Author Archive
Cybersecurity
Dem lawmakers renew calls for release of delayed telecom security report
In a letter to DHS and ODNI, Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Mark Warner of Virginia said the release of a 2022 report detailing cyber vulnerabilities in the U.S. telecommunications sector is “critically important to U.S. national security.”
Artificial Intelligence
OpenAI offers US veterans free year of its ChatGPT Plus service
Veterans and transitioning servicemembers can register for the plan if they are within 12 months of their retirement or separation from active duty.
People
Energy names its third permanent CIO since the start of Trump 2.0
Dawn Zimmer has had multiple stints this year as the department’s acting CIO.
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmakers propose requiring agencies, major firms to report AI’s job impact
A new bill from Sens. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., would direct covered entities to provide quarterly reports to the Labor Department detailing layoffs and workforce displacements caused by uses of AI.
Modernization
Post-9/11 veterans group’s project to modernize VA healthcare includes suicide prevention focus
The initiative from the nonprofit Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is helmed by former VA Secretary David Shulkin and is looking into seven preliminary areas of care.
Artificial Intelligence
Inside Mission Daybreak: VA’s effort to support innovative suicide prevention
VA’s director of data and analytics innovation said the program “is looking for what is the right solution for the ways that we want to optimize care, and sometimes that's technology, and sometimes it isn't.”
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Cybersecurity
House Democrats want answers on CISA reassignments to border security, immigration roles
A letter led by Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., argues DHS violated the Antideficiency Act when it conducted a reduction in force during the government shutdown.
Artificial Intelligence
VA’s AI suicide prevention tools aren’t meant to replace clinical interventions — advocates want it to stay that way
The AI tools currently being used to identify veterans at high-risk of suicide always include human outreach.
Artificial Intelligence
VA AI strategy says early use cases will inform adoption in new EHR
“As AI tools are validated and show worth, they will be incorporated into the EHR and many other information technology platforms through coordination between innovators and the teams managing those systems today,” the department said.
Modernization
Dave Powner returns to GAO, this time to advocate for its bipartisan, cost-saving work
“We are the watchdog for the Congress, and it's really important that they collectively know our value,” congressional relations official Dave Powner told Nextgov/FCW.
People
Connolly's successor, James Walkinshaw, looks to carry on his IT and workforce legacy
“A shutdown gives the Trump administration no new legal authority to fire federal workers or to conduct reductions in force,” Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., told Nextgov/FCW in response to the White House telling agencies to implement mass layoffs in the event of a funding lapse.
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Digital Government
Democratic report: DOGE is risking Americans’ data by operating outside federal law
A report released by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., said a lack of restrictions on DOGE employees’ collection of sensitive data can result “in serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities, privacy violations, and risk of corruption.”
Modernization
VA to focus on EHR deployment first, then innovative additions, official says
Dr. Neil Evans, who is currently overseeing VA’s deployment of a new EHR system, said one benefit of rolling out the Oracle Health software is “we can, in the future, more easily orchestrate and deliver an integrated technological experience.”
Acquisition
Meta offers agencies access to its open source AI models through OneGov deal
The agreement will allow government customers to use Meta’s Llama models, which are already publicly available, with the assurance that they meet federal requirements.
Policy
Lawmakers look to restart suicide lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth service
Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate are looking to restart the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program after the Trump administration shut down the dedicated line on July 17.
Artificial Intelligence
AI-based suicide prevention efforts at VA always have human involvement, official says
“We do not currently have any plans that I'm aware of to use AI as a treatment device instead of providers,” Evan Carey, acting director of VA’s National Artificial Intelligence Institute, told lawmakers.
Digital Government
US needs an agency to call ‘balls and strikes’ on digital IDs, lawmaker says
Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., said Congress needs to create a federal body capable of auditing identity verification technologies to lay the groundwork for a broad embrace of digital IDs.
People
Federal deputy CIO leaving government for private sector role
OMB did not respond to a request for comment about who will replace Drew Myklegard at the agency.
Emerging Tech
In-home clinical uses of immersive tech will raise data privacy questions, VA official says
VA has over 40 use cases of augmented reality and virtual reality tools for patients and department staff.
Cybersecurity
White House cyber office calls for ‘whole of nation’ effort to deter nation-state hackers
Newly-confirmed ONCD director Sean Cairncross wants to work with the private sector to develop a toolkit for stopping foreign hackers and boosting U.S. cyberdefenses.
