Exclusive Cybersecurity

‘Relatively few’ agency policies met standards for IoT security, OMB reports

Early last year, the White House office ran a sweeping assessment on agency IoT device security policies. Most fell short on aligning with NIST guidance, according to a letter sent to Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.

People

Retiring lawmaker Ruppersberger was one of first to sound alarm on Huawei, ZTE in US networks

The Maryland congressman, who announced he would not seek reelection at the end of his term, set a precedent for modern-day cybersecurity policy.

Cybersecurity

Proposed law aims to boost food and agriculture industry’s cyber posture

The bill would direct multiple stakeholders to conduct exercises that simulate when the food and agriculture sectors are hacked.

Artificial Intelligence

Law enforcement needs standards for using AI algorithms, GAO official says

The director of Science, Technology Assessment and Analytics at the Government Accountability Office told lawmakers there should be transparency in how such algorithms work and when they are used.

Emerging Tech

Senate duo advocates for a new federal office to study the global tech landscape

Sens. Michael Bennet and Todd Young said the proposed executive branch office is needed to analyze technology advancement in a geopolitical context.

Artificial Intelligence

Congress should create an agency to oversee digital platforms, senators write

A bipartisan group of lawmakers are pushing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to create the oversight body as part of an effort to craft an AI policy framework.

Modernization

Cruz, Peters introduce bill prodding agencies to share custom code

The lawmakers say that existing policies on sharing such code aren’t being implemented by agencies.

Acquisition

Bipartisan bill strives for ‘more nimble and meaningful’ federal contracting

Legislation from Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, would “streamline procedures” for both solicitation and awards by slimming down the procurement process.

Digital Government

Senators call for Transportation to offer ‘accessible, mobile-friendly’ service animal form

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., called the paperwork that disabled Americans need to complete before traveling with their service animals “poorly designed and needlessly difficult to complete.”

Digital Government

Bureau of Prisons would issue IDs to released inmates under new bill

The bipartisan proposal would also require BOP to set up a system where ID cards issued by the bureau could be traded for state IDs.

Artificial Intelligence

House lawmakers join push for agencies to disclose public-impacting AI uses

A group of House members from both parties rolled out companion legislation to a Senate bill that would require agencies to notify individuals when they are engaging with AI tools.

Artificial Intelligence

Improving government capacity is key for AI deployment, experts tell Congress

The chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Gary Peters, D-Mich., said he plans to zero in on procurement and AI, specifically.

Artificial Intelligence

Bipartisan bill protects artists’ and individuals’ likenesses from AI duplication

The No AI FRAUD Act penalizes cyber actors who leverage generative artificial intelligence and machine learning to duplicate images and voices without a person’s consent.

Artificial Intelligence

Lawmakers request extra $10M for NIST AI research

Four senators sent a letter to leadership on the Senate Appropriations Committee encouraging more funding for NIST’s efforts to standardize and test AI-centric technologies.

Policy

OMB head 'not optimistic' about avoiding a government shutdown

Congress is back next week with a short clock to pass a 2024 budget or extend the existing stopgap measures funding the government.

Artificial Intelligence

Bill sets transparency standards for AI models, including use of copyrighted material

New House legislation would direct the Federal Trade Commission to establish standards for “making publicly available information about the training data and algorithms used in artificial intelligence foundation models.”

Artificial Intelligence

Senate's top tech official greenlights research use of generative AI

The chief information officer for the Senate Sergeant at Arms evaluated three popular AI platforms and offered members and staff instruction on how to leverage them safely.

Artificial Intelligence

House lawmakers press for transparency in NIST’s new AI grant funding

A bipartisan cadre of lawmakers is asking for details on the funding methods and oversight of NIST’s new Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute.

Cybersecurity

NDAA provision looks to close cybersecurity gaps in nuclear weapons systems

The requirement included in the fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill follows a 2022 GAO report that found the National Nuclear Security Administration did not fully implement “foundational cybersecurity risk practices.”