The Daily Scoop Podcast

As federal agencies patiently await final modernization guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) finds itself navigating through a transitional period. Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), a staunch advocate for federal IT modernization and the author of the FedRAMP Authorization Act, voiced his concerns about the program's current limbo, attributed to the absence of OMB's final guidance and exacerbated by factors like agency backlogs and the unfilled directorial role at FedRAMP. Despite these hurdles, Connolly highlighted several positive strides, noting that the situation has evolved from 'the inferno' to a more stable 'limbo.' He remains hopeful about FedRAMP's trajectory and ongoing reforms, such as the Emerging Technology Prioritization Framework spearheaded by the General Services Administration. Simultaneously, the White House is advocating for a substantial increase in cybersecurity budgets across federal agencies to fortify the nation’s defenses, aligning with the broader goals of the Biden administration's national cyber strategy. In a pivotal memo, OMB Director Shalanda Young and National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr. called for agency budget requests to include significant enhancements to cyber defenses, including the adoption of zero-trust architectures and the bolstering of open-source software security. The memo underscores the critical need for investments in department-wide, enterprise solutions to unify cybersecurity efforts across various mission areas, facilitating better information sharing and bolstering the nation’s resilience against burgeoning cyber threats.

Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Gary Peters (D-Michigan) have introduced the Securing America's Federal Equipment (SAFE) in Supply Chains Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to safeguard federal cybersecurity by mandating that electronic purchases be limited to original manufacturers or authorized resellers, addressing the increased risks of counterfeit products from unverified vendors. In another legislative move, Senators Joe Manchin (I-West Virginia) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are spearheading the Department of Energy AI Act. The bill proposes to bolster the Department of Energy's science and security missions by integrating advanced artificial intelligence technologies. It calls for the establishment of several AI research and development centers across the national labs to foster cutting-edge AI research and secure deployment of AI technologies.

The IRS has successfully piloted its free Direct File online tax-filing system in 12 select states, despite facing numerous technical challenges. At a President’s Management Agenda event, IRS officials Merici Vinton and Chris Given discussed how over 1,000 fixes were made after the launch. Commissioner Danny Werfel's cautious approach was crucial to the program’s success. More than 140,000 taxpayers used Direct File, resulting in over $90 million in refunds and $35 million in balances due. The IRS is now working to expand the program to all 50 states for the next filing season, focusing on tax situations impacting working families. However, a House Republican effort in the appropriations process aims to zero out Direct File, presenting a potential challenge. In other news, the Senate Armed Services Committee's version of the fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act includes several cybersecurity provisions related to zero trust. This concept assumes an adversary has already accessed the network, requiring constant monitoring and authentication of users and devices. The Act directs the DOD chief information officer to tailor the zero-trust framework to include human-wearable devices, sensors, and other smart technology within the military internet of things (IoT) within 180 days of the law’s passage. These interconnected, data-rich devices enhance military operations but also increase vulnerability to cyberattacks. The DOD aims to meet specific zero-trust capability outcomes by September 30, 2027.

In today's episode of The Daily Scoop Podcast, host Billy Mitchell examines the implications of the Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Chevron deference and its impact on federal AI regulation. The 6-3 ruling removes the requirement for courts to defer to federal agencies' interpretations of ambiguous statutes, complicating the Biden administration's efforts to regulate artificial intelligence. Legal experts, including Ellen Goodman from Rutgers Law School, caution that this decision will lead to increased legal challenges and highlight the need for clear legislative directives from Congress. This development underscores the potential need for establishing a new AI-focused regulatory agency. The episode also highlights new bipartisan legislation aimed at streamlining the fragmented cybersecurity regulations in the United States. Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) have introduced the Streamlining Federal Cybersecurity Regulations Act, which proposes the creation of an interagency committee led by the national cyber director. This committee would identify and address inconsistent or contradictory cybersecurity requirements across federal agencies. The bill responds to concerns raised during recent Senate hearings about regulatory fragmentation and aims to establish consistent cybersecurity standards.

Today's Daily Scoop Podcast delves into the transformative impact of user-focused technology on government missions, with a special emphasis on the Department of Defense's UX overhaul. The discussion opens with an in-depth analysis of the NATO summit in Washington D.C., a pivotal event involving expanding support for Ukraine and launching new cybersecurity collaborations with Indo-Pacific partners. This historic meeting, marking NATO's 75th anniversary, features insights from President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Another significant development discussed is the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Chevron doctrine. This ruling could impact the administration's capacity to enforce stringent cybersecurity regulations, potentially affecting a broad spectrum of sectors. The Department of Defense’s efforts to improve digital experiences for service members emphasizes strategic updates and leadership initiatives that enhance technological usability, crucial for effective mission outcomes. At DefenseTalks 2024, DefenseScoop reporter Brandi Vincent facilitated a panel discussion on these transformations with Savan Kong, Customer Experience Officer (CXO) at the OCIO, DOD; Scarlett Swerdlow, Sr. Technical Strategist at DISA; and Kevin Carter, Head of Customer Success, Public Sector at Slack. Hear the full conversation on today’s episode of The Daily Scoop Podcast.

The GSA has announced an AI-themed hackathon, inviting the public to reimagine federal websites using artificial intelligence and cloud tools. Co-sponsored by OpenAI and Microsoft, the event will provide participants with access to large language models, coding technologies, and AI response consistency features. Scheduled for July 31 in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and New York City, the hackathon aims to prepare federal websites for a future where Americans rely on generative AI tools for information and services. A $10,000 prize pool will be awarded to winning participants and teams. Additionally, GSA has named Larry Bafundo as the executive director of the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF). Bafundo, who previously served as TMF's deputy executive director, has extensive experience in leading complex digital initiatives in both the public and private sectors. His appointment comes amidst calls from federal IT leaders and lawmakers to revitalize the TMF program, which is nearing the end of its America Rescue Plan funding.

The Department of Commerce’s Tech Hubs program, a key initiative supported by the CHIPS and Science Act, aims to bolster federal research and innovation in emerging technologies, especially in areas outside major cities. Senior Biden administration officials discussed the program's impact during a call announcing 12 new initiatives that will receive funding. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasized the need to decentralize the tech ecosystem, noting that 90% of new tech jobs have been concentrated in just five cities over the past two decades. Key focus areas for these Tech Hubs include uncrewed aerial systems, IT, semiconductors, high-performance materials, and grid resilience systems. Among the recent grant recipients are the Elevate Quantum TechFund in Colorado and the Wisconsin Biohealth TechHub. In other news, the General Services Administration (GSA) has announced a request for proposals for the Alliant 3 Governmentwide Acquisition Contract, notable for its unprecedented no-ceiling dollar amount. This contract seeks to cover a broad range of IT services, including AI, biometrics, quantum computing, and more, with a focus on emerging technologies. Greg Godbout and Noah Kunin, former leaders of the GSA’s 18F digital team, join The Daily Scoop Podcast host Billy Mitchell to discuss their new initiative, info2insight. This open-source community aims to foster data-driven decision-making in government and accelerate the adoption of data analytics. They highlight the progress in government digital services and the need to pivot towards data analytics to manage the increasing information from AI and ML technologies. They share their vision for info2insight as a collaborative platform for civil servants, private-sector technologists, and academics to drive better governance through data insights.

The General Services Administration (GSA) has launched a new initiative to prioritize generative AI technologies in the FedRAMP cloud authorization process, aligning with a 2023 executive order. This effort focuses on accelerating the approval of AI capabilities such as chat interfaces, code generation, and image generators to enhance their integration into government systems. Additionally, the Chief Data Officers (CDO) Council is facing significant challenges due to the absence of essential Phase Two guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is necessary for implementing effective data governance practices. Despite these hurdles, the CDO Council continues to support federal agencies in managing and disseminating data effectively, underscoring ongoing efforts to incorporate advanced technologies and robust data management within the federal government.

Podcast discusses the DoD's AI strategy with a focus on creating an AI task force and Chief Digital and AI Office. It also covers the Dept of Commerce's efforts to standardize data for AI applications, seeking public input for guidelines.

Helena Fu, Director of DOE's AI initiative, discusses the new AI guide for DOE employees, emphasizing responsible AI use and its benefits. The podcast also covers the Supreme Court's ruling against limiting federal interactions with social media platforms, a win for battling misinformation.