Author Archive

Alexandra Kelley

Alexandra Kelley

Staff Correspondent, Nextgov/FCW

Alexandra Kelley reports on emerging technology for Nextgov/FCW. Her most recent post was covering breaking news for The Hill where she focused on a variety of quantitative subjects, including Big Tech and the economy, in addition to covering the coronavirus pandemic since late 2019. She graduated from Kenyon College in 2017. If you have a tip you'd like to share, Alexandra can be securely contacted at alexak17.64 on Signal.
Alexandra Kelley reports on emerging technology for Nextgov/FCW. Her most recent post was covering breaking news for The Hill where she focused on a variety of quantitative subjects, including Big Tech and the economy, in addition to covering the coronavirus pandemic since late 2019. She graduated from Kenyon College in 2017. If you have a tip you'd like to share, Alexandra can be securely contacted at alexak17.64 on Signal.
Workforce

Democrats question White House tech lead on how workforce churn will impact AI Action Plan

Several House lawmakers also worried over whether the Trump administration’s budget request for 2026 would fall short of the funding agencies need to successfully carry out the White House’s AI action plan.

Tech

Report: Workforce shortages, security fears among biggest hindrances to agency AI adoption

A report issued by Google Public Sector shed light on the state of play for federal AI adoption, finding most efforts are currently in pilot programs and held up by security concerns.

Tech

White House instructs agencies to stop using ‘biased’ AI

The Office of Management and Budget clarified the steps agencies will have to take to ensure their contracted large language models do not produce “woke” outputs.

Tech

Democrats bring back AI civil rights bill

The reintroduction of an anti-algorithmic discrimination bill comes as the advocacy for a decade-long moratorium on state-level AI regulation recirculates in Congress.

Tech

Tech under OneGov remains ‘fully available’ during shutdown — but agencies may lack funds and personnel to access it

Some of the advanced software tools made available to federal agencies as part of the OneGov initiative are available for a limited time with impending expirations.

Tech

Nonprofit sues 4 agencies for details on AI use in enacting Trump policy

Democracy Forward is suing four federal agencies in a bid to access official documentation regarding if and how AI has been used in the Trump administration’s policy execution.

Tech

Agencies and industry announce efforts to further Presidential AI Challenge

The Trump administration is angling to leverage private sector partnerships and an all-hands agency approach to establish a robust U.S. AI workforce and education platform.

Tech

Advocacy groups ask OMB to axe Grok AI procurement

Citing vulnerabilities and biased outputs in the program, multiple advocacy organizations and nonprofits signed a letter to the Office of Management and Budget asking it to bar Elon Musk’s Grok from federal workflows.

Defense

Defense tech office cuts staff down to 40

The cuts to the Defense Technical Information Center are intended to refocus it on “its core statutory mission” according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

Management

Former NSF heads criticize funding and staff cuts at science agency

Former National Science Foundation and National Science Board leads sent a letter to congressional leadership saying the cuts to the agency run contrary to the Trump administration’s priorities.

Tech

Here are the tech takeaways from Trump’s budget proposal

The White House has suggested sweeping reductions to many civilian agencies, though it promises to maintain investments in emerging technologies.

Management

NSF director resigns

Sethuraman Panchanathan confirmed his resignation to NSF employees and the public in two separate statements.

Tech

Transportation consolidates IT personnel and decision-making

Two memos document a new organizational structure that establishes the CIO as the point person for all IT activity across the agency’s various subcomponents.

Workforce

CISA to make comprehensive staff cuts in coming days, people familiar say

The nation’s premier cybersecurity agency, which sits in the Department of Homeland Security, has been in the Trump administration’s crosshairs for some time.

Workforce

168 employees fired at the National Science Foundation

“Panch has been conveniently absent throughout this whole time,” said an internal email an NSF worker sent to fellow colleagues, referring to Sethuraman Panchanathan, NSF’s director.

Workforce

National Labs have seen mixed impacts from Trump spending freeze

During a House hearing, four directors of different U.S. national laboratories offered insight into how federal funding interruptions have shaped their work.

Tech

DHS releases guidance for AI in critical infrastructure

The Homeland Security Department worked with its diverse AI Safety and Security Board to develop a holistic approach for securing critical infrastructure that leverages AI technologies.

Management

CISA Director Jen Easterly to depart on Inauguration Day

Easterly and Deputy Director Nitin Natarajan are set to leave as an administration change casts doubt on the agency’s future. 

Tech

HHS looks to balance use of clinical data in AI with safety, bias considerations

The agency’s acting chief artificial intelligence officer discussed the future of AI in healthcare delivery.

Tech

Senate Dems ask OMB for more regulations, support to mitigate algorithm bias

Sens. Ed Markey and Chuck Schumer are seeking updated guidance and organizational structures to prevent artificial intelligence from discrimination.