Acquisition

ODNI told to redo financial management contract

The Government Accountability Office looked at Guidehouse's protest against the award and found inconsistencies in how proposals were evaluated for this contract that supports the entire intelligence community.

Defense

Senators want answers from DOD on quantum sensing efforts

Bipartisan letter wonders whether China’s programs “outstrip the efforts of the United States.”

Digital Government

Agencies have struggled to meet IDEA Act requirements, watchdog finds

The Government Accountability Office found that only 70% of the 24 agencies covered by the IDEA Act submitted annual reports between December 2019 and December 2023.

Artificial Intelligence

OMB releases AI procurement guidelines

Interagency collaboration and risk mitigation are the two big themes included in the Office of Management and Budget’s artificial intelligence software procurement guidance.

Digital Government

IRS Direct File to be available in 24 states next year

The agency is also expanding the scope of tax situations the tool will cover.

Exclusive Digital Government

GSA's identity service on track to meet key standards, program director says

The director of Login.gov says that the federally managed identity service is on track to finally meet an important standard for digital identity verification.

Cybersecurity

DOJ, Microsoft disrupt Russian hackers targeting civil society orgs

The group, likely linked to Russia’s Federal Security Service, has focused on stealing credentials from NGOs and think tanks around the world.

Artificial Intelligence

Can AI predict if a Marine will quit? Corps wants to know

“Retention prediction network” could reveal signs that trainers and recruiters might otherwise miss.

Emerging Tech

Talented NIST scientists predict the far future of science and technology

NIST asked several of their postdoctoral researchers what they think the future will hold.

People

The major takeaways for federal employees from the vice presidential debate

Federal hiring promises, calls for a "robust and aggressive" federal government and more takeaways from the Walz-Vance debate.

Ideas

Why human-centered design is the key to better CX

COMMENTARY: Better, more thoughtful technology can spark innovation in delivery of citizen services.

Digital Government

Lawmakers want government to promote use of digital IDs

Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., told Nextgov/FCW that he’s hoping to get his Improving Digital Identity Act included in the House AI Task Force’s list of recommended policy proposals.

Defense

Replicator 2 effort aims to produce anti-drone defenses

The second phase of the Pentagon’s make-more-stuff-quickly effort will kick off in the 2026 budget request, a memo says.

Cybersecurity

T-Mobile to pay fines, pledges to up upgrade cybersecurity after repeat data breaches

The telecom giant will pay $15.75 million to the Department of Treasury and front an additional $15.75 million for cybersecurity improvements and compliance.

Digital Government

Commerce launches initial phase of its space traffic coordination system

The new system will provide conjunction data messages “for approximately 1,000 space objects six times a day” during phase 1.0.

Exclusive Artificial Intelligence

State’s AI chatbot journey started with collaboration

Tech leadership at the State Department gave Nextgov/FCW an exclusive look into how the development of its AI-powered chatbot is going, along with the most important internal processes.

Modernization

VA officials say they can finish the digital GI Bill platform without more delays, cost overruns

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis.,​​ said the Department of Veterans Affairs is “batting zero” when it comes to finishing major IT modernization projects on time and within budget.

Policy

USDA wraps equity commission, vows to continue work 

The department will likely have to contend with anti-DEI efforts as it pursues this goal.