Policy
White House budget request includes $45 million in additional DOGE funding
The request would support an estimated 150 full time employees, 80% of whom would be paid out of agency reimbursements, rather than DOGE-specific funds.
People
Trump cyber nominees expected to testify next week, people familiar say
An unreleased telecom vulnerabilities report is being used as leverage to block one of the nominees from full confirmation in the Senate.
Defense
Pentagon orders civilian employees to submit money-saving ideas
It’s the last step in the "5 bullet points" weekly email exercise.
People
Judge overturns firing of Democrats on intelligence and privacy oversight body
The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board has played a major role as a watchdog of controversial intelligence collection programs.
Policy
Scientific research needs more precise federal funding, White House tech leader says
“To get more bang for America's research bucks, we need to enhance the creativity and precision of our funding,” OSTP Director Michael Kratsios said.
Ideas
Has DOGE missed its opportunity?
COMMENTARY | A former federal executive charts a viable long-term plan for DOGE to achieve success.
Cybersecurity
Signal clone used by Waltz to archive messages suspends services after reported hack
Smarsh, the Oregon-based owner of TeleMessage, said Monday it was “investigating a potential security incident” and suspended its services out of an abundance of caution.
Emerging Tech
Inside OSTP’s ‘promote’ and ‘protect’ science and tech strategy
Michael Kratsions, director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, defined the key policy pillars in the White House’s approach to furthering U.S. technology innovation.
Emerging Tech
Former NSF heads criticize funding, staff cuts at science agency
Former National Science Foundation and National Science Board leads sent a letter to congressional leadership saying the cuts to the agency run contrary to the Trump administration’s priorities.
Digital Government
Here are the tech takeaways from Trump’s budget proposal
The White House has suggested sweeping reductions to many civilian agencies, though it promises to maintain investments in emerging technologies.
Emerging Tech
Companies announce billions in investments to support emerging tech
The new corporate investments pledged to U.S. manufacturing aim to support the country’s growing artificial intelligence innovation ecosystem, among others.
Artificial Intelligence
National AI Action plan should expand open-source offerings, respondents say
During the open comment period, a multitude of entities — from private sector to academic research bodies — touted the benefits of a robust open-source AI ecosystem.
Artificial Intelligence
Trump unveils sweeping order to bring AI into US education
The executive order forms a new task force and leverages existing grant programs focused on improving AI education in the U.S.
Ideas
Driving efficiency while improving federal agencies’ cybersecurity postures
COMMENTARY | A lopsided labor-to-technology spending ratio is just one challenge agencies have to take on.
People
OPM proposes rule to formally revive Schedule F
The federal government’s dedicated HR agency estimates that 50,000 federal workers will be stripped of their civil service protections and become at-will employees.
Breaking News
People
White House extends federal hiring freeze until July for most
The Trump administration’s halt on federal civilian hiring, which was supposed to be lifted Monday, will be extended through July, per a memo released late Thursday.
Digital Government
Trump ‘anti-fraud’ memo could allow SSA to stop paying some Americans’ earned benefits
The document’s publication comes just days after reports that DOGE operatives overruled career workers to falsely label thousands of immigrants as dead.
Digital Government
Trump builds on Biden efforts to modernize permitting technology
While many praised the effort as common-sense, workforce cuts across government, as well as the administration’s deregulatory efforts, have raised questions about implementation.
Acquisition
Trump orders major changes to rules covering $1T in federal spending
The Tuesday mandate — which aims to streamline the way government buys goods and services — was accompanied by a second order requiring agencies to predominantly use commercial products, rather than custom-built.
People