Companies

White House accuses China of ‘deliberate, industrial-scale campaigns’ to steal US AI models

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy told federal agencies that the Trump administration will be enhancing its engagement with the private sector to counter foreign-led distillation campaigns designed to undermine U.S. AI advances.

Contracts

House FY27 VA funding bill allocates $3.4B for EHR rollout

The measure, which was voted out of the House Appropriations Committee, withholds 25% of the funds for the EHR modernization project until July 1, 2027, contingent upon VA providing lawmakers with additional information and meeting performance requirements.

Contracts

Pentagon announces senior appointments to CIO’s office

"Their collective expertise in cybersecurity, defense innovation, and enterprise-level strategy is exactly what we need to accelerate our mission,” Defense CIO Kirsten Davies said about her new leadership team.

Companies

Tech bills of the week: Boosting export controls; AI-focused workforce development; and more

During Congress’s final week in recess, new legislation and amendments that were proposed run the tech policy gamut.

Contracts

Trump’s FY27 budget proposes boosts and cuts to tech operations

Agencies like CISA, NIST and the IRS would see notable reductions in their budgets for next year, while programs at Energy and the VA would get additional financial support.

Contracts

Trump’s new cyber strategy details more offensive response to cyber threats

“Unlike other Administrations, the Trump Administration will not tinker at the edges and apply partial measures and ambiguous strategies that neglect the growing number and severity of cyber threats,” the strategy said.

Contracts

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.

Companies

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.

Contracts

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.”

Contracts

House passes measure to help reduce federal software spending

For the second straight Congress, lawmakers in the lower chamber have advanced legislation to impose heightened transparency requirements on government software spending.

Contracts

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.

Contracts

Palo Alto Networks offers discounted cybersecurity solutions to agencies through OneGov deal

Federal agencies can access discounts of as much as 60% for select security offerings as part of the agreement.

Companies

Lawmakers propose requiring agencies, major firms to report AI’s job impact

A new bill from Sens. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., would direct covered entities to provide quarterly reports to the Labor Department detailing layoffs and workforce displacements caused by uses of AI.

Podcasts

WT 360: Shutdown fallout, SAIC and market churn lead this episode’s agenda

Carten Cordell and Edward Graham, respectively managing editors at WT’s partner publications Government Executive and NextgovFCW, join Nick and Ross to go over all things shutdown in this episode’s first part. Then for part two, Nick and Ross unpack SAIC’s CEO transition against the backdrop of today’s market landscape.

Contracts

Connolly's successor, James Walkinshaw, looks to carry on his IT and workforce legacy

“A shutdown gives the Trump administration no new legal authority to fire federal workers or to conduct reductions in force,” Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., told Nextgov/FCW in response to the White House telling agencies to implement mass layoffs in the event of a funding lapse.

Contracts

Meta offers agencies access to its open source AI models through OneGov deal

The agreement will allow government customers to use Meta’s Llama models, which are already publicly available, with the assurance that they meet federal requirements.

Contracts

Pentagon halts $15B Advana recompete draft solicitation

DOD was previously looking to bring in new vendors to support its Advana data-analytics platform through a potential 10-year, $15 billion Advancing Artificial Intelligence Multiple Award Contract.

Companies

Trump nominates Ryan Cote to serve as VA’s new IT chief

Cote previously served as the Department of Transportation’s CIO for two years during the first Trump administration.

Contracts

VA is overlooking accessibility requirements when procuring IT, watchdog says 

VA’s Office of Inspector General said the agency “did not establish a control environment that makes accessibility a priority” when it acquires new systems.

Podcasts

WT 360: Nextgov/FCW’s Edward Graham on the Veterans Affairs’ contract controversy

Edward Graham, our Nextgov/FCW colleague who covers VA, jumps in to break down why some lawmakers are pressing the department for transparency on its use of artificial intelligence in deciding which contracts to cancel.