Tech

NSF launches AI-driven biotech research program

The National Science Foundation is funding five projects within its new BioFoundries program, which aims to use artificial intelligence to accelerate research in biosciences.

Tech

Half a billion dollars in grants awarded to boost the EV charging network

The Biden administration also said that the number of publicly available EV chargers has doubled since the president took office.

Tech

AI can help FOIA offices combat onslaught of bot-powered requests, report says

According to a report from software firm OPEXUS, 93% of FOIA officers believe “AI has a key role to play in helping to review, sort and deduplicate requests.”

Tech

Energy Department unveils its green resource hub for AI-based grid demand

The new online resource is the latest step Energy has taken to match the pace of green energy transitions with growing electricity needs from artificial intelligence applications.

Tech

FBI is losing track of classified and sensitive data, watchdog finds

The bureau is failing to account for electronic storage media that are marked for destruction at secure facilities.

Tech

Energy Department wants to use AI to speed up permitting

The hope is that helping feds dive into historical environmental documents creates efficiencies and better outcomes.

Tech

Cars that talk: Feds announce plan to accelerate connected vehicle deployment

The Transportation Department aims to have vehicle-to-everything tech deployed nationwide by 2036, and said it will offer grants and support to help states get there.

Tech

CISA, FBI assert election infrastructure’s fortitude despite ransomware threat

Both organizations aim to instill confidence in U.S. voting infrastructure ahead of the 2024 elections.

Tech

IRS is flying blind without plans to modernize legacy tech, watchdog says

This isn’t the first time the IRS has been called out by oversight officials for a lack of detailed technology planning.

Tech

DARPA edges closer to using AI to expose cyber vulnerabilities

Next year, seven teams will compete to polish off a best-case model that meshes AI and cybersecurity to detect and fix open-source vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.

Tech

VA launches a new platform to help veterans identify and report scams

Scammers have increasingly targeted veterans and their beneficiaries, particularly after the PACT Act expanded benefits and health services for retired service members.

Tech

Benefits.gov to shutter in September

The Labor Department’s benefits-focused website dates back to 2002.

Tech

Congressional agencies report progress on AI adoption

The House Administration Committee said in the new report that it is also focused “on applying the House’s AI guardrails to the acquisitions process.”

Tech

Hackathon imagines federal agency websites enhanced by artificial intelligence

GSA sponsored Wednesday’s competition, which took place in Washington, D.C., New York City and Atlanta.

Tech

Acting Secret Service head suggests that better tech could have thwarted would-be Trump assassin

Ronald Rowe Jr. told a Senate panel that additional cellular bandwidth and the use of counter-drone technology could have averted the attempted assassination of former President Trump.

Tech

Treasury’s funding request for IRS cloud tech far outpaces other civilian agencies, report says

Treasury’s request is the largest out of a combined federal civilian total of almost $9 billion for cloud-related programs in their fiscal year 2025 IT budget requests.

Tech

Senate Democrats push an accessibility refresh

A new bill would revamp the decades old law requiring the government be accessible online, where many agencies are still falling short

Tech

Biden to receive AI national security memo outlining forbidden uses, opportunities for innovation

The memorandum expected to be delivered Friday to President Joe Biden will build upon existing artificial intelligence guidance while highlighting workforce needs and prohibited use scenarios.

Tech

HHS reorg seeks to streamline tech and cyber policy

A new assistant secretary post will consolidate management of technology, data, AI and health IT.

Tech

VA’s planned restart of its electronic health record system rollouts draws lawmaker concern

“I think we are far from ready to endorse further go-live activities,” Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., said about VA’s plan to resume deployments in fiscal year 2025.