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.
Emerging Tech
Lawmakers seek to upgrade quantum sciences research labs, academic resources
A new bipartisan bill seeks to modernize quantum sciences research facilities
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.
Policy
Congress averts shutdown with a 45-day stopgap funding bill
Lawmakers passed a bipartisan measure just hours before a funding lapse was set to furlough hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
Policy
House passes last-minute CR, potentially averting a government shutdown
After days of brinkmanship, House Republicans passed a 45-day continuing resolution to keep the government open past Monday.
Digital Government