People

House picks new speaker, but shutdown threat looms

Federal agency missions often take a back seat amid preparations for a funding lapse.

Artificial Intelligence

Senate bill mandates disclosures on AI-made material

The bipartisan legislation calling for the labeling of AI-generated content follows similar efforts made in the House earlier this year.

Digital Government

Lawmakers propose establishing new CX lead at OMB

A House bill would also have agencies tap a senior official to coordinate improvements to government services.

People

Biden seeks federal hiring surge in new $100B emergency funding request

A variety of agencies would collectively add nearly 6,000 employees if Congress provides the supplemental funding.

Artificial Intelligence

NIST plans new risk evaluation methods and standards tracking for AI

The associate director for emerging technology at the National Institute of Standards and Technology said the evaluations are designed to identify potential harms from AI systems before they are deployed.

Modernization

'Give us the data,' oversight and anti-fraud experts tell lawmakers

Expert witnesses again implored lawmakers to make an existing data analytics center permanent and set up new data powers to combat fraud.

Digital Government

Bipartisan Senate bill tasks agencies with prioritizing CX

The pending legislation looks to reduce burdens on users interacting with government while scouting opportunities for cross-agency collaboration.

Digital Government

Lawmaker demands action from social media companies amid disinformation deluge

Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., questioned whether tech companies are doing enough to curb the massive influx of disinformation regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Artificial Intelligence

Democrats urge the White House to bind agencies to the AI Bill of Rights

“The federal government’s commitment to the AI Bill of Rights would show that fundamental rights will not take a back seat in the AI era,” the lawmakers argue.

Modernization

CHIPS Act implementation at risk as November shutdown looms, Raimondo warns

The shutdown would be “massively disruptive” for ongoing efforts to boost semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S., Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Wednesday.

Ideas

New legislation means working with hackers – here's why that's good news

COMMENTARY | Contractors who work on government systems need to be able to accept vulnerability reports from ethical hackers

Cybersecurity

House passes bill to limit education requirements for federal cyber roles

The push for skills-based hiring is already underway in the executive branch, where the Office of Personnel Management is reworking qualification standards for some government jobs.

Policy

Congress averts shutdown with a 45-day stopgap funding bill

Lawmakers passed a bipartisan measure just hours before a funding lapse was set to furlough hundreds of thousands of federal employees.

Policy

House passes last-minute CR, potentially averting a government shutdown

After days of brinkmanship, House Republicans passed a 45-day continuing resolution to keep the government open past Monday.

Digital Government

Technology Modernization Fund announces $9M in new investments

Despite continued awards, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., says the fund's supporters have “work to do” to garner support on Capitol Hill.

Policy

Ahead of shutdown, House and Senate Dems propose back pay for furloughed contractors

A similar effort to legislate back pay for contractors failed during the 2018-2019 shutdown.

Cybersecurity

Democrats fear cyberattacks as government shutdown looms

Lawmakers are expressing concerns that the shutdown could radically hinder the work of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in responding to major ransomware incidents and other digital intrusions. 

Modernization

Connolly releases new FITARA scores without usual committee hearing

“We could not allow a lapse in the scorecard,” Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., said of the Tuesday roundtable discussion held without Republicans.

Digital Government

New bill would beef up accessibility reporting requirements for agencies

Agency and department heads would be required to appoint “Section 508 compliance officers” to ensure they meet accessibility mandates.