Lawmakers Sound the Alarm on ICE ‘Ghost Flights’
A coalition of 32 House Democrats sent a letter to FAA Administrator Brian Bedford demanding greater transparency on Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) so‑called “ghost flights,” which transport deportees but are not reflected in public flight‑tracking data. Lawmakers say the Department of Homeland Security has been using the Limited Data (LD) program—intended for private, non‑commercial aircraft—to hide routine government operations. They cite a sharp rise in deportation flights last year and request a detailed report on whether the FAA knows of additional data‑suppression methods. The letter references the Track ICE Act, introduced by Rep. Jasmine Crockett, which would require ICE flight information to be posted within 72 hours of takeoff and bar operators from concealing tracking data. An FAA spokesperson said the agency will respond directly to the members, while ICE declined comment. If enacted, the legislation could force real‑time disclosure, enhancing oversight of immigration enforcement and addressing criticism from advocacy groups that the lack of visibility undermines accountability and public trust.
With Oil Volatility, North Dakota Looks to Stabilize Its IT Funding Model
North Dakota officials are confronting oil‑price volatility as they reevaluate the state’s information‑technology funding model. With crude hovering around $50‑$55 per barrel, policymakers warn that 2027 could mark the first year in a decade requiring budget tightening rather than the surplus‑driven...
How Hyper-Local Air Quality Data Can Drive Action | Bloomberg CityLab 2026
The Bloomberg CityLab panel highlighted how hyper‑local air‑quality monitoring is reshaping urban health policy. Speakers showcased initiatives from Nairobi, Bogotá, and Warsaw, emphasizing sensor networks that deliver real‑time, street‑level data to officials and the public. Nairobi’s governor reported deploying 87...
KPMG’s Will Greer on Evolving Federal Skills for Mission Success
In a Workday Federal Forum interview, KPMG partner Will Greer outlined how federal agencies can leverage artificial intelligence to modernize workforce planning and skill development. Greer broke the process into three pillars—defining the agency’s mission, establishing programs to fulfill that mission,...
Phoenix Area Airspace Public Workshop: Sky Harbor International Airport
The Federal Aviation Administration hosted a virtual public workshop to outline its modernization plan for the Phoenix‑area airspace, focusing on the transition from ground‑based navigation aids to satellite‑based performance‑based navigation (PBN). Regional administrator Raquel Gervin introduced the initiative, emphasizing that...
Library of Congress Weighs AI Tools for Congress and Public
Officials at the Library of Congress told lawmakers they are exploring building AI tools tailored for Congress and the public, emphasizing accuracy, authoritativeness and nonpartisanship. The library said it could design a secure platform to process its vast legislative data...
Urban Flow: Decoding Foot Traffic in NYC
At the MIT Mobility Forum, researchers led by Andres Sevtsuk presented a Nature Cities study, developed with New York DOT data, that builds a pedestrian travel-demand model for NYC using urban network analysis and an open-source Python toolkit. The model...
Digital Health Rewired 2026 Event Highlights
Digital Health Rewired 2026 brought together suppliers, health-system leaders and vendors to showcase new technologies and discuss digital transformation across England. Attendees praised the event as a key networking forum—an opportunity to reconnect with peers, form new partnerships and dive...
The CISA Future Forward Series: Igniting Innovative Capabilities Through Engagement with Industry
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) used its Future Forward Series to unveil a new Industry Engagement Platform, a web‑based portal that connects private‑sector vendors with CISA’s acquisition and technology teams. The platform organizes CISA’s “Technologies of Interest” into four...
Inside OpenAI's Plan to Win over America
The video outlines OpenAI’s strategy to win over the American public by positioning artificial intelligence as a utility that must be governed through democratic processes. Executives argue that AI’s future in the United States depends on convincing everyday citizens that...
Get to Know Nevada Chief Information Security Officer Bertrum "Bert" Carroll
Nevada’s chief information security officer, Bert Carroll, outlines how the state’s post‑breach report drives transparency, shared learning, and future resilience. He stresses that openly discussing failures not only guides internal fixes but also assists other jurisdictions facing similar threats. Carroll describes...
Navy’s Ashley Elizabeth Evans Talks Future-Ready Automation
In a UiPath Fusion public‑sector interview, Deputy Director Ashley Elizabeth Evans outlined the Navy’s roadmap for scaling automation from isolated pilots to enterprise‑wide, mission‑driven solutions. The service has run a six‑year robotic process automation (RPA) program, deploying more than 500 bots...
What Is the Excise Movement Control System (EMCS)?
The Excise Movement Control System (EMCS) is a digital platform that monitors the transport of excise‑subject goods—alcohol, tobacco, fuels and heating oil—across the United Kingdom and the European Union. Since August 2024 it also records duty‑paid movements between Northern Ireland and the...
Policy in Practice: AI Governance W/ Eric Hysen | UC Berkeley Exec Fellowship in Applied Tech Policy
The video features Eric Hysen, a UC Berkeley Executive Fellowship fellow, examining how governments at all levels adopt and govern artificial intelligence. He asks whether public agencies are monitoring, governing, and evaluating AI use responsibly, and presents his research findings. Hysen’s...
Singapore, the MRT and Mobility Reimagined | In Perspective
The Straits Times In Perspective roundtable examined how Singapore’s MRT and broader transport network will evolve as smart technologies become central to mobility. Panelists from the Land Transport Authority, SMRT, NUS and SUTD discussed moving beyond physical infrastructure toward data‑driven,...
Is Texas' Bullet Train Back From the Dead?
The Texas Central high‑speed rail project finally broke ground as crews began razing Houston’s 800,000‑square‑foot Northwest Mall, clearing the site for a proposed terminal that would link Houston and Dallas in under 90 minutes. The plan envisions a 240‑mile, bullet‑train...
Singapore Eyes Global Partnerships to Close AI Gap in Social Sector
Singapore’s Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli announced a drive to forge global AI partnerships aimed at closing the technology gap in the social sector. Speaking after a five‑day visit to Switzerland and the St. Gallen Symposium, he positioned...
NYC's Port Authority Tests Manhattan to Brooklyn Drone Delivery
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has launched a pilot program testing drone deliveries from Manhattan to Brooklyn, marking one of the first large‑scale attempts to integrate aerial logistics into a dense urban environment. The trial uses lightweight quad‑copter...
Modernizing Pennsylvania IT by Focusing on Service Delivery
The video outlines Pennsylvania’s effort to modernize its information technology by shifting focus from legacy systems to service‑delivery outcomes. Officials argue that true modernization begins with redefining how the state designs and delivers digital services rather than merely upgrading hardware...
CISA Warns of ‘Weeks to Months’ of Critical Infrastructure Isolation Amid Conflicts
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced a new initiative, CI Fortify, urging owners of critical infrastructure to develop plans that allow essential services to continue for weeks to months while isolated from corporate IT networks and third‑party vendors. The...
Arizona Just Revealed the REAL Concern With AI #shorts #GovTech #AI #news #cybersecurity
The week’s GovTech roundup highlighted three intersecting themes: a massive federal investment in cyber defenses, a human‑first approach to AI adoption in state government, and a pioneering data‑readiness strategy in Arizona. Washington’s new Homeland Security funding bill earmarks roughly $2.6 billion...
Digital Identity: Core Infrastructure for the Digital Age
The video argues that a state‑endorsed digital identity system is the foundational infrastructure needed for trustworthy online interactions in the digital age. By leveraging cryptographic credentials, the system can confirm both the issuer of a credential and the holder, creating...
Govt Committed to Balancing Security and Passenger Flow at RTS Link
The government announced that the RTS Link, a major land‑border gateway, is about 90% physically complete and is now shifting focus to operational readiness. Officials emphasized that the project must balance swift passenger flow with robust security measures. To achieve this,...
How Data Helps Cities Make Better Decisions
The video outlines how municipal leaders are turning raw data into concrete policy actions, highlighting the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities certification as a catalyst for data‑driven governance across the Americas. What Works Cities, administered by Results for America, sets benchmarks...
Patel Describes Implementation of Artificial Intelligence Across FBI
The video features FBI official Patel outlining how artificial intelligence has moved from a theoretical concept to a core operational tool across the bureau. He details AI‑driven fingerprint matching in the Criminal Justice Information System, instant warrant generation, and the deployment...
Arizona Takes ‘First-in-Nation’ Approach to Data Readiness
Arizona is pioneering a statewide data readiness initiative, the first of its kind in the United States, to lay the groundwork for artificial‑intelligence projects. The state has adopted the Data Management (DAM) framework, which lets each agency benchmark its data capabilities,...
2026 Goldsmith Explanatory Prize Winner: Power Struggle
The Goldsmith Explanatory Prize‑winning series “Power Struggle” examines why Texas, a state without any renewable‑energy mandates, has built far more wind and solar capacity than the supposedly progressive Pacific Northwest. The reporting shows that Washington and Oregon, both legislated to reach...
Producing Clean Water for Saipan After Typhoon Sinlaku
Master Sergeant Klein led a joint FEMA‑Department of War effort to restore drinking water on Saipan after Typhoon Sinlaku. Eleven members of the 554 Red Horse team deployed a reverse‑osmosis purification unit, pulling seawater through a series of pumps, stripping...
Get to Know Texas CIO and DIR Executive Director Tony Sauerhoff
Tony Sauerhoff, the newly appointed CIO and Executive Director of Texas’ Department of Information Resources (DIR), discusses his 33‑year IT career—from the Air Force to private‑sector integrators and federal agencies—and his four‑year tenure leading state IT. He frames his leadership around...
Five Years. Set to Public. Now Required at the Border.
The Customs and Border Protection agency has issued a proposed rule that would require every foreign national entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program to surrender five years of social‑media handles, phone numbers, email addresses, biometric data and...
Guidehouse’s Ed Meehan on Modern HR Systems for Mission Readiness
In a Workday Federal Forum interview, Guidehouse chief growth officer Ed Meehan outlined how federal agencies must modernize HR systems to achieve mission‑ready, AI‑enabled workforces. Meehan said agencies are hampered by fragmented workforce data and legacy platforms, creating an AI readiness...
Hangzhou’s ‘Robocops’ Direct Tourist Traffic
Hangzhou has introduced autonomous “robocops” – AI‑powered kiosks that direct foot traffic at popular tourist sites. The system integrates facial recognition, crowd‑density sensors, and multilingual voice prompts to steer visitors toward less‑congested attractions, cutting average walking distance by roughly 15% in...
Disclosed Government AI Use Increased by 70% in 2025
The Office of Management and Budget released its 2025 AI inventory, showing a 70% jump to roughly 3,600 disclosed use cases across federal agencies. The tally, posted on GitHub, reflects the Trump administration’s drive to embed artificial‑intelligence tools for efficiency. The...
USDA Data Modernization, SDRP and Specialty Crop Aid Updates
The USDA announced a series of updates affecting disaster relief, specialty‑crop assistance, and its long‑awaited data‑modernization effort. Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Ford Ice detailed a 35% top‑up to the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, effectively raising producer payments...
DOGE Duo Ducked Security Rules During Treasury Stint, GAO Finds
The Government Accountability Office released a report exposing serious IT security lapses by two Dogecoin‑affiliated staffers who were temporarily assigned to the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS) during early 2025. The watchdog examined their access to three...
Canada and AI Sovereignty
The event introduced the "Sovereignty by Design" report, a joint effort by Sean Mullet and Jackson Khan that maps Canada’s path toward AI sovereignty. Hosted by the Munk School, the briefing highlighted the urgency expressed by Prime Minister Justin Carney at...
From Ground to Space: Seamless Integration of 5G-NTN
The panel, hosted by Tom Stout of the Satellite Industry Association, examined how 5G and non‑terrestrial networks (NTN) are converging into a single, multi‑domain communications fabric that spans ground, air and space. Panelists highlighted that 3GPP releases 17 through 20 have...
MyDigital ID Forms Backbone of Secure Digital Ecosystem, Says DPM
The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted My Digital ID as the cornerstone of Malaysia’s emerging digital ecosystem, emphasizing its role in securely verifying identities online and enabling seamless access to public and private services. Adoption has surged past 11 million users, with login...
Indiana Rolls Out GenAI for All State Staff — and Leadership
The Indiana state government announced a statewide deployment of Microsoft’s Generative AI platform, Co‑Pilot, extending access to every employee and senior leader. After an eight‑week pilot that involved dozens of agencies, officials reviewed data‑access patterns and uncovered unexpected risks. Over the...
Mexico Finishing Significant Airport Renovations as World Cup Approaches. #WorldCup #BBCNews
The video reports that Mexico City’s primary international airport is in the final stages of a $420 million overhaul ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Planners aim to resolve chronic infrastructure failures—cracked ceilings, leaking roofs, exposed wiring, and overcrowded migration and...
Advancing Real-Time Clinical Trials
The FDA announced a landmark initiative: the first ever real‑time clinical trial, where regulators can monitor safety signals and efficacy endpoints instantly via a cloud‑based dashboard. Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary framed the effort as a response to the growing "dead...
How Does AI Accelerate IT Modernization?
The video explains how artificial intelligence is becoming the engine behind comprehensive IT modernization, extending beyond mere legacy system upgrades to encompass customer experience, business‑process redesign, data analytics, and system integration. Speakers highlight that AI can automatically extract business rules from...
Digital Health Unplugged: The Forgotten Patients
The report examines the UK’s NHS ten‑year health plan, which pivots from analog to digital services, and asks whether the shift will widen existing health inequities. Experts cite that 30% of pensioners are offline and another 40% struggle with online consultations....
🗞️ Australia Launches Free National Telehealth Service for People Living with Hepatitis C
Australia’s health ministry has rolled out Heplink, a free, nationwide telehealth platform that lets people with hepatitis C receive testing, diagnosis and treatment without a referral. The service is available to anyone with internet access, regardless of location, and is managed...
An AI 'Magic Moment' Accelerates IT Development in Utah
A Utah‑based technology firm recently completed a pilot using Anthropic’s Claude code‑assist tool, aiming to gauge its impact on software development speed and quality. The trial showed that within the first hour, 77 % of developers experienced a “magic moment,” describing the...
SecTor 2025 | AI, Deepfakes, and the Next Evolution of Digital Identity Verification
The SecTor 2025 session focused on the emerging threat of AI‑generated synthetic identities and deepfakes, arguing that the next security frontier is proving a user is truly human rather than merely confirming a name. Speakers illustrated how fraud rings, hostile...
Why You Shouldn't Trust the Pentagon's Promise on AI
The video warns that the Pentagon’s pledge not to employ artificial‑intelligence models for mass surveillance is unreliable. It highlights how existing statutes provide no Fourth Amendment shield for data shared with banks, ISPs, carriers or email providers, allowing the government...
“Tremendous Change” For Colorado’s IT Department
The Colorado Office of Information Technology announced a sweeping reorganization, dissolving its technology, data, and chief operating officer offices. The agency consolidated its workforce into two core groups—Digital and Delivery, and Security and Infrastructure. The Digital and Delivery team will operate...
🗞️ INDUSTRY NEWS: NSW Health Unveils AI Governance Framework for Public Hospitals
NSW Health introduced an AI governance framework for its public hospital network, aiming to standardize artificial‑intelligence use across the state. The framework adopts a risk‑based methodology and outlines seven priority domains—consumer protection, workforce development, privacy and security, governance and regulation, safety,...
What You Missed at #STACKxCybersecurity2026 | Event Highlights
The STACKx Cybersecurity 2026 summit brought together leaders from government, industry and academia to map the expanding attack surface and the role of artificial intelligence in modern defense. Speakers emphasized that collaboration is the only viable path to outpace sophisticated threat...