People
GOP lawmaker calls for VA to ‘guarantee’ only underperformers are targeted in workforce layoffs
Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins asking him to review the department’s workforce reduction process and consider reinstating laid-off personnel.
Digital Government
DOGE employee had “read-only access” to two Federal Student Aid systems, Education Department says
In a response to a letter from Democrat senators, an Education official said the DOGE employee’s access to the FSA systems “has since been revoked.”
People
Veterans Affairs loses cybersecurity migration project lead after DOGE layoffs
Another project co-lead is among the 21 legacy USDS staffers who chose to leave civil service this week rather than work with DOGE.
Modernization
Lawmakers want VA to nail down total EHR modernization cost
Estimates for how much it would cost VA to fully deploy its new electronic health record system have ranged from $16.1 billion to almost $50 billion.
People
Science Dems press NASA about data security as DOGE turns its attention to the agency
A space agency official told House lawmakers that DOGE “has identified an individual who will be employed by NASA.”
Digital Government
Diversion of Security Fee funds from TSA harms screening tech adoption, report warns
One-third of the September 11 Security Fee meant to fund the TSA is being redirected to help reduce the national debt.
Cybersecurity
Lawmaker looks to strengthen security of U.S. communications following UK’s Apple backdoor order
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released a discussion draft of a measure to reform the CLOUD Act after the UK ordered Apple to build a backdoor into encrypted iCloud backups.
Artificial Intelligence
GOP lawmakers seek industry input on crafting US-first AI regulatory regime
Republican lawmakers used a House hearing to seek input from industry representatives for how lawmakers can craft policies that enable manufacturers to successfully leverage AI.
People
Democrat lawmakers question DOGE’s access to personal data
House and Senate Democrats have sent a slew of letters to federal agencies and White House officials expressing concerns about the level of access that Elon Musk’s DOGE unit has to sensitive information.
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmakers move to ban DeepSeek’s AI from government devices
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., charged that China is using DeepSeek “to steal the sensitive data of U.S. citizens.”
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