People
Feds will have Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 off
Federal employees will now have a five-day weekend, beginning on Christmas Eve.
People
Trump formally taps Joshua Rudd to lead NSA, Cyber Command
The nomination marks a turning point for the electronic surveillance and hacking teams that have been without a permanent leader for eight months.
Cybersecurity
Sen. Cotton urges top White House cyber official to protect open-source software
A letter from the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee cites previous Nextgov/FCW reporting about a potential Russian backdoor into a Defense Department software suite.
Digital Government
NASA and Microsoft finalize tool to track Earth’s water changes
The space agency will host the Microsoft and OpenAI-powered Earth Copilot to make analyzing hydraulic data easier.
Ideas
Making agentic government work: 7 principles for safer, smarter AI adoption
COMMENTARY | Agentic government is not a future concept. It is a practical operational model agencies can adopt today.
People
CISA opens 100 applications for CyberCorps students
Earlier hiring snags had forced the scholarship program to pause recruitment of top student talent for cyber jobs.
People
Air traffic controllers calling out sick during shutdown may have acted illegally, FAA chief says
Agency will “ask tough questions” of those workers even as administrator concedes agency has “a retention issue” among controllers.
Acquisition
Bid protests hit decade-low and undermine calls for ‘loser pays’ reforms
New data from the Government Accountability Office shows protests have declined 40% since 2016, while half of all cases result in relief for contractors or corrective actions by agencies.
Digital Government
Warren, Sanders push Labor on plans to create a centralized unemployment ‘starting point’
The senators worry that the planned intake of applicant data at the Labor Department will create "grievous economic and privacy risks for millions of Americans.”
Acquisition
House passes measure to help reduce federal software spending
For the second straight Congress, lawmakers in the lower chamber have advanced legislation to impose heightened transparency requirements on government software spending.
Artificial Intelligence
Want an AI job at Treasury? Write a 10-page analysis of ‘Great Gatsby’
While the application requirement may actually be a test on using artificial intelligence tools, an AI expert said that the skills being measured are not relevant to the job listed.
Cybersecurity
Potential NSA, Cyber Command leader nomination transmitted to Senate
The signals intelligence titan and combatant command have been without a permanent leader for months since far-right activist Laura Loomer pushed for the firing of Gen. Timothy Haugh in April.
Cybersecurity
Rep. Garbarino ‘disappointed’ Senate hasn’t approved Trump’s CISA nominee
The House Homeland Security Committee chairman also questioned a recent FCC vote to reverse telecom security rules put in place after a major Chinese cyber intrusion.
Emerging Tech
Quantum cryptography implementation timelines must be shortened, industry CEO to tell Congress
A joint House hearing on Wednesday will examine how AI and quantum computing will impact current cybersecurity.
Modernization
Lawmakers question VA health record’s costs and batched deployments
The agency is looking to deploy its new Oracle Health EHR near simultaneously at four Michigan medical facilities in April 2026.
Artificial Intelligence
Industry calls for US leadership in AI as a democratic imperative
Top tech firms are hoping a planned AI Export Program out of the Commerce Department will foster international consensus when it comes to promoting “democratic” AI frameworks and preventing “overly prescriptive” regulations.
Cybersecurity
Trump admin to revisit bedrock cyber policies as it implements new strategy
Corresponding executive actions on cybercrime and ransomware are in the works. The forthcoming cyber strategy also includes an offensive pillar focused on “preemptive erosion” of foreign adversaries’ hacking attempts.
People
Trump admin launches US Tech Force to recruit temporary workers after shedding thousands this year
Some of the recruits to government service will be on leaves of absence from private sector companies while working for government — a setup that raises ethical questions about conflicts of interest.
Policy
Lawmaker looks to shake up VA’s software management
Legislation from Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., prioritizes waste reduction when it comes to the roughly $1 billion that VA spends annually on software assets.
Policy