Tech
CBP seeks AI solutions to keep pace with rising volumes of border scans
A new sources sought notice seeks artificial intelligence tools to help agents sift through tens of thousands of X-ray images at ports of entry.
White House is drafting plans to permit federal Anthropic use
The move suggests the Trump administration is easing its stance on the AI company, which faced a Pentagon supply chain risk designation and phaseout directive.
FDA to pilot real-time clinical drug trials through cloud and AI
The first-of-its-kind pilot could lead to speedier regulatory approval of medical drugs and devices and potentially reduce “20, 30, 40% of overall clinical trial time,” according to FDA Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Jeremy Walsh.
Treasury missed security controls in giving DOGE system access, GAO finds
The finding is among the first oversight reports Congress’ watchdog has released about the controversial cost-cutting team.
NIST is giving fingerprint examiners better tools for a messy job
COMMENTARY | A newly annotated fingerprint dataset combined with open-source software could help forensic examiners work more consistently, train more effectively and sort through evidence faster.
IRS lacks transparent plans to leverage tech in the face of staffing cuts, GAO and employees say
Agency leaders are “shoving AI at us,” one IRS employee said, despite the fact that “they don’t have the right tools for us yet.”
GSA No. 2 talks ‘million hours challenge,’ scaling agency AI efforts
GSA Deputy Administrator Michael Lynch last week offered a comprehensive look at the agency’s plans for key acquisition and shared services programs and new internal efforts aimed at automating work.
Agencies report over 3,000 AI use cases in 2025
The number of reported use cases more than doubled from 2024, revealing the federal government’s continued appetite to acquire advanced artificial intelligence for its workflows.
AI is helping VA speed up claims processing, but Dems worry about errors
“Speed does not equal success,” Rep. Tim Kennedy, D-N.Y., said about VA’s use of automation and AI to process veterans’ benefits claims.
How public records requests could help ‘fight AI with AI’
Agencies are burdened with growing numbers of requests and more records to manage and parse through. Emerging technology offers a way forward for beleaguered staff.
Treasury is creating a database with pandemic aid recipients’ sensitive information
Critics say the scope established in the agency’s systems of record notice “is an astonishing and dramatic departure from prior Treasury practice.”
CIA employees will get AI 'coworkers'—and eventually run teams of AI agents, deputy says
Deputy Director Michael Ellis said the spy agency recently used AI to generate an intelligence report for the first time.
VA’s FY27 budget proposal seeks funding for additional AI adoption
VA’s decision intelligence and automation activities would see a 10.9% increase over FY26 enacted levels, with the growth “driven primarily by the AI Infrastructure solution.”
Agencies could be required to move loan systems to 1 platform under bipartisan bill
COMMENTARY | A push to centralize federal lending would force agencies to rethink contracts, staffing and control over their systems.
The IRS wants to shrink its workforce by nearly 4,000 — and use technology to make up the difference
“Without modernization, the IRS would be unable to sustain performance with a reduced headcount,” the budget document says.
Cuts hit CISA, NIST and IRS in Trump’s FY27 budget
The proposal shifts funding away from cybersecurity, standards and tax enforcement while boosting AI, quantum research and VA modernization.
Old-school spycraft could make a comeback as AI undermines trust
An article in the CIA’s Studies in Intelligence journal argues that artificial intelligence may erode confidence in certain electronic communications and further revive centuries-old human intelligence techniques.
Social Security delays launch of centralized claims system amid staff anxiety
The agency is postponing the rollout of new, national systems the same month they were set to be deployed. It was still working out specifics for how it would move claims processing to a national setup.
IRS’ move away from paper checks has delayed tax refunds for nearly 1.5 million Americans
Other government agencies are also moving away from paper checks. The Social Security Administration has warned claimants still receiving their benefits via paper checks that their benefits could be disrupted.
Pro-Iran hackers say they breached the FBI director’s email and posted contents online
The leaks appear to be authentic, according to a person familiar with the matter.
