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. 

Lawmakers Propose Requiring Agencies, Major Firms to Report AI’s Job Impact

A new bill from Sens. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., would direct covered entities to provide quarterly reports to the Labor Department detailing layoffs and workforce displacements caused by uses of AI, according to NextGov.

Direct File Won’t Happen in 2026, IRS Tells States

The IRS has notified states that offered the free, government tax filing service known as Direct File in 2025 that the program won’t be available next filing season in a recent email, according to NextGov.

US Government Grapples with Questions About Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Amid Shutdown

Notwithstanding major disruptions from the U.S. government shutdown, federal personnel are monitoring the rare interstellar comet known as 3I/ATLAS as it moves through the solar system, multiple officials told DefenseScoop last week.

Experts See Promise, Risk in Pentagon’s Draft Acquisition Reforms

Some experts see promise in the sweeping acquisition reforms prescribed by a draft Pentagon memo that is circulating ahead of the defense secretary’s planned speech on the topic, but others see risk, according to NextGov.

DHS Proposes Sweeping Expansion of Biometric Data Collection

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wants to collect biometric data from everyone involved in an immigration or visa process, including U.S. citizens and children under the age of 14, under a new rule proposed, according to MeriTalk.   

VA Wants Industry Feedback on Possible Expansion of Cloud Environment

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is asking technology vendors for input on whether to expand its enterprise cloud environment beyond its current two providers, according to MeriTalk.