Digital Government
Trump builds on Biden efforts to modernize permitting technology
While many praised the effort as common-sense, workforce cuts across government, as well as the administration’s deregulatory efforts, have raised questions about implementation.
How cyber vulnerabilities and workforce cuts threaten the crisis lifeline program
A bipartisan, bicameral measure is hoping to prevent cyber incidents from limiting access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline after a 2022 attack on a system operator disrupted calls to the hotline.
Trump likely to propose pay freeze for federal workers in 2026
In OMB’s response to agency budget submissions, the White House budget office told officials to prepare for a freeze on federal civilian pay next year.
GSA preps for layoffs at TTS
The coming reductions in force are the latest in a series of workforce cuts within the Technology Transformation Services.
Experts suggest AI could address FOIA backlogs, even as public records staff are terminated
The number of FOIA requests filed in fiscal year 2024 surpassed 1.5 million, which represented a 25% increase from FY 2023.
Democrats confront SSA about disruptions to constituent SSI accounts
This is the first oversight effort of Senate Democrats’ new Social Security War Room.
DHS cancels S&T grants under a new mission focus for the directorate
The Department of Homeland Security’s national security research subdivision, the Science and Technology Directorate, will stop current grants and refocus its mission priorities.
SSA reorg plan contemplates field office closures, contradicting public statements
A March draft of the Social Security Administration's reorganization plan proposes "consolidating" field offices while shuttling customer service to AI and other automated platforms.
Spending and workforce cuts will harm VA’s modernization work, Democrats say
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., said cuts across VA are forcing the department “to decide between keeping staff on the floor, and investing in expensive equipment that may sit idle without enough personnel to operate it.”
MIT’s App Inventor can help feds quickly create Android and iOS mobile apps
After struggling for almost six months to become somewhat proficient at Python, I was extremely impressed with how much I could do using the MIT App Inventor platform.
Government interest in chat archiving service skyrockets following Signalgate
Top staffers across the government have reached out to Whiterock Technologies about its electronic communications preservation service amid a court ruling tied to last week’s Signal chat with top administration officials that accidentally included The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg.
GSA reopens its Deferred Resignation Program and finalizes location consolidation
The agency made more important moves Friday.
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Musk and DOGE make the case for their efficiency, tech work
The DOGE team made statements that have been contradicted by agencies they're working for during a Thursday night interview on FOX.
Lawmakers try again with software licensing bill
This marks the third Congress in which the bipartisan bill has been introduced.
Federal CIO launches effort to 'rationalize' government’s web footprint
The goals follow both preexisting efforts to improve federal website management and recent administration imperatives to increase efficiency.
Trump pens executive order pushing agencies to share data
The order comes as the administration is dealing with many lawsuits over DOGE access to federal systems and has sparked concerns about further data access among others.
DOGE allies want more online identity verification despite its mixed efficacy
New testing at DHS shows a wide range in the performance of online identity proofing systems. Some simply don’t work well.
Senate Democrats want details on DOGE and DHS attempts to access IRS data
The IRS reportedly rejected the broad requests for taxpayer information, but the lawmakers worry recent actions have “left the door open for future requests.”
Judge: Musk and Trump’s effort to disband USAID is likely unconstitutional
U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang found that the Trump administration and Elon Musk violated the constitutional separation of powers and the Appointments Clause when it ordered the shuttering of the foreign aid agency.
SSA head’s 3-month plan touts workforce reductions while calling for identity and AI investment
The acting commissioner at SSA said that he has “made some mistakes” and promised to learn from them in an email to staff Tuesday.
