Feds' collab tools must be interoperable, encrypted - Wyden
Collaboration software in federal agencies must work together securely and be end-to-end encrypted if Senator Ron Wyden's legislation is enacted. [ more ]
House lawmakers join push for agencies to disclose public-impacting AI uses
Four House lawmakers are supporting legislation that would require federal agencies to notify individuals when AI technologies are used to interact with them or make automated decisions.
The bill would establish an appeals process for individuals to challenge automated decisions and address situations where harm is caused by the use of AI in critical decision processes. [ more ]
Rep. Ted Lieu introduced a companion bill to Senate legislation that would codify federal guidelines for the adoption of artificial intelligence.
The bill would require federal agencies to use the AI risk management framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology when acquiring AI solutions. [ more ]
House proposal prohibits agencies' use of blockchain tech tied to China
Bipartisan House legislation aims to limit federal government's use of blockchain technologies from entities with ties to the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign adversaries.
The bill aims to address cybersecurity concerns and prevent China from accessing critical national security intelligence and Americans' private information.
Five companies with ties to Chinese firms would be barred from selling blockchain technologies and services to the U.S. government. [ more ]
Russian hackers accessed U.S. government emails in Microsoft breach, CISA says
Kremlin-backed hackers breached Microsoft systems in January, exfiltrating email communication from federal agencies, raising cybersecurity concerns. [ more ]
CISA issues emergency directive for federal agencies to patch Ivanti VPN vulnerabilities
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an emergency directive for federal agencies to patch their systems against a zero-day exploit in a VPN software.
The vulnerabilities in the software were publicly released by the software company on Jan. 10, and so far, the campaign has impacted at least 2,100 devices worldwide. [ more ]
White House orders agencies to tap chief AI officers | Semafor
Federal agencies required to designate a chief AI officer and establish AI governance board within 60 days.
Federal departments must publicly disclose AI tools, identify risks, and implement minimum practices to protect individuals' rights and safety from AI impact. [ more ]
Contracts featuring automation, built-in security can boost agencies' cyber defenses, VA officials say
Automating legacy systems and prioritizing built-in security in contracts can enhance cyber resilience at federal agencies.
The Department of Veterans Affairs oversees a significant portion of IT assets in the federal civilian space and relies on CISA for cybersecurity implementation. [ more ]
20 federal agencies miss deadline for implementing cyber incident tracking requirements, watchdog says
Many federal agencies have failed to meet the cybersecurity requirements set by the Biden administration, including advanced event logging standards.
The failure to implement event logging requirements hampers the federal government's ability to detect, investigate, and remediate cyber threats. [ more ]
Supreme Court Conservatives Appear Hostile To Securities And Exchange Commission's Reach
The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative justices questioned the constitutionality of the Securities and Exchange Commission's ability to take enforcement actions outside of the court system during oral arguments.
The case could have significant implications for the power of federal agencies to enforce the law through administrative proceedings.
Conservative judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit previously ruled that Congress unconstitutionally gave the SEC the power to choose where to bring proceedings. [ more ]
Federal government lagging behind on key AI requirements, watchdog finds
Federal agencies are behind on efforts to improve their management of artificial intelligence (AI) despite its expanding footprint in the government.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that key efforts to strengthen AI management have missed deadlines and are incomplete. [ more ]
Priming the workforce is key to future AI efforts, federal IT leaders say
Officials are focusing on educating employees about the benefits and possibilities of emerging technologies like AI and automating rote tasks.
Government leaders are taking early steps to ensure safe adoption of advanced technologies and providing adequate training for their workforce. [ more ]
Senate avoids government shutdown, passes funding package
The $1.2 trillion spending package was passed by the Senate after the House's approval, avoiding a government shutdown.
The bill will fund federal agencies like DHS, Defense, and Labor through September, keeping spending steady at 2023 levels with wins for both parties. [ more ]
Democrats Signal Openness to Plan to Avert Shutdown as Republicans Balk
Speaker Mike Johnson's proposal to avert a government shutdown is facing opposition from hard-line Republicans.
Democratic opposition to the proposal is softening, indicating potential bipartisan approval.
The proposal includes funding federal agencies into early 2024 with staggered deadlines and avoids a debate over wartime aid to Israel and Ukraine. [ more ]
Opinion | Will the Supreme Court Show a Little Humility?
The Supreme Court is considering two cases that could limit the authority of federal agencies and give more power to the Court.
Conservatives have been targeting the Chevron framework, which allows agencies to interpret statutes, believing it gives too much power to administrative agencies. [ more ]
One of the Most Complex Cases of the Supreme Court Term Could Also Be the Most Devastating
The Supreme Court will hear arguments in Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy to review a ruling that set aside a decision of the SEC.
The lower court ruling, if upheld, would likely make adjudications by most federal agencies a thing of the past.
Jarkesy argues that the SEC's decision must be vacated because the agency sought civil penalties and disgorgement of unlawful gains in an agency proceeding and not in a federal court. [ more ]
SCOTUS Hears Cases Aiming to Gut Ability to Set and Enforce Federal Regulations
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in cases aimed at overturning the Chevron doctrine, which would significantly limit federal agencies' ability to set and enforce regulations.
The cases involve herring fishermen challenging federal rules requiring them to pay for onboard compliance monitors. [ more ]
Conrad Stosz, the director of artificial intelligence in the Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer, brings his experience from the private sector to the federal government's technological policy demands.
Stosz has a background in overseeing software development teams and has worked on AI tools for data analytics and sciences in the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense. [ more ]