This week, there were several topics capturing the attention of the Government Tech Media, including:
The FBI Carahsoft Raid
This week, almost every government tech media outlet reported that the FBI conducted a raid on the Reston, Virginia offices of government contractor Carahsoft Technology – a story that has generated significant buzz (and lots of speculation) around the Beltway.
- The story appears to have been first reported by David DiMolfetta in Nextgov/FCW based on eyewitness accounts with a follow-up report a couple of days later.
- Jason Miller of Federal News Network noted that the company has also been involved with a False Claims Act investigation, although it isn’t clear that the raid this week had anything to do with that.
- Carley Welch and Lee Ferran reported on the Pentagon’s muted response to the raid in Breaking Defense.
- And Billy Mitchell and Madison Alder had the story for FedScoop.
I’m sure we’ll be sharing more news on this story as it develops.
Congressional AI Oversight
Legislators were extremely busy this week on the AI front.
- Cate Burgan reported in MeriTalk that the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee passed the AI Incident Reporting and Security Enhancement Act, which calls on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to incorporate AI systems into the national vulnerability database. Burgan’s article also noted that the committee also approved the Department of Energy AI Act to use national laboratories’ infrastructure and workforce to boost U.S. AI leadership.
- Edward Graham reported on the Energy bill for Nextgov/FCW.
- In FedScoop, Alder published news on a newly introduced Senate bill that would require the Department of Health and Human Services to leverage AI as part of its pandemic preparedness and response program.
- Burgan reported for MeriTalk on another new Senate bill to establish guardrails to eliminate AI bias and discrimination, also covered in Jane Edwards’ article for ExecutiveGov.
- In the House, lawmakers passed a bill requiring the Department of Homeland Security to explore how AI and other emerging technologies could be used to secure the border, according to Matt Bracken’s coverage in FedScoop.
- Nextgov/FCW’s Alexandra Kelley shared news of a new policy adopted in the House guiding how legislators can use AI while ensuring data privacy and protection. Michele Sandiford of Federal News Network reported on the new rules in a roundup of weekly congressional action.
GAO’s Busy Week
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) kept busy this week as well.
- The government watchdog agency issued a report stating that 51 of the Federal Aviation Administration’s 138 air traffic control systems are “unsustainable” and are in urgent need of modernization, according to DiMolfetta’s article in Nextgov/FCW.
- Weslan Hansen wrote about the report for MeriTalk.
- In another report this week covered by Kristen Smith in ExecutiveGov, the GAO found inconsistencies in how federal agencies are reporting information on contractor performance and conduct in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System.
- In other GAO news, Grace Dille of MeriTalk published a piece on comments this week by David Hinchman, director of IT and cybersecurity at GAO, stating that the government must do a better job collecting consistent cost data to help federal agencies and cloud service providers address cost uncertainties related to the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP).
- And GAO Chief Information Officer Beth Killoran spoke to Federal News Neworks’ Tom Temin about how the agency is using intelligent automation to boost cybersecurity and the customer experience for the agency.
Temin to Retire
Speaking of Tom Temin, Federal News Network announced this week that the veteran commentator, editor and reporter plans to retire in April 2025, capping a 45-year journalism career. Temin’s departure will certainly leave a gap in the government tech media landscape where he worked so prominently for decades. The network started its search for a new morning news host, certainly a challenge with such big shoes to fill.
Thanks for reading. Check in again next week for more trending news in the world of government technology.
Want “This Week in Government Tech Media” in your inbox?
Fill out the form below and we’ll send it to you!