Defense

Lawmakers raise concerns over Chinese-made LiDAR tech

Members of a House panel focused on China's growing global influence voiced concern over U.S. technology being used in adversaries’ LiDAR systems and the possibility that China-made LiDAR products are embedded in critical U.S. applications.

People

Longtime Silicon Valley representative announces retirement

During her more than 30 years in Congress, Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., has been a fierce advocate for net neutrality and a supporter of data privacy legislation that would protect consumers’ personal information.

Policy

Nevada Dem renews push for data privacy standards

The legislation would require companies to be more transparent about privacy practices and authorize the FTC to make rules limiting data collection to "reasonable" business purposes.

Emerging Tech

China-owned autonomous vehicle firms are collecting data during US tests — and lawmakers are concerned

Members of two House panels raised concerns about Chinese firms testing self-driving cars in the U.S., citing the nation’s lack of a federal data privacy law and the companies’ ties with Beijing.

People

Biden’s cyber director nominee clears Senate committee

As Biden’s pick for national cyber director — Harry Coker — makes his way through the Senate, the current acting director nears her last day.

Modernization

There’s a ‘big disconnect’ between users and developers of VA’s new EHR, lawmaker says

A 2023 survey of VA employees using the Oracle Cerner electronic health record system found that just 26% did not have issues with system availability.

Artificial Intelligence

State plans to lead by example in tech diplomacy politics

Between following a new executive order and modernizing agency operations, the State Department is building its policy on artificial intelligence through promoting U.S. innovation.

Digital Government

Login-dot-gov is 'fraudulent,' says House Republican gunning to defund 18F

Texas Republican Pete Sessions said 18F “misled and lied to the government” about the credentialing service’s capabilities .

People

VA's tech training program will soon expire — lawmakers hope to save it by year's end

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Jon Tester, D-Mont., said he is working with lawmakers to reauthorize VA’s VET-TEC pilot before the end of the year.

People

House punts effort to impeach Biden cabinet secretary

Some Republicans joined Democrats to postpone the exceedingly rare effort.

Emerging Tech

House proposal prohibits agencies’ use of blockchain tech tied to China

The bipartisan bill would limit the government’s ability to acquire or enter into contracts with firms that use “covered distributed ledger technology and blockchain equipment or services.”

Artificial Intelligence

What are agencies doing with AI? A bipartisan Senate duo wants to know.

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, sent letters to three federal agencies probing into their use of artificial intelligence systems.

Digital Government

House GOP pulls funding bill covering IRS, GSA, OMB and more

The leadership team around new House Speaker Mike Johnson removed the bill — which would have defunded GSA’s digital services team, 18F — from floor consideration because of an intra-party policy dispute.

Digital Government

Election security threats require more federal resources, officials say

Facing growing cyber and physical threats, election administrators told lawmakers that more federal assistance is needed to safeguard voting systems and personnel.

Artificial Intelligence

New bill aims to codify NIST AI risk management in federal procurement

The Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act is designed to give statutory support to many of the efforts outlined in the Biden administration's AI executive order.

Emerging Tech

Bipartisan House duo looks to extend quantum tech legislation

The chairman and ranking member of a key House committee are looking to reauthorize federal support for quantum computing research for five more years.

Emerging Tech

US would be ‘effectively defenseless’ without counter-drone authority extension, FBI director says

The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice’s authority to mitigate threats from unmanned aircraft systems is set to expire on Nov. 18.

Artificial Intelligence

Biden signs AI order but stresses need for legislation

The long-anticipated executive order on artificial intelligence is broad, detailed and expansive, but the White House wants Congress to do more.

Emerging Tech

House Dems seek guardrails for law enforcement’s use of facial recognition

The bill would require agencies to obtain a warrant showing probable cause that an individual has committed “a serious violent felony” before facial recognition can be used.

Digital Government

CX proposal clears Senate committee

The legislation targets “high-impact” government services for streamlining and improvement.