Artificial Intelligence

Report: Workforce shortages, security fears among biggest hindrances to agency AI adoption

A report issued by Google Public Sector shed light on the state of play for federal AI adoption, finding most efforts are currently in pilot programs and held up by security concerns.

Policy

Trump administration gets less tech funding than requested in new bicameral bills

The fund that supports the U.S. DOGE Service would receive less than half of what was requested, and the bills do not include explicit reauthorization for the Technology Modernization Fund.

Emerging Tech

DHS launches office for drone and counter-drone technologies

The agency said the new office is already in the process of finalizing a $115 million investment in counter-drone tech that will be used to help secure the FIFA World Cup and activities celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Artificial Intelligence

OneGov deals helping expand agencies’ AI adoption, GSA official says

Zach Whitman, GSA's chief AI officer and data scientist, said the OneGov initiative “has provided a procurement pathway for a lot of these agencies who may have had early, light contact with some of these technologies.”

Digital Government

Predictions 2026: Three ways government tech will surprise us this year

2026 looks like a year when government technology settles into its next phase of maturity.

People

NSA alum returns to agency to serve as deputy director

Tim Kosiba became the number two leader in the National Security Agency after a prior deputy pick was jettisoned following criticism from far-right activist Laura Loomer.

People

GSA’s procurement chief is attending negotiations for Ukraine and Gaza

Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum most recently attended a “coalition of the willing” in Paris to discuss Ukrainian security.

People

White House creates new assistant attorney general focused on fraud

The vice president told reporters the new position will also be involved in addressing “the people who are defrauding the United States by inciting violence against our law enforcement officers” after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

Emerging Tech

Sens. Young, Cantwell introduce National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization

The updated bill text adds multiple federal hubs to fund workforce growth and quantum technology research and development, as industry leaders hope for swift passage.

Cybersecurity

Chinese hackers targeted email systems of US congressional staff, people familiar say

The incident adds another chapter in a storied history of China’s cyber attempts to nab sensitive data from U.S. government systems.

Cybersecurity

EEOC experienced security incident involving contractor’s ‘unauthorized’ access, email says

The agency at the center of the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul U.S. anti-discrimination regulations in workplaces is reviewing the matter with law enforcement.

Acquisition

GSA strikes OneGov agreement with Cohesity

Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum said the latest deal “will strengthen and enable robust and secure AI infrastructure across the federal government.”

Emerging Tech

Lawmakers expected to reintroduce quantum initiative authorization

Reauthorizing the National Quantum Initiative Act would support advanced quantum information sciences research across the federal government.

People

Arbitrator: Trump’s union EOs violate ‘hierarchy of law’

Independent federal arbitrator Marvin Hill defied the Trump administration's demand that he dismiss an internal grievance against the Defense Department, remarking that to do so would require "re-writing" most legal textbooks.

Artificial Intelligence

How the Government Publishing Office is using AI to enhance operations

GPO Chief Information Officer Sam Musa said the agency has been using Google NotebookLM to make AI-generated podcasts of internal documents for its workforce.

People

US DOGE Service is hiring following mass workforce losses across the government

The group housing Trump’s controversial cost-cutting program is one of several tech teams that are recruiting.

Cybersecurity

Analysts watch for heightened cyber, disinformation campaigns following Venezuela raid

Disinformation operations have been spotted, but there are no signs the efforts are being coordinated through a foreign government, one observer told Nextgov/FCW.

Ideas

The revolutionary new weapon in the Pentagon’s pocket — and why it matters now more than ever

COMMENTARY | The launch of comprehensive acquisition transformation will lift the burdens keeping U.S. companies from being as agile and responsive as possible.

People

Trump’s cuts to the civil service undermine new tech internship push, good government group argues

The goal of the administration’s new internship program is to recruit 200 students for tech-focused internships.

People

Kirsten Davies sworn in as Pentagon CIO

In a September letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee, more than 100 cyber professionals voiced support for Davies’ confirmation and said “she has built a reputation as a world-class cybersecurity executive.”