Leadership
Lawmakers warn acting intelligence chief against major workforce changes
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., pointed to reports of potential staff cuts and warned against using the temporary appointment to make lasting personnel or declassification decisions at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Intelligence director hearing cancelled as Trump pushes for controversial voter bill
The development guarantees that Bill Pulte — whose selection to temporarily lead the office derailed a recent FISA vote — would start as acting national intelligence director on Friday.
White House cyber office hire triggers leadership changes inside infrastructure security agency
A senior CISA official’s move sets off a series of internal assignments as the agency prepares to expand hiring after a year of workforce reductions and restructuring.
Surveillance authority nears historic lapse as House deadlock meets intelligence leadership fight
Section 702 is set to expire for the first time after a failed House vote, even as a White House nomination aims to resolve a separate battle over who should oversee the intelligence community during the transition.
VA CIO nominee vows to create program management office
Gary Shatswell, President Donald Trump’s pick to helm VA’s IT operations, told lawmakers creating the office is “one of the first tasks that I will be going after” if confirmed to the role.
Breaking News
Trump appoints housing official to be acting director of national intelligence
The selection is unconventional for the nation’s lead intelligence official, a role tasked with managing 18 distinct agencies like the CIA and NSA.
Top White House cyber policy official to soon depart
Alexandra Seymour currently serves as principal deputy assistant national cyber director for policy in the Office of the National Cyber Director.
Updated
Gabbard to resign as director of national intelligence, citing husband’s health
Her exit marks the end of a 16-month tenure overseeing the nation’s spy agencies, where the former Democratic congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate sought to reshape ODNI around Trump’s priorities.
Ryan Donaghy returns to CISA as first chief operating officer
Donaghy previously served in acting leadership roles across two of the agency’s divisions and moved to the Transportation Security Administration in October.
DOGE is about making government services easier to access, its head says
In a rare public speaking appearance in which DOGE was discussed, its acting administrator Amy Gleason painted a different vision of its work than that pursued during the government-slashing efforts last year.
Education tech chief heads to OMB as deputy federal CIO
Thomas Flagg is a longtime government executive, having worked in the Labor Department for over 11 years prior to joining the Education Department.
Pro-Iran hackers say they breached the FBI director’s email and posted contents online
The leaks appear to be authentic, according to a person familiar with the matter.
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VA’s former EHR lead indicted for concealing contractor gifts
The Justice Department alleges that John Windom accepted and sometimes demanded various gifts while helming the electronic health record modernization at Veterans Affairs.
Two leaders join the Government Hall of Fame in 2026
The honor recognizes public servants whose work have made a lasting mark on government and public service.
Lawmakers seek watchdog probe into former acting CISA chief’s polygraph failures
A letter penned by House Democrats indicates CISA’s former acting director failed a second polygraph examination during his tenure.
Vought takes aim at GAO in new guidance
This is not the first time the head of the Office of Management and Budget has pushed back against Congress’ watchdog.
Kristi Noem misled Congress about top aide’s role in DHS contracts
Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Noem denied that Corey Lewandowski had any role in approving contracts. But internal DHS records and interviews with current and former agency staffers contradict her testimony.
Wyden to block confirmation for NSA director, citing lack of experience
The senator, in part, took issue with Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd’s responses to questions regarding civil liberties and oversight against unlawful surveillance.
Top NSC cyber official returns to academia
For the last year, JD Work was a high-ranking official working on cyber policy within the White House National Security Council.
RFK Jr. made promises in order to become Health Secretary. He’s broken many of them
Before being confirmed to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told U.S. senators he would not cut funding for vaccine research or change the nation’s official vaccine recommendations. He did both.
Federal CIO tapped for dual-hatted role at GSA
Greg Barbaccia will serve as the acting Technology Transformation Services director and senior advisor to the administrator at GSA, while its previous lead, Thomas Shedd, will remain with the agency in another role.
