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.
People

Senate Dems call on VA secretary to protect veteran data from DOGE

Lawmakers asked VA Secretary Doug Collins “to deny and sever” DOGE’s access to department systems that include information about veterans.

Digital Government

Sources: VA’s new EHR is not accessibility compliant

A VA official told Nextgov/FCW that, at the facilities where VA’s new electronic health record has been deployed, “veterans with disabilities cannot access their own records because the patient portal is inaccessible to them.”

Defense

DHS personnel descend on New Orleans to help secure Super Bowl LIX

CISA has already conducted physical and cybersecurity vulnerability assessments ahead of the Feb. 9 NFL championship game.

Artificial Intelligence

GOP lawmakers push for DHS innovation arm to secure sensitive data

The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate would be required to develop a process for safeguarding the information in its research and development projects.

Artificial Intelligence

Nuclear Regulatory Commission to examine more nuanced requirements for AI

A regulatory gap analysis said the NRC’s current federal regulations “are fairly flexible enough to adapt to artificial intelligence,” according to a data scientist with the agency.

Modernization

DHS watchdog investigating TSA’s use of facial recognition

The review comes after a bipartisan group of senators previously called for the watchdog to look into TSA’s use of biometric tools “from both an authorities and privacy perspective.”

Artificial Intelligence

Report: agencies’ adoption of GenAI depends on safe and ethical principles

Governments need to adhere to ethical AI principles and comply with regulatory guidance to effectively use GenAI capabilities, according to a recent IBM report.

Modernization

HHS pause on external comms delaying upcoming health summits

Two planned events have been indefinitely postponed as a result of the Trump administration’s freeze on HHS-related mass communications and public appearances.

Emerging Tech

TSA’s facial recognition tech is highly accurate, review says

A DHS analysis found that self-identified Black volunteers who participated in testing of TSA’s biometric tools had the lowest face matching success rate of any demographic group, with an overall accuracy of 98%.

People

Trump’s VA pick voices support for continued EHR deployment

Former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., said “there's no reason in the world” why VA cannot successfully deploy its beleaguered Oracle Cerner electronic health record system.

People

Trump’s DHS pick says CISA is ‘far off-mission’ and should be smaller

Current South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem wants CISA to be “refocused” on critical infrastructure and to no longer address mis- or disinformation efforts online.

Cybersecurity

Salt Typhoon breach was first detected on federal networks, CISA head says

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly said the group was first detected “before we understood it was Salt Typhoon.”

Artificial Intelligence

HHS AI plan looks to the private sector for collaboration

Public engagement and collaborative partnerships with the private sector “throughout the innovation pipeline” can help ensure that AI tools are being equitably used and deployed, HHS said in its AI strategic plan.

Artificial Intelligence

AI tools can help reduce climate risks, State strategy says

The release of the National Adaptation and Resilience Planning Strategy comes as a series of wildfires continue to burn across the Los Angeles area.

Artificial Intelligence

VA accounts for majority of all agencies’ safety- and rights-impacting AI

Of the 1,757 total AI use cases reported by federal agencies last year, 227 of them were listed as safety- or rights-impacting. VA accounted for 145 of those identified use cases.

Emerging Tech

Federal R&D needs sustained funding, OSTP head warns incoming Trump admin

OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar said the U.S. is “at a pivotal moment for federally-funded R&D” as misinformation and proposed budget cuts threaten government-driven innovation.

People

OPM CIO announces retirement

Guy Cavallo is the agency’s longest serving CIO in the past decade.

Artificial Intelligence

HHS’ 2024 AI use case inventory shows move toward internal chatbots

The agency reported 271 AI use cases in 2024, which it said represented a 66% increase from its reported 2023 total.

Artificial Intelligence

DOD announces completion of pilot to identify medical AI vulnerabilities

The Pentagon’s red teaming effort identified more than 800 “potential vulnerabilities and biases” in the use of large language models for clinical note summarization and for a medical advisory chatbot.

Modernization

VA plans to restart EHR rollouts in mid-2026, despite viability concerns

VA Secretary Denis McDonough previously told Congress that the department was looking to end its pause on new deployments of the Oracle Cerner software in fiscal year 2025.