Welcome to the Fed Mission Success News Round Up brought to you by Makpar. Each week, we will provide a summary of actionable news and insights to help aid in overall mission success for Federal agency IT decision-makers and influencers.
How Agency IT Operations Will Play Out During the Shutdown
Two dozen civilian Chief Financial Officer Act agencies found that some agencies explicitly outlined plans to scale back IT operations amid the shutdown, while others deemed several IT staff members essential for managing technology and cybersecurity infrastructure, according to FedScoop.
Shutdown Leaves Cyber Info Sharing in Legal Limbo, Experts Warn
The government shutdown and Congress’s failure to reauthorize the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA 15) have put cyber defenses at risk, cybersecurity experts are warning, saying the pressure is now on state and local governments and industry members, according to MeriTalk.
Bipartisan Senate Bill Would Establish Path for AI Harm Lawsuits
A bipartisan pair of U.S. senators introduced legislation that would make it easier to sue AI system developers when their products cause harm, in an effort to incentivize safety in the growing technology, according to FedScoop.
Hackers Used a Fake Congressional Email to Breach Federal Systems and Exploit Trust
Hackers recently impersonated Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) in a phishing email aimed at federal systems, and the attack exposed how emotional manipulation and outdated protections continue to undermine cybersecurity, according to Federal News Network.
Trump Directs $50M to AI-Driven Childhood Cancer Research
Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing $50 million toward artificial intelligence-powered research for pediatric cancer and directs the Make America Healthy Again Commission to work with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to apply AI to the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI), according to MeriTalk.
VA AI Strategy Says Early Use Cases Will Inform Adoption in New HER
Early uses of artificial intelligence tools across the Department of Veterans Affairs will help officials determine which capabilities should be added to its new electronic health record system, VA outlined in its updated AI strategy, according to NextGov.
