Digital Government
Civic hackers explore ways to streamline government operations
Lawmakers and technologists united for a day of civic hacking on Capitol Hill as part of an effort to modernize government services and make government operations more efficient.
Artificial Intelligence
Guardrails in government AI purchasing are ‘more important than ever,’ senator says
“Right now, [contracting officers] are set up for failure,” when it comes to buying AI applications, one witness told lawmakers at a Senate hearing.
Artificial Intelligence
Industry leaders urge Congress to enact responsible AI regulations
Some tech observers have suggested hitting pause on generative artificial intelligence development, but industry leaders told lawmakers that the tech could benefit from legislation that builds trust in AI.
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmakers grapple with AI’s potential as they consider future regulations
In a week packed with artificial intelligence hearings and events, lawmakers are focused on bipartisan unity and threading the needle between further advancement and regulation.
Artificial Intelligence
Energy officials say their agency can lead the federal approach to national AI R&D efforts
Agency witnesses testifying at a Senate hearing spoke to Energy’s posture in addressing the “grand challenge” in safely developing and deploying artificial intelligence.
Emerging Tech
AUKUS partnership success hinges on export controls for sensitive tech, officials say
The trilateral Australia-U.K.-U.S. partnership is intended to share more emerging technologies, which officials say demands synchronicity in export control standards.
People
GOP lawmakers tap Holman Rule to slash salaries of agency heads
If House conservatives get their way, multiple federal officials will open fiscal 2024 with $1 annual salaries.
Artificial Intelligence
Schumer summons tech titans for AI meetups
Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are among the CEOs slated to take questions from lawmakers in a closed-door forum.
Ideas
Time for Congress to rationalize the c-suite
COMMENTARY | A proliferation of IT and management reforms going back more than 40 years have complicated the path to modernizing legacy technology systems.
Cybersecurity
New bill would require all federal contractors to develop vulnerability disclosure policies
The Federal Cybersecurity Vulnerability Reduction Act aims to establish standardized vulnerability disclosure policies across all federal contractors.
Ideas
4 ways the defense spending bill could have addressed AI, other issues to boost cybersecurity
COMMENTARY | The Senate's version of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act does address some important cybersecurity issues, but it may have missed opportunities to expand collaboration and tackle emerging technology challenges.
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmaker pushes AI companies for more safety and security commitments
Companies need to take on practices that prevent things like social-scoring, real-time facial recognition and more, according to Sen. Mark Warner.
Cybersecurity
House committee asks FCC for more action on IoT device security
A letter from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party asks the FCC for investigations into Chinese-linked connectivity modules as the agency launches its IoT cyber labeling program.
Policy
Bill to alleviate federal pay compression introduced by House Dems
The Pay Compression Relief Act would effectively allow General Schedule employees to receive annual increases to both basic and locality pay, even if they have already hit the federal pay cap.
Cybersecurity
House panel probes China-linked email hacks
The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating how the State and Commerce departments responded to a cyberattack that successfully gained access to unclassified government email accounts of top-level officials.
Cybersecurity
North Korea's cyber-enabled sanction evasion requires tougher response, lawmakers and experts say
Pyongyang’s growing reliance on cybercrimes to circumvent international sanctions should push the U.S. and its allies to fully enforce existing sanctions and review whether more regulations are needed to govern digital currencies.
Modernization
Pentagon’s termination of MyTravel program receives bipartisan criticism
The Pentagon’s reasons for reverting back to its legacy Defense Travel System after seven months “don’t add up,” according to Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.
Artificial Intelligence
Scaling and talent development dominate Senate’s AI-focused NDAA amendments
The upper chamber’s draft of the NDAA looks to regulate and incorporate AI systems in federal operations, broadly helmed by a team of bipartisan senators.
Artificial Intelligence
Biden: New AI agreement will 'shepherd' responsible innovation, but legislation still needed
President Joe Biden made remarks following the announcement of new private sector AI accords, but members of Congress from both parties agreed with the need to develop regulatory law.
Artificial Intelligence