fixes on tax returns should cut down on headaches for taxpayers.
Artificial Intelligence
AI’s impact on US workforce receives renewed legislative scrutiny
Two recently introduced measures look to prepare the U.S. labor market for AI’s broad adoption by studying its consequences and supporting workforce training and education initiatives.
People
DHS, cyber industry mobilize to get CISA director nominee confirmed
“It’s a national security risk to not have him,” said a current U.S. official.
Modernization
Technology Modernization Fund nears expiration, despite bipartisan backing
Some lawmakers are pushing for the modernization fund to be included in the must-pass annual defense bill before it expires next week.
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.
Artificial Intelligence
Democrats bring back AI civil rights bill
The reintroduction of an anti-algorithmic discrimination bill comes as the advocacy for a decade-long moratorium on state-level AI regulation recirculates in Congress.
Cybersecurity
New bill proposes government-wide processes to attribute, sanction hackers
The measure would permit “robust sanctions against designated actors, including asset blocking, financial restrictions, export controls, procurement prohibitions, visa bans and suspension of assistance.”
Policy
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.
Artificial Intelligence
White House official, lawmaker call for amplifying US tech policy abroad
Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., and OSTP Director Michael Kratsios also advocated for a light-touch regulatory regime that has become a centerpiece of the Trump administration's tech approach.
Policy
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.
Artificial Intelligence