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.
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.”

Artificial Intelligence

Agencies have met all AI mandates for management and talent, watchdog says

The Government Accountability Office said agencies’ compliance with 13 key AI benchmarks in the 2023 executive order “is likely to increase AI expertise in high-priority areas quickly and more efficiently.”

Modernization

Space missions rely on private sector engagement, NASA official says

The space agency needs to work more closely with its commercial providers to meet critical flight requirements.

Artificial Intelligence

CIA looks to fast track AI adoption through cloud contract

A CIA official said the agency is working with the five recipients of its Commercial Cloud Enterprise contract to “get commercial [large language models] up into our high-side environments.”

Emerging Tech

FCC rule grants drone operators spectrum access for navigation

The agency said assigning spectrum access in the 5GHz band is an initial step toward integrating drones into the National Airspace System.

Digital Government

Cost of VA’s Digital GI Bill has nearly doubled amid delays and contract challenges

The agency’s Office of Inspector General said in a new report that initial contract requirements for the Digital GI Bill platform “were unclear and included unrealistic expectations.”

Digital Government

AI can help FOIA offices combat onslaught of bot-powered requests, report says

According to a report from software firm OPEXUS, 93% of FOIA officers believe “AI has a key role to play in helping to review, sort and deduplicate requests.”

Acquisition

DOJ suit claims Georgia Tech ‘knowingly failed’ to meet cyber standards for DOD contracts

The Justice Department has joined onto a whistleblower lawsuit filed by two senior staffers on Georgia Tech’s cybersecurity compliance team that was filed in 2022.

Digital Government

VA should offer more support for Veterans Crisis Line personnel, watchdog says

VA’s Office of Inspector General found that the Veterans Crisis Line successfully prepared for the launch of the streamlined “988 then press 1” call option for those in crisis but strained supervisors’ ability to guide responders.