Author Archive
Policy
As DOGE formally sunsets, its public record is still evolving
The temporary organization behind the Department of Government Efficiency sunsets on July 4, but the real closeout question is what, exactly, is ending and what public record is left behind?
Digital Government
America at 250: What the Census reveals about our journey
As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, the Census Bureau offers a vivid way to trace the country’s growth, movement and change from the earliest days of the republic.
Modernization
How NIST’s torque tool could help keep air force jets flying
With roots in an unlikely Lego experiment from years ago, a new self-calibrating device developed with the Air Force and Snap-on could make torque calibration faster, more precise and easier to sustain.
Artificial Intelligence
How the Library of Congress is using both AI and volunteers to unlock public broadcasting history
The FixIt+ platform uses AI-generated transcripts as a starting point, then relies on volunteers to refine them so historic public media becomes easier to search, study and understand.
Digital Government
A NOAA-backed tool shows the hidden value of healthier shorelines
The SHORE-BET calculator helps communities estimate the long-term value of marsh restoration and living shorelines, putting numbers behind storm protection, habitat gains and other benefits that are often easy to see up close but harder to measure broadly.
Digital Government
NIST is giving fingerprint examiners better tools for a messy job
A newly annotated fingerprint dataset combined with open-source software could help forensic examiners work more consistently, train more effectively and sort through evidence faster.
Emerging Tech
Citizen Science Month 2026 is about more than just stargazing
This year’s celebration highlights how Americans can support federal missions not only through NASA research, but also by helping preserve the nation’s historical record.
Digital Government
When disaster strikes, census data can help show who is in harm’s way
The agency’s updated OnTheMap for Emergency Management tool shows how population and workforce data can support rapid response and recovery operations during hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other natural disasters.
Digital Government
Washington promises UFO disclosure. History suggests otherwise.
Disclosure may not reveal alien visitors, but it will reveal something equally important: how science, measurement and skepticism slowly turn mystery into understanding.
Emerging Tech
When every second counts: government tech helps first responders’ lifesaving missions
For first responders facing unpredictable moments, tech that helps them safely navigate dangerous environments is critical.
Cybersecurity
NIST releases a new draft cybersecurity framework for systems that never stop moving
Sometimes the most important cybersecurity work is not flashy.
Featured eBooks
Digital Government
Predictions 2026: Three ways government tech will surprise us this year
2026 looks like a year when government technology settles into its next phase of maturity.
Defense
Now you can train for the next drone war on simulated Ukrainian front lines
A newly-released, public version of the drone simulator used to train thousands of Ukrainian military pilots offers a terrifyingly accurate glimpse into modern warfare.
Artificial Intelligence
The CDC placed early bets on AI — and now they are paying off
The CDC has quietly been building a modern AI infrastructure designed to reshape how public health data is collected, analyzed and acted upon.
Emerging Tech
Learning to fly: how Reentry simulates NASA’s most daring missions
A digital and fun way to walk in the footsteps of early NASA heroes.
Emerging Tech
NASA wants you to help kick some tires — on the moon
The Rock and Roll with NASA Challenge offers $155,000 in prizes for top designs that can handle the punishing surface of the moon.
Artificial Intelligence
Even if you’re furloughed, your skills don’t have to be
Google is stepping up with the launch of an entire set of free online courses to teach people, including furloughed feds, how to use AI to boost productivity and prepare for what’s next.
Emerging Tech
Video games and virtual reality are combining to make government jobs safer
The combination of the two technologies is enabling agencies to give employees hands-on training in the safest environments possible.
Artificial Intelligence
From pull-ups to prompting: The Presidential AI Challenge seeks to inspire the next generation
The brand new initiative is designed to get students and educators thinking about how artificial intelligence can be used to solve real-world problems in their communities.
Artificial Intelligence
Is artificial intelligence a friend, foe or frenemy? NIST wants to find out
The standards agency will be hosting a working session to discuss how AI-empowered attacks can be used to sometimes get around traditional defenses.
