Author Archive

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.
Digital Government

TSA to allow mobile driver’s licenses after REAL ID goes into effect

The final rule will allow states that have issued mobile driver’s licenses to apply for TSA-issued waivers of certain REAL ID requirements.

Digital Government

Lawmakers want DOJ to create national human trafficking database

A new bipartisan House bill would incentivize law enforcement agencies to provide county-specific data on cases of human trafficking.

Artificial Intelligence

VA’s head of AI sees his role as a ‘bridge’ to future use

Meet the Department of Veterans Affairs CAIO Charles Worthington. He envisions a future where AI components are built into standard technology and software.

Emerging Tech

Salesforce launches new top secret cloud environment

The software company said it is the first provider to deliver a true commercial cloud that has received Top Secret accreditation with platform- and software-as-a-service capabilities for the intelligence community.

Artificial Intelligence

VA is updating its AI suicide risk model to reach more women

The department is looking to add military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence as risk factors for suicide in its predictive model for identifying veterans at high risk of self-harm.

Modernization

FCC adopts georouting rules for national suicide and crisis lifeline

The Federal Communication Commission's new rules will require U.S. wireless providers to automatically route calls and text messages to the 988 lifeline to local crisis centers based on the callers’ physical locations.

Artificial Intelligence

TSA's 'crawl, walk, run' approach to AI

Meet J. Matt Gilkeson, Chief Technology, Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer at the Transportation Security Administration

Modernization

HHS to crack down on providers blocking access to electronic medical records

The Department of Health and Human Services has received more than a thousand claims of blocked or stymied access to electronic health record information in recent years.

Modernization

Inside VA’s drive to offer rideshare services to vets

Since its launch in January 2022, the Veterans Health Administration’s rideshare program for veterans in need of medical-related transportation has provided more than 438,000 rides.

Digital Government

Agencies have struggled to meet IDEA Act requirements, watchdog finds

The Government Accountability Office found that only 70% of the 24 agencies covered by the IDEA Act submitted annual reports between December 2019 and December 2023.

Digital Government

Lawmakers want government to promote use of digital IDs

Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., told Nextgov/FCW that he’s hoping to get his Improving Digital Identity Act included in the House AI Task Force’s list of recommended policy proposals.

Digital Government

Commerce launches initial phase of its space traffic coordination system

The new system will provide conjunction data messages “for approximately 1,000 space objects six times a day” during phase 1.0.

Modernization

VA officials say they can finish the digital GI Bill platform without more delays, cost overruns

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis.,​​ said the Department of Veterans Affairs is “batting zero” when it comes to finishing major IT modernization projects on time and within budget.

Digital Government

VA offers veterans nationwide access to emergency telehealth care

The department said the new tele-emergency care resource will allow veterans to connect with clinical triage nurses for timely medical evaluations.

Digital Government

FCC to vote on georouting for suicide and crisis lifeline calls

The FCC plans to vote on rules during its Oct. 17 open meeting that would require all U.S. wireless carriers to implement georouting for calls to the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.

Modernization

VA's EHR clocks more than 800 'major performance incidents' since go-live, watchdog finds

VA’s Office of Inspector General identified 826 outages, degradations and functionality gaps that meet the definition of a major performance incident outlined in the EHR modernization project’s contract.

Artificial Intelligence

House bill looks to expand Energy’s AI research and development

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., said the bipartisan proposal would “position the Department of Energy to develop high-performance platforms, responsibly cultivate training data and improve energy efficiency to support safe AI innovation.”

Modernization

Agencies score record number of A's on latest FITARA scorecard

GAO Information Technology and Cybersecurity Director Carol Harris said the biannual review has saved the government a total of roughly $31.4 billion since it first began in 2005.

Digital Government

Veterans Crisis Line looks to balance anonymity with location tools

Matthew Miller, the executive director of VA’s office of suicide prevention, said crisis line responders “want to be very careful how much we pursue information from the veteran, unless it's absolutely necessary to provide them with the highest quality care.”

Modernization

VA needs stricter oversight for EHR deployment, top Republican says

Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., who chairs the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, said he appreciated VA’s engagement with Congress “about establishing some metrics that Oracle has to abide by in order to keep this moving forward.”