The Fed Mission Success Round Up: IRS Makes Direct File Permanent; The GSA’s Path to AI Adoption; and VA Technical Infrastructure on Good Footing
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.
IRS Makes Direct File Permanent
The IRS recently announced that it is making Direct File permanent. The government-backed tool, piloted during the most recent tax season, allowed taxpayers in some states to file directly to the IRS online for free.
The GSA’s Path to AI Adoption
The General Services Administration (GSA) currently has about 150 different AI pilots, and is trying to “keep up with the speed of change” when it comes to AI adoption, according to Robin Carnahan, head of the GSA, in this recent NextGov article.
HHS Launches Online Tool to Identify Communities Hit Hardest by Extreme Heat
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is launching a new tool to help communities prepare for extreme heat and prevent heat-related illness, especially among those most at risk.
EPA Says It’s ‘On Target’ to Complete Process for Cybersecurity Risk Assessment
The EPA said it is “on target” to establish a process to conduct organization-wide cybersecurity risk assessments within the next six months, putting a hard timeline on its long-awaited response to a watchdog report critical of the agency’s cyber posture.
VA’s Technical Infrastructure is ‘On Pretty Good Footing,’ CAIO and CTO Says
Working under the threat of technology-related budget cuts that has elicited concern from both sides of the aisle, the Department of Veterans Affairs has managed to make progress on several tech priorities, the agency’s artificial intelligence chief recently said.
NSF Releases New Framework for Ensuring Security in Scientific Research
Last week, the National Science Foundation released its new framework to assess individual research proposals for potential risks to national security, highlighting the increasing role emerging technology innovation is playing in geopolitical security.