Digital Government
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.
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.
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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.
Veteran suicide hotline employees permitted to work remotely after concerns that in-office requirement would hurt service
One Veterans Crisis Line supervisor said the return to office mandate was creating confusion among staff, presented logistical challenges and could hurt recruitment.
Building a stronger federal workforce in an era of cost-cutting
Former Federal Chief Information Officer Suzette Kent weighs in.
Updated
Judge orders reinstatement for most fired probationary federal workers
The firings were "based on a lie," judge says, who suggests he may extend his order beyond the roughly 24,000 already included.
Government shutdown prospects increase after Schumer says Democrats won’t vote for GOP funding bill
Democrats have argued that the shutdown fight is an opportunity to push back on Elon Musk-backed agency spending and staff cuts.
