Artificial Intelligence
CIA plans for ‘AI coworkers’, deputy director says
The spy agency managed a few hundred AI projects last year, and recently used AI to generate an intelligence report for the first time, deputy director Michael Ellis said.
Artificial Intelligence
Survey: Human capital is a key barrier to government AI adoption
A vast majority of federal leaders see artificial intelligence as an important step toward better operations, Ernst & Young found.
Artificial Intelligence
IRS faces AI skills gaps after pushing tech talent out, watchdog finds
The agency drained about 40% of its IT staff last year, GAO said.
People
‘No practical use': TSA experts say Trump’s ICE deployments won’t help with airport security
More than 400 TSA employees have left the agency since the shutdown began last month, White House says.
Digital Government
Senate Democrats push Social Security on employee reassignments to phone line
The agency is directing employees who normally process benefits to answer phone lines instead.
People
DOJ clears the way for government to hire technologists still connected to their private sector employers
Ethics experts and public sector lawyers told Nextgov/FCW that they are skeptical about the arrangement of private sector technologists joining the government on leaves of absence while retaining their deferred compensation packages.
Artificial Intelligence
Senators call on agencies to capture AI’s workforce impact
A bipartisan group of senators are asking the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau to update their national surveys to better understand artificial intelligence’s impacts in the culture and workforce.
Modernization
Bipartisan lawmakers worried about shaky progress on modernized government worker background check system
The IT system undergirding the overhauled background check program is nearly a decade behind schedule and billions over budget.
Cybersecurity
CISA to furlough most of its workforce under impending DHS shutdown
The shutdown would also slow ongoing revamps of a major cyber incident reporting rule that was signed into law in 2022, acting director Madhu Gottumukkala said this week.
People
CISA’s acting chief says 70 staff were reassigned to other DHS offices in last year
The cyberdefense agency in turn received some 30 employees from other DHS components, while a “handful” of CISA staffers were transferred to ICE, Madhu Gottumukkala told lawmakers.
People
Dem lawmakers propose 4.1% raise for feds in 2027
The annual reintroduction of the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act aims to set a baseline for negotiations around federal employee compensation for the coming year.
People
Now accepting applications — for classified intel
Foreign adversaries are using fake jobs and consulting gigs to coax secrets from former U.S. officials. It’s had results, and the efforts don’t appear to be slowing.
People
Agencies lost around 20,000 tech workers last year — and now the Trump admin is hiring
All six departments and agencies that lost the most IT talent currently have open job listings for such roles.
People
Suspected Chinese spies targeted former State official for Venezuela research
The recruitment scheme involved a sham company previously reported by Nextgov/FCW that has sought out former U.S. federal employees through fake websites and job postings.
Cybersecurity
Democrats press CISA’s acting chief over major staffing cuts
Madhu Gottumukkala also faced questions about a reported failed polygraph exam and attempts to reassign the agency’s chief information officer.
People
CISA budget bill would require agency to maintain ‘sufficient’ staffing levels
The congressional justification diverges from steps taken last year to curb the agency’s workforce and election security footprint.
People
Trump’s Tech Force hiring effort extends application deadline
Ethical questions remain about how managers from the approximately 30 industry partners involved in the program will work for the government without triggering conflicts of interest.
Artificial Intelligence
Democrats question White House tech lead on how workforce churn will impact AI Action Plan
Several House lawmakers also worried over whether the Trump administration’s budget request for 2026 would fall short of the funding agencies need to successfully carry out the White House’s AI action plan.
Artificial Intelligence
Report: Workforce shortages, security fears among biggest hindrances to agency AI adoption
A report issued by Google Public Sector shed light on the state of play for federal AI adoption, finding most efforts are currently in pilot programs and held up by security concerns.
People