The Daily Scoop Podcast

In today’s episode of the Daily Scoop Podcast, we delve into the ongoing impacts of the CrowdStrike IT failure. Last week’s outage has left several federal agencies scrambling to restore services. At the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, over 5,000 workstations were affected, though the agency's primary systems remain operational. The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network also experienced disruptions but resolved issues within an hour. Further impacts were reported at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. In legislative responses, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green and Rep. Andrew Garbarino have requested CrowdStrike’s CEO to testify regarding the outage’s effects on federal operations. Additionally, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is spearheading a new initiative to integrate artificial intelligence into manufacturing to enhance resilience. NIST plans to invest up to $70 million over five years in a new institute under Manufacturing USA, aiming to advance technology development, workforce education, and shared infrastructure. Wrapping up the episode, we revisit a panel discussion from the recent event, AWS Innovate Day, featuring Charles Worthington and Vinay Singh, the first chief AI officers at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, respectively. They shared insights on the adoption of generative AI within federal agencies, emphasizing governance, risk management, and transparency. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast on on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

The U.S. global development agency, USAID, is intensifying its focus on artificial intelligence, exploring both its potential benefits and challenges. Following the recent announcement of a new policy on democracy, human rights, and governance, USAID Administrator Samantha Power underscored the importance of leveraging technology to bolster democracy. However, she also cautioned about the potential misuse of these tools by authoritarian regimes to suppress dissent. In her remarks, Power said, “This policy expands our toolbox so that we can keep up with fast-moving technology that can be weaponized against citizens, it codifies our intent to counter the rise of digital repression at its source.” She noted ongoing efforts to increase transparency and raise awareness about how new technologies and data are used. Power's comments followed her meeting with Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, discussing AI applications in global development, including successful deployments in Mexico and India. In cybersecurity news, National Cyber Director Harry Coker emphasized the goal of achieving federal coherence across government efforts in cybersecurity. In a CyberScoop interview, Coker, who took office seven months ago, highlighted the importance of collaboration over hierarchy within federal cybersecurity initiatives. He stated, “We lead by collaboration,” noting that the Office of the National Cyber Director prioritizes cooperative relationships over leading or dominating discussions. Coker discussed his regular interactions with Anne Neuberger and Jen Easterly, indicating robust ongoing dialogues among key cybersecurity leaders. He also mentioned collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, focusing on setting cyber priorities for the fiscal year 2026 budget and promoting advancements like memory-safe computing languages. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast on on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

A Microsoft outage linked to CrowdStrike has disrupted several federal agencies. CISA and DHS are collaborating with CrowdStrike, Microsoft, and others to address the outages. President Biden has been briefed and is in contact with affected entities. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has closed all offices, warning of longer wait times and unavailable online services. The Justice Department and Department of Veterans Affairs are also affected, with some DHS staff facing login issues. The FAA is monitoring airline IT issues but reports no impact on operations. The Energy Department’s website is offline, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission reports normal operations. In other news, the White House has announced nearly $100 million in commitments to enhance access to emerging tech talent. OSTP revealed pledges from the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Digital Response, and several universities. The NSF will provide at least $48 million, with $32 million for its Emerging and Novel Technologies program and $16 million for the Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies program. U.S. Digital Response aims to double its support for under-resourced state and local governments. Academic institutions like San José State University, Spelman College, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan, and New York University have committed to various tech initiatives. Stay tuned to the Daily Scoop Podcast for more insights and updates on these stories and other developments in the federal tech space.

Just days after it was revealed that the FBI used software from Israeli firm Cellebrite to break into the phone of the man who shot former President Donald Trump, the company announced a strategic acquisition to expand its U.S. government work. Cellebrite purchased Cyber Technology Services Inc. and is establishing Cellebrite Federal Solutions, aiming to boost U.S. operations and engage more federal departments. The company is close to announcing a federal agency sponsorship for a FedRAMP cloud accreditation, expected in 2025. Cellebrite already holds contracts with several federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Secret Service, and the Defense Department. In other news, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is transitioning online users to Login.gov or ID.me sign-ins to access benefits and health care service accounts. This change will impact three million veterans and beneficiaries, who will no longer use usernames or passwords for My HealtheVet after January 2025. The VA aims to enhance security and provide a more user-friendly experience. Kurt DelBene, the VA’s assistant secretary for IT and chief information officer, emphasized that the transition is about empowering veterans with a modernized online experience. This move aligns with the Biden administration’s efforts to safeguard veteran data and improve federal customer service.

In today's episode, significant updates from federal agencies are highlighted, shaping the future of aviation and artificial intelligence. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established a backup system for the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system following a major outage in January 2023. This critical step addresses one of the most severe disruptions to air traffic since the September 11 attacks and includes the formation of a NOTAM Task Force and revised maintenance protocols. These measures aim to prevent future outages and enhance the communication of flight-related information. Additionally, the Department of Energy's (DOE) new roadmap for its Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence for Science, Security, and Technology (FASST) program was released. This strategic plan outlines the DOE’s commitment to integrating AI into national security and energy innovation. It highlights efforts to expand AI-capable infrastructure and develop reliable AI technologies across its network of national laboratories. About The Daily Scoop Podcast We discuss the latest news and trends facing government leaders on such topics as technology, management and workforce. The program will explore headlines of the day as well as in depth discussions with top executives in both government and industry. The Daily Scoop Podcast is released every weekday afternoon. For the latest insights from Washington, you can subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is pushing forward with its artificial intelligence initiatives by awarding sole-source contracts to Abridge AI, Inc. and Nuance Communications, Inc. These contracts aim to develop AI-driven healthcare dictation tools. The pilot program will employ ambient AI technology to transcribe clinical encounters and seamlessly generate medical notes. This initiative is part of the VA’s broader strategy to enhance healthcare delivery by integrating these tools with its electronic health record system, thereby improving efficiency and reducing manual data entry. Additionally, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is transitioning its long-time online account users to Login.gov, a centralized identity verification service managed by the General Services Administration (GSA). This transition affects users who created accounts before September 2021. SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley emphasized that this move aims to enhance security and streamline access to SSA services. Over five million users have already made the switch, reflecting a broader federal effort to standardize authentication processes across agencies. Hear more on today’s episode of 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.