Technology
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.”
OPM cuts degree requirements for government tech jobs in new standards
The changes have been years in the making and represent a federal hiring apparatus more focused on applicable skills than specific backgrounds.
OPM seeks cybersecurity talent to join Tech Force
"Through Tech Force, we’re recruiting highly skilled cybersecurity professionals to take on real challenges and strengthen the government’s defenses where it matters most,” OPM director Scott Kupor said in a statement.
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.
Most government leaders say they outpace private sector on AI adoption, survey says
Research by IDC found that 82% of public sector organizations have adopted agentic AI, and 60% of agency heads believe they are ahead of the business community on the technology.
Trump names CEOs, nuclear fusion founders and Nobel laureate to tech advisory council
The announcement includes 13 of the possible 24 members that will make up the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
IRS faces AI skills gaps after pushing tech talent out, watchdog finds
The agency drained about 40% of its IT staff last year, GAO said.
White House releases regulatory vision for AI
The framework includes seven AI policy recommendations for Congress that attempt to balance consumer protections with advancing AI development.
Congress reauthorized the Technology Modernization Fund through the fiscal year. Why that matters and what’s next
COMMENTARY | Acting TMF Executive Director Jessie Posilkin argues that reauthorizing the fund lets agencies modernize key systems, save taxpayer dollars and deliver faster, more reliable services to the public.
Senator eyes updating NDAA with AI use guidance
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said he and fellow lawmakers are discussing updating the National Defense Authorization Act with a framework for how artificial intelligence systems should be used in military operations.
DOJ clears the way for government to hire technologists still connected to their private sector employers
Ethics experts and public sector lawyers told Nextgov/FCW that they are skeptical about the arrangement of private sector technologists joining the government on leaves of absence while retaining their deferred compensation packages.
How federal HR modernization can better serve employees
COMMENTARY | OPM’s Federal HR 2.0 consolidates systems, but without connected workflows and AI-driven experiences agencies may still see the same old results.
Targeted AI adoption can drive change, current and former officials say
Agencies “don't need the fanciest AI model on the marketplace” to enhance their customer-facing operations, according to former VA Chief Experience Officer John Boerstler.
Federal CIO tapped for dual-hatted role at GSA
Greg Barbaccia will serve as the acting Technology Transformation Services director and senior advisor to the administrator at GSA, while its previous lead, Thomas Shedd, will remain with the agency in another role.
When every second counts: government tech helps first responders’ lifesaving missions
For first responders facing unpredictable moments, tech that helps them safely navigate dangerous environments is critical.
