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.

Cybersecurity

CISA guidance focuses on post-quantum cryptography tools

The guidance nudges federal network operators to adopt automated cryptography discovery and inventory tools as a step in managing post-quantum cryptography updates.

Cybersecurity

US charges Iranian operatives with hacking Trump campaign

The allegations come 38 days before the November presidential election, as the U.S. has worked to stave off foreign adversaries’ attempts to sow discord into the election process.

Ideas

Why the IRS needs a new accountability program

COMMENTARY: The tax agency should borrow from the Social Security Administration's SecurityStat effort to measure performance and promote internal transparency.

Digital Government

VA offers veterans nationwide access to emergency telehealth care

The department said the new tele-emergency care resource will allow veterans to connect with clinical triage nurses for timely medical evaluations.

Cybersecurity

New bill seeks to mandate healthcare cybersecurity standards

The proposed legislation, which has the backing of the Department of Health and Human Services, would require the health agency to set and enforce cybersecurity standards for healthcare providers, clearinghouses and other industry players.

Artificial Intelligence

Mastermind behind Biden AI robocalls fined $6M by FCC

Steve Kramer said he originated the operation to show the dangers of AI in political campaigns.

Ideas

Lessons from the CrowdStrike outage

COMMENTARY: Agencies can mitigate impacts of future outages by putting IT risks front and center and by understanding the incident response requirements of their vendors.

Emerging Tech

GSA testing finds variations in the accuracy of digital ID verification tech

The preliminary results of a study that tested five different vendor solutions found some to be relatively accurate, while others were inaccurate or inequitable.

Digital Government

FCC to vote on georouting for suicide and crisis lifeline calls

The FCC plans to vote on rules during its Oct. 17 open meeting that would require all U.S. wireless carriers to implement georouting for calls to the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.

Policy

Congress averts a shutdown, setting up a lame duck fight in December

A stopgap funding bill is heading to Biden's desk as Congress staves off a pre-election shutdown.

Artificial Intelligence

FTC takes action against 5 AI companies under new initiative

Operation AI Comply spotlights allegedly fraudulent systems as a new FTC program to keep companies honest about their automated offerings.

Acquisition

FBI’s Carahsoft raid comes amid allegations of price-fixing

The leading IT reseller is in the middle of an ongoing False Claims Act case involving multiple vendors.

Ideas

How biometrics can improve the security and efficiency of air travel

COMMENTARY: While we must ensure that biometric technology protects privacy and improves accuracy, abandoning this technology altogether would threaten our national security and set aviation screening back decades.

Emerging Tech

What time is it on the moon? NIST proposes an answer

The establishment of universal moon time would support lunar GPS for future missions.

Cybersecurity

House lawmakers question CrowdStrike exec over July IT outage

A major area of scrutiny was whether CrowdStrike’s flagship endpoint tool needed computer kernel access.

Modernization

VA's EHR clocks more than 800 'major performance incidents' since go-live, watchdog finds

VA’s Office of Inspector General identified 826 outages, degradations and functionality gaps that meet the definition of a major performance incident outlined in the EHR modernization project’s contract.

Breaking News Acquisition

FBI raids government IT and cyber contractor Carahsoft

The FBI confirmed the raid but declined to provide further details.