Digital Government

Election security threats require more federal resources, officials say

Facing growing cyber and physical threats, election administrators told lawmakers that more federal assistance is needed to safeguard voting systems and personnel.

Artificial Intelligence

New bill aims to codify NIST AI risk management in federal procurement

The Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act is designed to give statutory support to many of the efforts outlined in the Biden administration's AI executive order.

Emerging Tech

Bipartisan House duo looks to extend quantum tech legislation

The chairman and ranking member of a key House committee are looking to reauthorize federal support for quantum computing research for five more years.

Emerging Tech

US would be ‘effectively defenseless’ without counter-drone authority extension, FBI director says

The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice’s authority to mitigate threats from unmanned aircraft systems is set to expire on Nov. 18.

Artificial Intelligence

Biden signs AI order but stresses need for legislation

The long-anticipated executive order on artificial intelligence is broad, detailed and expansive, but the White House wants Congress to do more.

Emerging Tech

House Dems seek guardrails for law enforcement’s use of facial recognition

The bill would require agencies to obtain a warrant showing probable cause that an individual has committed “a serious violent felony” before facial recognition can be used.

Digital Government

CX proposal clears Senate committee

The legislation targets “high-impact” government services for streamlining and improvement.

People

House picks new speaker, but shutdown threat looms

Federal agency missions often take a back seat amid preparations for a funding lapse.

Artificial Intelligence

Senate bill mandates disclosures on AI-made material

The bipartisan legislation calling for the labeling of AI-generated content follows similar efforts made in the House earlier this year.

Digital Government

Lawmakers propose establishing new CX lead at OMB

A House bill would also have agencies tap a senior official to coordinate improvements to government services.

People

Biden seeks federal hiring surge in new $100B emergency funding request

A variety of agencies would collectively add nearly 6,000 employees if Congress provides the supplemental funding.

Artificial Intelligence

NIST plans new risk evaluation methods and standards tracking for AI

The associate director for emerging technology at the National Institute of Standards and Technology said the evaluations are designed to identify potential harms from AI systems before they are deployed.

Modernization

'Give us the data,' oversight and anti-fraud experts tell lawmakers

Expert witnesses again implored lawmakers to make an existing data analytics center permanent and set up new data powers to combat fraud.

Digital Government

Bipartisan Senate bill tasks agencies with prioritizing CX

The pending legislation looks to reduce burdens on users interacting with government while scouting opportunities for cross-agency collaboration.

Digital Government

Lawmaker demands action from social media companies amid disinformation deluge

Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., questioned whether tech companies are doing enough to curb the massive influx of disinformation regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Artificial Intelligence

Democrats urge the White House to bind agencies to the AI Bill of Rights

“The federal government’s commitment to the AI Bill of Rights would show that fundamental rights will not take a back seat in the AI era,” the lawmakers argue.

Modernization

CHIPS Act implementation at risk as November shutdown looms, Raimondo warns

The shutdown would be “massively disruptive” for ongoing efforts to boost semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S., Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Wednesday.

Ideas

New legislation means working with hackers – here's why that's good news

COMMENTARY | Contractors who work on government systems need to be able to accept vulnerability reports from ethical hackers

Cybersecurity

House passes bill to limit education requirements for federal cyber roles

The push for skills-based hiring is already underway in the executive branch, where the Office of Personnel Management is reworking qualification standards for some government jobs.