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.
Congress Unveils $180B ‘Minibus’ Funding Deal
Last week, Congressional appropriators released a bipartisan, bicameral $180 billion funding package to finance key federal agencies for FY 2026, taking a major step toward averting a partial government shutdown later this month, according to MeriTalk.
Lawmakers Boost Funding for NIST After Proposed Cuts
Congressional appropriators are looking to maintain, and in some cases increase, the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s work in areas like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum research, according to Federal News Network.
FAA Awards Contracts to Overhaul Radar Systems by 2028
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded contracts to two companies to overhaul the nation’s 40-year-old radar systems as part of its efforts to modernize the U.S. air traffic control (ATC) system, according to MeriTalk.
DoD Seeks AI Tools for Zero Trust Reviews
The Pentagon is seeking ideas on how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning could be used to accelerate and scale zero trust cybersecurity assessments across the Defense Department (DoD), according to MeriTalk.
FEMA Doles Out $250M to 11 States in Counter-Drone Push
The Department of Homeland Security’s plans for counter-drone efforts are coming into focus with the agency’s recent announcement of $250 million in funding allocations for 11 states and Washington, D.C., according to FedScoop.
FDA Issues AI Guidance for Wearables, Decision Support Tools
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is rolling out two new guidance documents aimed at clarifying how the agency will oversee artificial intelligence (AI) in consumer-facing health technologies, according to MeriTalk.
Kirsten Davies Sworn in as Pentagon CIO
Kirsten Davies has been sworn in as the Pentagon’s chief information officer, giving the Defense Department its first permanent IT head during Trump 2.0, according to NextGov.
