Acquisition
GSA launches pilot to streamline FedRAMP for AI products
The FedRAMP 20x initiative will automate some approvals for what the General Services Administration is calling "conversational AI" if certain security conditions are met.
Cybersecurity
Zero trust requires workforce buy-in, federal officials say
The Interior Department’s acting CISO, Louis Eichenbaum, said it’s important for agencies’ workforces to understand “the concepts of zero trust and how you incorporate it into your daily activities.”
Cybersecurity
Wyden calls for review of US court systems’ cyber posture after case system hack
Since the incident, several district courts have instructed filers not to submit sealed documents, amid risks that the systems protecting them may not be secure.
People
Airbnb co-founder and DOGE associate to head new federal design office
Joe Gebbia has been working on modernizing retirement processes at the Office of Personnel Management as part of his work with the Department of Government Efficiency.
Emerging Tech
TSA, CLEAR rolling out biometric eGates at 3 U.S. airports ahead of broader deployment
“Once identity and clearance are confirmed, passengers proceed directly to physical screening, bypassing the TSA podium while still undergoing all security screening,” CLEAR said about its new biometric electronic gates.
Artificial Intelligence
Inside Virginia’s AI-driven streamlining of regulations
The effort will be led by Vulcan Technologies, a startup founded by three Ivy League graduates with big plans to expand to other states and the federal government.
People
Navy CIO Jane Rathbun announces departure from civil service
Rathbun told Nextgov/FCW earlier this year that one of her priorities as CIO was transforming the U.S. Navy into a more data-centric organization.
Ideas
What’s powering the next wave of government AI
COMMENTARY | Open source technology is accelerating adoption by solving compute challenges and bringing AI closer to where it’s needed.
Acquisition
Protest hits GSA’s $1-a-year agreements with OpenAI and Anthropic
Ask Sage claims the pacts circumvent federal acquisitions regulations, lack required security authorizations and mislead agencies about actual costs and capabilities.
Breaking News
People
IRS is canceling its layoff plans, will ask some it fired or pushed out to return
After pushing 26,000 employees out, the tax agency is scrambling to find enough personnel to carry out its duties.
People
Lawmakers look to ease educational requirements for federal cyber workforce
New legislation from Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, attempts to expand the U.S. government’s pool of cyber talent by promoting skills-based hiring.
Digital Government
Trump signs order calling for improved government design
The new “America by Design” effort includes a recruiting push for relevant talent — though the administration has shed many government designers since Trump took office.
Policy
US and EU agree to trade framework prioritizing secure chip sales
Adopting and maintaining U.S.-approved tech security requirements is a key term of agreement in the new trade framework, an EU official said.
Acquisition
GSA, Google reach agreement on Gemini availability and pricing
This pact covering the tech giant's chatbot will also include enterprise search and multimedia generation capabilities.
People
US spy chief announces plans to shrink ODNI
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the agency will shrink by over 40% as part of a 2.0 restructuring that includes a focus on “ending the weaponization of intelligence.”
Exclusive
Artificial Intelligence
Pentagon reductions set back critical AI-data platform
After users flocked to Advana, DOD’s AI office laid out a plan to keep it growing. Then came DOGE.
People
The Trump administration is considering notifying probationary employees they were fired for cause, actually
The proposal comes despite a new audit finding 99.5% of the 7,300 fired IRS probationers had received fully successful performance ratings, or no ratings at all.
Digital Government
Login.gov to add passports as identity proofing option
Trump appointees have called the in-house service a priority for anti-fraud efforts.
Emerging Tech
Microsoft announces plan to transition to quantum resilience by 2033
Microsoft is taking a phased approach to ensuring its products meet a post-quantum cryptography standard.
Cybersecurity