The Fed Mission Success Round Up: DHS Reveals New AI Use Cases; NSF Funding for Quantum Research; and SBA Celebrates Seventy Years

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.  

Homeland Security Reveals New AI Use Cases  

The Department of Homeland Security recently updated a list of AI use cases to add a slew of new forms of the automated technology, which include facial recognition and “proof of life” to stop fraud within an app created by the agency.  

‘Legacy Mindset' a Key Obstacle to Effective Data Governance, Energy Official Says 

The new chief data officer for the Department of Energy recently said that "a legacy mindset towards data control" is one of the biggest obstacles preventing federal agencies from advancing enterprise data and analytics programs and developing comprehensive data sets. 

National Science Foundation Invests $38 Million in Quantum Research 

The National Science Foundation has allocated $38 million in fresh funding for research into quantum information science and engineering through 22 separate grants. 

The FCC Strengthens Approach to Data Privacy and Security 

The Federal Communications Commission has established a task force to deal with privacy and data protection, noting what it calls the era of always-on connectivity, according to Loyaan Egal, Chief of the FCC’s enforcement bureau. 

DoD Previews On-Ramp For $48B Tech Research Contract 

The Defense Department has started to give industry some expectations and pointers on how it plans to conduct the on-ramp for a $48 billion technology research-and-development services contract vehicle. 

The SBA at 70: Celebrating the Big Impact of Small Businesses 

The federal agency that helps deliver the American dream of business ownership to more Americans has turned 70 – and this agency has advanced American innovation, competition and economic growth. 

NASA Appoints David Salvagnini as Chief Data Officer 

NASA has appointed David Salvagnini as chief data officer, taking up the role on June 4, following the retirement of preceding CDO Ron Thompson last year. 

New CISA Guidance Looks to Guard Against Supply Chain Hacks 

Last week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released its first remote monitoring and management software guidance document, part of the agency’s larger Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative initiative. 

OMB Acknowledges Issues with Process for Inventorying AI Use Cases 

The Office of Management and Budget has shared additional information about how agencies should comply with Executive Order 13960, a set of Trump administration rules established in 2020 that aim to guide the responsible deployment of AI across government. 

 National Intelligence Strategy Calls for New Partnerships to Harness Emerging Technologies 

Released on August 9th, the National Intelligence Strategy calls for fostering new partnerships and tapping external perspectives to better identify critical emerging technologies and maintain strategic competitiveness against foreign adversaries. 

IRS to Rebuild its Workforce and Update its Legacy IT Over Next Decade 

The IRS plans on putting tens of billions of dollars of multi-year modernization funds to good use, and using the funds to rebuild its workforce and update its legacy IT over the next decade, according to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. 

 HHS’s Artificial Intelligence Use Cases More Than Triple from Previous Year 

The Department of Health and Human Services’ publicly reported artificial intelligence footprint nearly tripled from the previous year, adding new current and planned uses to its AI inventory like classification of HIV grants and removal of personally identifiable information from data. 

National Archives Will Make its AI Use Case Inventory Public 

The National Archives, the federal agency responsible for maintaining government records, plans to release an inventory of its artificial intelligence use cases on AI.gov in the near future.  

Air Force Taps Enterprise IT Director as New CIO 

Air Force Enterprise IT director Venice Goodwine has been named the new CIO for the Air Force.