Author Archive

David DiMolfetta

David DiMolfetta

Cybersecurity Reporter, Nextgov/FCW

David DiMolfetta covers cybersecurity for Nextgov/FCW. Previously, he researched The Cybersecurity 202 and The Technology 202 newsletters at The Washington Post and covered AI, cybersecurity and technology policy for S&P Global Market Intelligence. He holds a BBA from The George Washington University and an MS from Georgetown University. Get in touch with him on X/Twitter: @ddimolfetta . If you have a tip you'd like to share, David can be securely contacted at djd.99 on Signal.
David DiMolfetta covers cybersecurity for Nextgov/FCW. Previously, he researched The Cybersecurity 202 and The Technology 202 newsletters at The Washington Post and covered AI, cybersecurity and technology policy for S&P Global Market Intelligence. He holds a BBA from The George Washington University and an MS from Georgetown University. Get in touch with him on X/Twitter: @ddimolfetta . If you have a tip you'd like to share, David can be securely contacted at djd.99 on Signal.
Breaking News Management

Trump appoints housing official to be acting director of national intelligence

The selection is unconventional for the nation’s lead intelligence official, a role tasked with managing 18 distinct agencies like the CIA and NSA.

Tech

Top White House cyber policy official to soon depart

Alexandra Seymour currently serves as principal deputy assistant national cyber director for policy in the Office of the National Cyber Director.

Updated Management

Gabbard to resign as director of national intelligence, citing husband’s health

Her exit marks the end of a 16-month tenure overseeing the nation’s spy agencies, where the former Democratic congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate sought to reshape ODNI around Trump’s priorities.

Tech

Ryan Donaghy returns to CISA as first chief operating officer

Donaghy previously served in acting leadership roles across two of the agency’s divisions and moved to the Transportation Security Administration in October.

Tech

Reported exposure of federal cybersecurity agency login data prompts Hill scrutiny

Lawmakers are seeking a briefing from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency after reports that a contractor-linked GitHub repository briefly exposed authentication credentials and cloud access information tied to the agency before it was taken offline.

Management

Intelligence office names 2 officials to coordinate election security efforts ahead of 2026 midterms

After months of uncertainty about how leadership for election-related work would be structured for the 2026 cycle, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has tapped two senior officials to help coordinate agency efforts to track and counter threats, according to people familiar with the matter.

Tech

House Homeland panel gets a rare look at advanced AI tool amid escalating cyber concerns

The House Homeland Security Committee was briefed on Anthropic's Mythos as officials and executives weigh how frontier systems could reshape vulnerability discovery, national security competition and access across federal agencies.

Tech

‘It would be insane’ for spy agencies to not have AI model early access, lawmaker says

The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee said the Commerce Department should also have a role in AI policy.

Tech

White House weighs reining in contractors’ control over how agencies use AI

Draft policy language under review would assert the government’s authority to decide how tech it buys gets used, as officials debate guardrails and vendor influence.

Management

10 years after OPM data breach, identity protection benefits for affected feds start to expire

A federal identity monitoring program created after the hack is ending, affecting employees whose information was exposed and raising questions about long-term responsibility once protections expire.

Exclusive Management

IBM security executive emerges as possible contender for federal cyber agency leadership post

Tom Parker doesn’t have prior government experience, characteristics the Trump administration may be seeking in its next pick to lead CISA, a person familiar said.

Tech

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.

Workforce

CyberCorps summer internships canceled by cybersecurity agency amid DHS funding lapse

The decision reverses earlier plans to bring on roughly 100 student interns through the federal cyber scholarship program, leaving participants in limbo after months of shifting guidance and adding new uncertainty around job placement requirements tied to the award.

Management

DHS plans major intel shake-up, but its intelligence office would still be overseen by the nation’s spy chief

A proposed FY27 overhaul would still leave DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis answerable to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, despite questions about its oversight.

Tech

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.

Management

Scammers posing as federal officials drive complaints up and rack up $800 million in losses

The scams, some of which were fueled by AI, can be especially effective because they exploit the built-in authority and urgency people associate with institutions.

Tech

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.

Management

DHS to fold intelligence office into headquarters under Trump's 2027 budget plan

The plan to restructure the Office of Intelligence and Analysis would require congressional approval and could reshape oversight of domestic intelligence-sharing.

Tech

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.