Author Archive

Edward Graham

Edward Graham

Managing Editor, Nextgov/FCW

Edward Graham is the Managing Editor for Nextgov/FCW, where he reports on national security technologies and policies, the Department of Veterans Affairs and election security issues. He received his master’s degree in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University in 2016. If you have a tip you'd like to share, Edward can be securely contacted at Grahed.40 on Signal.
Edward Graham is the Managing Editor for Nextgov/FCW, where he reports on national security technologies and policies, the Department of Veterans Affairs and election security issues. He received his master’s degree in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University in 2016. If you have a tip you'd like to share, Edward can be securely contacted at Grahed.40 on Signal.
Tech

Electronic health record modernization needs better cyber and privacy collaboration, GAO says

The Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization office needs to improve its interagency coordination to address potential privacy and security vulnerabilities in the new system, according to the watchdog.

Management

EPA’s research efforts are swayed by administration priorities, official says

The Environmental Protection Agency’s formerly independent research office was replaced last year by a new unit housed within the agency’s Office of the Administrator.

Oversight

GSA joins White House’s fraud prevention task force

The agency said it will support the unit’s efforts by identifying waste, fraud and abuse across government contracting programs.

Tech

OneGov AI deals are now reaching millions of federal users, GSA says

Agencies are increasingly turning to the governmentwide buying program for AI tools as officials pitch both lower costs and broader workforce adoption.

Management

White House withholds $1.3B in Medicaid payments to California amid broader fraud crackdown

Vice President JD Vance said the administration will audit states’ Medicaid Fraud Control Units and threatened to “turn off” federal funding for the watchdogs if their fraud prevention efforts are found to be deficient.

Tech

Growing agency talent is critical for modernization, Transportation’s IT head says

“When there is support and excitement, then you can do magic,” Pavan Pidugu, the Transportation Department’s chief digital and information officer, said about engaging personnel across the agency to drive meaningful IT modernization.

Workforce

FAA sets records in effort to hire gamers as air traffic controllers

The agency received over 12,000 applications in less than two days, making the effort “wildly successful,” according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

Tech

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.

Tech

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.”

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.

Tech

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.

Management

OMB is hiring for a deputy federal chief information officer

“If you know how to run large systems, cut through noise, and turn strategy into execution across government scale, this is that job,” Federal CIO Gregory Barbaccia said about the search for his deputy.

Management

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.

Management

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.

Tech

Lawmakers question VA health record’s costs and batched deployments

The agency is looking to deploy its new Oracle Health EHR near simultaneously at four Michigan medical facilities in April 2026.

Management

Lawmaker looks to shake up VA’s software management

Legislation from Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., prioritizes waste reduction when it comes to the roughly $1 billion that VA spends annually on software assets.

Management

House Science Dems call for investigation into NASA Goddard cuts

The administration’s ongoing push to close labs and facilities at the Goddard Space Flight Center “risks permanently degrading Goddard’s scientific and technical capabilities with these moves,” Democratic members of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee wrote.

Tech

Lawmakers signal support for using AI to prevent veteran suicides in FY26 VA funding bill reports

“There is a significant need to improve early suicide indicators and detection using artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies that improve operational efficiency and effectiveness throughout veteran service delivery,” according to a House Appropriations panel report.

Tech

Energy names its third permanent CIO since the start of Trump 2.0

Dawn Zimmer has had multiple stints this year as the department’s acting CIO.

Management

Inside Mission Daybreak: VA’s effort to support innovative suicide prevention

VA’s director of data and analytics innovation said the program “is looking for what is the right solution for the ways that we want to optimize care, and sometimes that's technology, and sometimes it isn't.”