Digital Government
Veterans Experience Office codified under new law
The office was created in 2015 to gather feedback from veterans and their families that would help VA improve its services, although it was never formally established within the department.
Digital Government
White House launches digital health initiative backed by leading tech firms
President Trump said the effort to create a more robust digital health ecosystem will give providers and patients more streamlined access to health information.
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmakers, former officials press Commerce over NVIDIA’s chip sales to China
A NVIDIA spokesperson said criticisms of the company’s resumption of H20 chip sales to China “are misguided and inconsistent with the Administration's AI Action Plan.”
Artificial Intelligence
TSA seeks private sector input to enhance airport security
The agency is seeking solutions that “leverage innovative technology” to improve the security screening experience for both travelers and TSA personnel.
Policy
California lawmakers urge Trump admin to halt cuts to national labs
Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, along with Rep. Zoe Lofgren, said budget cuts to national laboratories have already led to layoffs, with some other labs warning that “they may need to start laying off thousands of scientists and technical staff in the near future.”
Acquisition
Pentagon halts $15B Advana recompete draft solicitation
DOD was previously looking to bring in new vendors to support its Advana data-analytics platform through a potential 10-year, $15 billion Advancing Artificial Intelligence Multiple Award Contract.
Artificial Intelligence
Resuming NVIDIA’s AI chip sales to China could weaken US leadership, lawmaker says
House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., said Beijing-focused export controls should be designed to keep China’s military “from leapfrogging ahead with U.S. hardware.”
Digital Government
GSA plans to optimize operations following cost-cutting, agency head says
GSA’s acting head Stephen Ehikian said “phase two” of the agency’s approach will prioritize becoming “much more efficient, much more effective and [with] much more of an eye towards our stakeholders, which is the American taxpayer.”
Artificial Intelligence
Inside VA’s yearslong AI effort to uncover veterans at high risk of suicide
VA’s REACH VET model scans veterans’ electronic health records to identify those in the top 0.1% of suicide risk and then provide them with more targeted support.
Acquisition
Idaho National Lab teams up with Microsoft to improve nuclear permitting reviews
The collaboration will enable the lab to use Microsoft’s Azure cloud and artificial AI tech to “streamline and accelerate the review process” for required reports from reactor developers.
People
Trump nominates Ryan Cote to serve as VA’s new IT chief
Cote previously served as the Department of Transportation’s CIO for two years during the first Trump administration.
Digital Government
VA is overlooking accessibility requirements when procuring IT, watchdog says
VA’s Office of Inspector General said the agency “did not establish a control environment that makes accessibility a priority” when it acquires new systems.
Modernization
Funding for further EHR deployments ‘vitally important,’ VA secretary says
VA Secretary Doug Collins said failing to modernize the agency’s electronic health record system “hurts our community care process because our doctors cannot communicate with the community [or] our doctors internally.”
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmakers demand review of VA’s AI-driven contract cuts
Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Angus King, I-Maine, said the use of AI to identify agency contracts for termination “adds an entire new level of unease connected to the decision-making, security, governance, and quality control of the entire process.”
Modernization
VA needs to better plan appointment scheduling modernization, watchdog says
The Government Accountability Office said VA “has not yet determined how the modernized and updated products used for scheduling will interface and be used to pull and combine the data” from its current VistA electronic health record system and the new Oracle Health software.
Digital Government
Lawmakers propose digital delivery option for GI Bill documents
Bipartisan legislation seeks to provide veterans and their beneficiaries with the ability to receive electronic correspondence about their GI Bill education benefits.
Modernization
Democrats press Palantir about reported creation of IRS ‘mega-database’
The possible creation of a shareable, governmentwide database of Americans’ personal information would be a “surveillance nightmare,” 10 House and Senate Democrats wrote in a letter to the tech company.
Emerging Tech
T-Mobile is using 5G, drones and AI to help first responders
The provider’s T-Priority 5G network slicing solution aims to give first responders enhanced connectivity services in disaster zones.
Modernization
VA official touts progress on EHR modernization project
The agency is undertaking “a no-fail mission to deliver a Federal EHR at every VA medical center by 2031,” VA Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence said.
Artificial Intelligence