Author Archive
Policy
Tech bills of the week: Restricting biometric use; expanding the quantum workforce; and more
Congress avoided a second mini-shutdown and saw a return-to-normal influx of new tech bills.
Artificial Intelligence
VA’s latest AI inventory includes new suicide, EHR-focused use cases
Seventy-two of the AI use cases previously included in the department’s 2024 inventory were listed as retired, meaning that their “development and/or use has since been discontinued.”
Policy
VA’s National Cemetery Administration earns top customer satisfaction scores
For the eighth year in a row, the small agency earned the highest rankings in the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
Modernization
Digital GI bill delays are a reflection of VA’s IT management problem, lawmakers say
Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., said the delays and cost overruns affecting VA’s new digital GI Bill system were “not unique.”
Modernization
VA secretary: EHR deployments are ‘going to be done in the right way’
VA Secretary Doug Collins told lawmakers they “have every right to be skeptical” as EHR go-lives resume in April but said the modernization project is back on track.
Artificial Intelligence
National Weather Service’s AI translation project lacks long-term plan, watchdog says
A new report from the Government Accountability Office warned that the weather agency “has not developed a long-term plan for the AI translation project because of current uncertainty on how the project will fit into broader NWS efforts.”
Modernization
VA watchdog lists EHR modernization as a major management challenge
VA’s Office of Inspector General said “there remain 32 OIG recommendations that are not fully implemented” as the department moves to resume deployments of its new EHR system in April.
Policy
Tech Bills of the Week: Expanding AI education via NSF; Commerce public awareness campaign; and more
With the Senate out, House lawmakers were busy introducing — and advancing — AI legislation.
Digital Government
Biometrics are now a ‘bedrock’ of traveler identification, CBP official says
Federal agencies are increasingly relying on facial recognition to verify the identities of U.S. and non-U.S. citizens, with Customs and Border Protection poised to expand use of its Mobile Passport Control app so travelers can help streamline the verification process.
Acquisition
GSA reaches latest OneGov agreement with Broadcom
“By partnering directly with Broadcom, we’re expanding access to commercial-grade AI and cybersecurity capabilities — while reducing cost and complexity for agencies,” Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum said in a statement.
People
Michael Lynch becomes GSA deputy administrator again
Lynch previously held the deputy administrator’s responsibilities from March to July 2025 under then-GSA acting administrator Stephen Ehikian.
Featured eBooks
Policy
Tech Bills of the Week: Civil rights offices for AI; Expanding veterans' education; and Curtailing ICE’s biometric use
A trio of new bills focus on the positives and negatives of emerging capabilities.
Artificial Intelligence
VHA lacks ‘formal mechanism’ for mitigating clinical AI chatbot risks, watchdog says
VA’s OIG said it is concerned “about VHA’s ability to promote and safeguard patient safety without a standardized process for managing AI-related risks.”
Emerging Tech
Lawmakers worry over new rule that will allow sales of Nvidia’s H200 chips to China
A revised licensing review policy will allow Chinese firms to purchase Nvidia’s H200 chips, although some members of Congress say the move will embolden Beijing’s own AI ambitions.
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.”
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.”
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
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.”
Modernization
VA readies to restart EHR deployments in 2026, despite lingering lawmaker unease
VA and Oracle Health say the modernization project’s operational pause has allowed them to enhance the new software’s usability and effectiveness.
