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Edward Graham

Staff Reporter, Nextgov/FCW

Edward Graham
Edward Graham is a technology reporter for Nextgov/FCW, where he reports on national security technologies and policies, the Department of Veterans Affairs and election security issues. He received his master’s degree in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University in 2016. If you have a tip you'd like to share, Edward can be securely contacted at Grahed.40 on Signal.
People

Trump nominates Ryan Cote to serve as VA’s new IT chief

Cote previously served as the Department of Transportation’s CIO for two years during the first Trump administration.

Digital Government

VA is overlooking accessibility requirements when procuring IT, watchdog says 

VA’s Office of Inspector General said the agency “did not establish a control environment that makes accessibility a priority” when it acquires new systems.

Modernization

Funding for further EHR deployments ‘vitally important,’ VA secretary says

VA Secretary Doug Collins said failing to modernize the agency’s electronic health record system “hurts our community care process because our doctors cannot communicate with the community [or] our doctors internally.”

Artificial Intelligence

Lawmakers demand review of VA’s AI-driven contract cuts

Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Angus King, I-Maine, said the use of AI to identify agency contracts for termination “adds an entire new level of unease connected to the decision-making, security, governance, and quality control of the entire process.”

Modernization

VA needs to better plan appointment scheduling modernization, watchdog says

The Government Accountability Office said VA “has not yet determined how the modernized and updated products used for scheduling will interface and be used to pull and combine the data” from its current VistA electronic health record system and the new Oracle Health software.

Digital Government

Lawmakers propose digital delivery option for GI Bill documents

Bipartisan legislation seeks to provide veterans and their beneficiaries with the ability to receive electronic correspondence about their GI Bill education benefits. 

Modernization

Democrats press Palantir about reported creation of IRS ‘mega-database’

The possible creation of a shareable, governmentwide database of Americans’ personal information would be a “surveillance nightmare,” 10 House and Senate Democrats wrote in a letter to the tech company.

Emerging Tech

T-Mobile is using 5G, drones and AI to help first responders

The provider’s T-Priority 5G network slicing solution aims to give first responders enhanced connectivity services in disaster zones.

Modernization

VA official touts progress on EHR modernization project

The agency is undertaking “a no-fail mission to deliver a Federal EHR at every VA medical center by 2031,” VA Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence said.

Artificial Intelligence

House bill would task NSA with developing AI security playbook to counter China

Lawmakers want the NSA to develop guidance to help companies better protect the development of their advanced AI technologies from threat actors.

Modernization

Draft proposal looks to put EHR reform measures back on the table

Draft legislation put forward by GOP members of the House Veterans’ Affairs panel reconsiders EHR oversight and governance proposals that were removed from the Dole Act before it was signed into law in January.

Artificial Intelligence

Democrats raise alarm over AI-driven contract cuts at VA

Connecticut Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said DOGE’s use of an AI tool resulted in the “wholesale slashing” of VA contracts.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers warn that UK’s Apple backdoor demand ‘sets a dangerous precedent’

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, said "forcing companies to circumvent their own encrypted services in the name of security is the beginning of a dangerous slippery slope."

Artificial Intelligence

Salesforce’s AI agents receive FedRAMP high authorization

Salesforce said that its Agentforce platform “has built-in trust standards and a unified approach.”

People

DOJ CIO announces departure from agency

Melinda Rogers said May 30 was her last day with the Department of Justice.

Artificial Intelligence

House AI Task Force member optimistic Congress will move on group’s recs later this year

The bipartisan House AI Task Force’s recommendations provide “a great running start” for Congress to establish guardrails around the safe use of emerging technologies, the lawmaker said.

Digital Government

VA now has ‘100% visibility’ into its software license inventory, official says

Jeff VanBemmel, director of end user operations at VA’s Office of Information and Technology, told lawmakers that the department’s total inventory of software licenses includes 4,433 commercial off-the-shelf products and another 224 software-as-a-service offerings.

Modernization

House bill wants VA to pilot cloud-based medical supply management system

The bipartisan proposal from Reps. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., would direct the agency to test the system at one VA medical facility before potentially expanding it out further.

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.

Modernization

VA hopes to use next year’s EHR rollouts to gain momentum for faster deployments

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins said VA is hoping to deploy its new EHR system at 20 to 25 new medical facilities in 2027 as it pursues an accelerated deployment timeline.