Policy

Tech bills of the week: Standardizing DHS communications; Nuclear power for space exploration; and more

New legislation also looks to create guardrails on the Pentagon’s use of AI, understand how the emerging capabilities are affecting the U.S. job market and determine the environmental impact of data centers.

Exclusive Artificial Intelligence

White House discussions are weighing giving CISA Mythos access

Officials have considered having the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency leverage the advanced AI model that was designed to detect previously undiscovered cyber vulnerabilities to scan federal agencies’ networks.

Exclusive Artificial Intelligence

Lack of White House guidance has complicated agency Mythos adoption, people familiar say

Agency tech leaders say they don’t have clear direction from the White House on how to access and implement Anthropic’s cyber-focused AI model for their networks.

Cybersecurity

CISA unveils President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition winners

This year’s President’s Cup winners featured contestants from across the U.S. military branches.

Artificial Intelligence

Warren seeks admin leadership to testify on AI policy

The Senate Banking Committee’s ranking member criticized the lack of administration officials asked to testify at an upcoming hearing on AI and the American Dream.

Policy

Tech bills of the week: Regulating DOD uses of AI; Protecting the work of digital creators; and more

Legislative measures introduced this week touched on enhancing the tech fluency of the U.S. Foreign Service, offering legal recourse for recipients of illicit images and modernizing VA’s identity proofing and authentication systems.

Artificial Intelligence

Lawmakers propose AI framework that would preempt state laws for 3 years

A bipartisan House proposal looks to codify existing programs, set an all-hands-on-deck approach to AI governance and allow for the federal preemption of state AI laws for 3 years.

Exclusive Artificial Intelligence

Anthropic held cyberthreat briefings with agency CIOs last month

Discussions included how to defend digital assets following the debut of advanced AI models, like Anthropic’s Mythos.

Breaking News Artificial Intelligence

Trump signs AI executive order after postponement last month

The order encourages developers of advanced AI to grant the U.S. and certain critical infrastructure operators 30 days of pre-release model access. Earlier drafts had set 90 days of early access.

Policy

Tech bills of the week: FY27 NDAA tech and cyber measures; modernizing FAA aircraft repair forms; and more

Although Congress was in recess this week, lawmakers still introduced several bills looking to expand the use of new technologies.

Exclusive Acquisition

GSA is preparing an AI-specific acquisition reform rule

The updated rule is expected in the next couple weeks and will set a preference for fixed-price models, making the GSA a “more predictable business partner” to original equipment manufacturers.

Artificial Intelligence

Argonne launches high-performance computing-backed AI research service 

The new platform headquartered at Argonne National Laboratory grants Department of Energy researchers remote access to advanced AI models for scientific discovery.

Policy

Tech bills of the week: Mitigating risks to critical infrastructure; incentivizing domestic high-tech manufacturing; and more

Tech- and cyber-focused bills rolled out this week include measures to develop a biotech-savvy workforce, support state and local tech modernization efforts and better understand the cyber needs of small businesses.

Emerging Tech

Commerce commits to funding incentives with 9 companies to spur quantum development

The letters of intent provide over $2 billion in funding from the CHIPS and Science Act to spur research and development in fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Cybersecurity

Draft executive order would set deadlines for digital signature and key quantum encryption

The developing order on post-quantum cryptography sets rigid deadlines for quantum-resistant cryptography updates, underscoring that contractors need to migrate to certain standards by 2030. 

Artificial Intelligence

Anticipated executive order could give NSA a role in voluntary AI model testing

The order, which is expected this week, comes as the Trump administration grapples with the national security implications of advanced cyber-focused AI models like Anthropic’s Mythos.

Policy

Tech bills of the week: Mandatory AI RMF usage; AI for energy generation and storage; and more

New legislative proposals aim to use artificial intelligence to improve energy generation and storage, along with government workflows and women’s health care.

Artificial Intelligence

NIST aims for summer release of AI cyber guidelines

Draft iterations of cybersecurity guidance for AI-driven threats across different types of emerging systems are in development as the federal government wades into AI model risk assessments.

Policy

Tech bills of the week: Limiting data harvesting; AI for financial fraud prevention; and more

Although Congress was off this week, lawmakers still introduced several measures looking to examine the use of AI tools and protect mass gathering from malicious drone threats.

Artificial Intelligence

Pentagon will ‘never again’ rely on a single AI provider, official says

Defense Under Secretary for Research and Engineering Emil Michael said new agreements with Big Tech companies are a “counterstatement” to the ongoing Anthropic-Pentagon conflict as the agency prioritizes flexible contracts.