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.
Senate Passes FY26 Defense Policy Bill
Last week, the Senate today passed the fiscal year (FY) 2026 defense authorization bill, which authorizes $900.6 billion in defense spending, about $8 billion more than the White House requested, according to MeriTalk.
OPM Launches Tech Force to Recruit Technologists to Government
The Trump administration launched a new governmentwide hiring program called Tech Force that is aimed at filling technology hiring gaps in federal agencies with workers who will serve in two-year stints, according to FedScoop.
FAA Head Details Air Traffic Control Modernization Progress, Next Steps
With modernization efforts ramping up at the Transportation Department’s Federal Aviation Administration, leaders have a sharpened focus on efficiency, safety and accountability, Administrator Bryan Bedford told Congress last week, according to FedScoop.
House Passes Measure to Help Reduce Federal Software Spending
Last week, House lawmakers passed bipartisan legislation that aims to push the federal government to enhance oversight of its software licensing agreements to reduce waste and save money on duplicative purchases, according to NextGov.
Industry Calls for US Leadership in AI as a Democratic Imperative
Leading technology companies — including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Amazon Web Services — are hoping that a future artificial intelligence exports program can play a role in leveraging the U.S. AI stack to promote democratic usage of the technology, according to NextGov.
NIST Releases Fresh Draft for Security Checklist Users, Developers
NIST has released an initial public draft for Rev 5 of the agency’s National Checklist Program (NCP) that facilitates the generation of security checklists, according to MeriTalk.
