Updated May 23, 2026
Tech Trends
AI-aggregated emerging technology news from top sources. Updated daily via automated Python scraper + GitHub Actions.
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USDA would get more AI grants, research, farmer education under new Senate bill
The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., would make American farmers more competitive on the global market. The post USDA would get more AI grants, research, farmer education under new Senate bill appeared first on FedScoop.
House lawmakers seek more AI transparency from the SBA
The House Small Business Committee advanced a bill requiring the SBA to deliver an annual report on its AI use, weeks after the GAO revealed issues with the agency’s inventory compliance. The post House lawmakers seek more AI transparency from the SBA appeared first on FedScoop.
Commerce announces $2 billion in quantum computing incentives for nine companies
Awardees IBM and GlobalFoundries announced new business ventures as a result of the expected infusion of federal dollars. The post Commerce announces $2 billion in quantum computing incentives for nine companies appeared first on FedScoop.
DOT considers taking humans out of the AI loop
The agency is weighing the risks of unintended consequences along with the potential pitfalls of having workers become a “limiting factor,” per a top technology leader. The post DOT considers taking humans out of the AI loop appeared first on FedScoop.
Auditors find problems with SBA’s information security program
The agency has fallen short on nine of 10 security controls under OMB guidance, according to a new OIG report on FISMA compliance. The post Auditors find problems with SBA’s information security program appeared first on FedScoop.
USPTO seeking AI-driven image search tool for patent examiners
With a backlog of nearly 774,000 unexamined applications, the office is looking for a custom tool to boost efficiency and completeness. The post USPTO seeking AI-driven image search tool for patent examiners appeared first on FedScoop.
House bill would enlist OPM in federal biotech workforce assessment
The bipartisan legislation from Reps. Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick directs the personnel agency to coordinate an agency-wide push on boosting U.S. biotech efforts. The post House bill would enlist OPM in federal biotech workforce assessment appeared first on FedScoop.
Acting Labor secretary eyes big budget boost for ID verification systems
Keith Sonderling told Senate appropriators that the $25M funding request for DOL’s unemployment-insurance program will help the department reduce improper payments. The post Acting Labor secretary eyes big budget boost for ID verification systems appeared first on FedScoop.
DHS data-migration guidance falls short as modernization project nears
As FEMA and ICE gear up for a financial management systems overhaul, a GAO report says lagging best practices increase the risk for errors, delays and hindered usability. The post DHS data-migration guidance falls short as modernization project nears appeared first on FedScoop.
Senators seek GAO probe of IRS’s Free File program
The Trump administration has touted the tax agency’s oft-criticized Free File partnership with tax companies after it eliminated Direct File following heavy industry lobbying. The post Senators seek GAO probe of IRS’s Free File program appeared first on FedScoop.
Financial regulatory agencies have fallen behind on joint data standards
A new GAO report offers guidance to regulators that could lead to governmentwide data standards after the agencies missed a deadline required by the Financial Data Transparency Act. The post Financial regulatory agencies have fallen behind on joint data standards appeared first on FedScoop.
Beyond adoption: the three shifts needed for accountable federal AI
Reporting on AI use case inventories shows adoption is moving fast and agencies need to rethink how work gets done. The post Beyond adoption: the three shifts needed for accountable federal AI appeared first on FedScoop.
White House pressing ICE for updates on wearable identity verification technology
Assistant Director Matthew Elliston said the smart glasses project is in the beginning stages and the agency is still looking for a vendor. The post White House pressing ICE for updates on wearable identity verification technology appeared first on FedScoop.
State Department is testing agentic AI to ‘buy back time’ for workers
An official in the agency’s Cyber Threat and Investigations unit hints at using AI to analyze malware over 75 times faster than humans. The post State Department is testing agentic AI to ‘buy back time’ for workers appeared first on FedScoop.
OMB plans to make IT contract data collection public, per federal CIO
The top IT official recently told FedScoop that the administration intends to share information from its ongoing technology contract data collection following transparency critiques. The post OMB plans to make IT contract data collection public, per federal CIO appeared first on FedScoop.
NRC efficiency plan to reuse DOE, DOD data met with skepticism
During a fiscal 2027 budget hearing Wednesday, senators raised concerns about the risks of the agency’s fast-tracking of licensing processes and focus on efficiency. The post NRC efficiency plan to reuse DOE, DOD data met with skepticism appeared first on FedScoop.
GAO IDs up to $251 billion in cost savings across agencies
The congressional watchdog’s annual report on overlapping federal programs finds at least $132 billion in financial benefits to the government. The post GAO IDs up to $251 billion in cost savings across agencies appeared first on FedScoop.
Lawmakers sound alarm on ICE ‘ghost flights,’ missing aviation data
The 32-member group called for clarity on the DHS unit’s use of the Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed program and additional data-suppression methods. The post Lawmakers sound alarm on ICE ‘ghost flights,’ missing aviation data appeared first on FedScoop.
DHS units to re-up contract with controversial mobile device data extractor
ICE and Homeland Security Investigations plan to spend up to $100 million over the next five years on Cellebrite's digital forensics hardware and software tools. The post DHS units to re-up contract with controversial mobile device data extractor appeared first on FedScoop.
Federal business system modernization: New clues regarding readiness, reality and the road ahead
A new study comparing modernization efforts at federal agencies versus commercial organizations reveals key gaps in transitioning from legacy systems to modern, cloud-based platforms — and opportunities to accelerate progress. The post Federal business system modernization: New clues regarding readi
Schumer seeks DHS plan on AI cyber coordination with state, local governments
The Senate’s top Democrat is worried about smaller government entities being left behind as AI models advance hacking risks. The post Schumer seeks DHS plan on AI cyber coordination with state, local governments appeared first on FedScoop.
GSA touts federal AI adoption despite unanswered ROI questions
Zach Whitman, GSA’s CAIO and chief data scientist, said his team is still working to quantify the value agencies get from using generative AI chatbots. The post GSA touts federal AI adoption despite unanswered ROI questions appeared first on FedScoop.
Education IT chief Thomas Flagg hired for deputy federal CIO role
Greg Barbaccia announced the appointment in an email to agency CIOs Thursday. The post Education IT chief Thomas Flagg hired for deputy federal CIO role appeared first on FedScoop.
SBA behind the eightball on AI use case reporting, GAO finds
The agency posted its 2025 inventory two months after the deadline. It was the first time the SBA ever released a public listing of its AI usage, according to the watchdog. The post SBA behind the eightball on AI use case reporting, GAO finds appeared first on FedScoop.
OPM applies AI to modernize federal job description, retirement processes
The federal government’s human resources agency is looking to artificial intelligence to streamline the writing of federal job descriptions and offload basic retirement customer service requests that are flooding its call centers. The post OPM applies AI to modernize federal job description, retire
With AI assist, CMS has ‘longer leash’ to fight fraud now, official says
The acting director of CMS’s Center for Program Integrity said the agency has shifted away from what was previously a “very conservative” approach in pursuing fraud. The post With AI assist, CMS has ‘longer leash’ to fight fraud now, official says appeared first on FedScoop.
From pilots to performance: Rethinking agencies’ approach to embedding AI
SAP’s Jamison Braun highlights how embedding AI into operational workflows is key to turning pilots into real-world outcomes across federal agencies. The post From pilots to performance: Rethinking agencies’ approach to embedding AI appeared first on FedScoop.
Senators seek Labor-led database on AI workforce impacts
The Workforce Transparency Act from Sens. Mark Warner and Ted Budd would charge the DOL with creating a public resource with “aggregated workforce transparency data.” The post Senators seek Labor-led database on AI workforce impacts appeared first on FedScoop.
Two FAA partners ramp up hiring, preparations for ATC overhaul
L3Harris and Indra are working behind the scenes to increase capacity as the fiber cable and radar providers advance plans aimed at improving the FAA’s efficacy. The post Two FAA partners ramp up hiring, preparations for ATC overhaul appeared first on FedScoop.
The government’s AI efficiency numbers look good. That should worry you.
Current AI training across agencies is not sufficient and would benefit from more “original intelligence.” The post The government’s AI efficiency numbers look good. That should worry you. appeared first on FedScoop.
Senators take another swing at bill to codify federal AI resource
The bipartisan CREATE AI Act has a House companion and seeks to establish the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource following a pilot launched in 2023. The post Senators take another swing at bill to codify federal AI resource appeared first on FedScoop.
A FedRAMP strategy for solving the cyber talent shortage
A landing zone where SaaS providers can deploy their apps is one way federal environments can spur innovation and attract more high-caliber cyber talent. The post A FedRAMP strategy for solving the cyber talent shortage appeared first on FedScoop.
Trump orders big change to federal contracting structures
The president’s latest executive order requires agencies to shift away from cost-reimbursement contracts, making fixed-price deals the “default” approach to procurement. The post Trump orders big change to federal contracting structures appeared first on FedScoop.
VA’s renewed EHR rollout ‘has been phenomenal’ so far, secretary claims
After pausing deployments in 2023 following years of failures, EHR rollouts at four Michigan facilities this month went smoothly, according to Secretary Doug Collins and Sen. Gary Peters. The post VA’s renewed EHR rollout ‘has been phenomenal’ so far, secretary claims appeared first on FedScoop.
Disclosed government AI use increased by 70% in 2025, per OMB
NASA’s expanded disclosure of R&D uses contributed to the increase and helped make science-related applications the most common type of use case across government. The post Disclosed government AI use increased by 70% in 2025, per OMB appeared first on FedScoop.
House bill wants CIOs, agency heads to hit the gas on legacy IT phase-outs
The bipartisan Legacy IT Reduction Act would require CIOs to inventory legacy systems and agency heads to plan for hastened retirements, updates or modernization. The post House bill wants CIOs, agency heads to hit the gas on legacy IT phase-outs appeared first on FedScoop.
Labor Department nears launch of AI workforce hub
The agency’s chief innovation officer told FedScoop that the portal of government and private-sector data will go public in “the coming months,” fulfilling a Trump AI Action Plan requirement. The post Labor Department nears launch of AI workforce hub appeared first on FedScoop.
Energy Department eyes AI-enabled self-service features for workforce
The interest in artificial intelligence additions follows what the agency is characterizing as a successful HR modernization project that centralized talent management platforms. The post Energy Department eyes AI-enabled self-service features for workforce appeared first on FedScoop.
House passes two bills to modernize IRS operations
The BARCODE Efficiency Act and the Taxpayer Experience Improvement Act would embrace technology and help the IRS “be an agency more worthy of the taxpayers it serves.” The post House passes two bills to modernize IRS operations appeared first on FedScoop.
Interior still grapples with probate backlog even with AI assistance
Secretary Burgum said paper processes are preventing the agency from gaining ground, so the focus is on further digitization. The post Interior still grapples with probate backlog even with AI assistance appeared first on FedScoop.
Securing the ‘last mile’ of critical federal work
A former OMB deputy administrator for IT and E-government details the next frontier in federal cybersecurity. The post Securing the ‘last mile’ of critical federal work appeared first on FedScoop.
Federal union projects to lose ‘tens of thousands’ of members, court filing shows
The National Treasury Employees Union said a Trump order and OPM rule on collective bargaining has caused irreparable harm. An appeals court judge previously said those harms were “speculative.” The post Federal union projects to lose ‘tens of thousands’ of members, court filing shows appeared first
GSA announces a fresh cohort of Presidential Innovation Fellows
The new group refreshes the program focused on bringing technologists to government for tours of duty, and comes amid the administration’s tech hiring efforts. The post GSA announces a fresh cohort of Presidential Innovation Fellows appeared first on FedScoop.
CISA director pick Sean Plankey withdraws his nomination
Plankey had been waiting for more than a year, prompting the request to withdraw him as the one tapped to lead an agency now in further upheaval. The post CISA director pick Sean Plankey withdraws his nomination appeared first on FedScoop.
NRC gives sneak peak at website modernization progress
The agency held a public webinar Wednesday for early feedback from stakeholders as the team eyes a summertime launch for the redesigned site. The post NRC gives sneak peak at website modernization progress appeared first on FedScoop.
Fed needs to be proactive on cyber risks from AI models, nominee says
In his Senate confirmation hearing, Kevin Warsh said the Federal Reserve should be forward-looking and reform-oriented when it comes to AI models like Anthropic’s Mythos. The post Fed needs to be proactive on cyber risks from AI models, nominee says appeared first on FedScoop.
FAA tech teams to partner with AI vendors on customized ATC software
While the project is currently unfunded, the Department of Transportation unit is already working with three providers. The post FAA tech teams to partner with AI vendors on customized ATC software appeared first on FedScoop.
House Democrats want OPM, OMB to halt plans to collect federal worker health data
A coalition of lawmakers said the Trump administration’s plans to require insurers to hand over federal worker data could put those employees in jeopardy. The post House Democrats want OPM, OMB to halt plans to collect federal worker health data appeared first on FedScoop.
Modernization without compromise: Building trust into every federal service moment
Delivering fast, digital services is no longer enough. Agencies must also ensure accuracy, security and accessibility. The post Modernization without compromise: Building trust into every federal service moment appeared first on FedScoop.
Revealing the hidden risk in federal cloud modernization
Securing OT in hybrid environments poses a serious challenge to federal agencies. The post Revealing the hidden risk in federal cloud modernization appeared first on FedScoop.
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