AI, audits and OSINT featured in House intel bill

By: Justin Doubleday

22 July 2026 at 19:05

The House intel bill would establish an IC chief AI officer, illuminate how agencies fund open-source intelligence, give the IC IG new authorities and more.

INTELLIGENCE_06 OSINT open source intelligence

Space Force doesn’t know how many personnel it needs, watchdog finds

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By: Anastasia Obis

22 July 2026 at 18:36

GAO found that the service hasn't established a process to accurately determine its personnel needs and doesn't have a workforce plan to guide future growth.

U.S. Space Force flag against a blue sky and white cloud background

The government needs to do more to measure agency performance

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By: Terry Gerton

22 July 2026 at 14:12

"Going two years without a review would be like flying blind without having the information that's key to how the agency is performing," said Lori Atkinson.

Government Accountability Office sign in front of the agency headquarters building in Washington, D.C. (Image source: Government Accountability Office)

Iran war operational costs climb over $37 billion

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By: Michele Sandiford

22 July 2026 at 13:51

The new estimate includes the cost of the war to date as well as expenses like meal pay that are anticipated through the end of the fiscal year.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

As agencies rethink cybersecurity requirements, how will they manage AI risks?

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By: Terry Gerton

21 July 2026 at 15:17

"GSA seems very receptive to additional feedback to refine the clause before they finalize it," said Dan Ramish.

Hand interacting with virtual AI assistant on laptop keyboard. Concept of artificial intelligence in data analysis, automation, machine learning, and digital transformation.

House passes bill expanding whistleblower protections

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By: Michele Sandiford

21 July 2026 at 13:13

The bill forbids federal officials from asking a contractor to retaliate against someone else. A companion bill passed the Senate in May.

Whistleblower law book and gavel in a court.

As Congress sprints to August recess, major decisions await

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By: Terry Gerton

20 July 2026 at 15:01

"The defense funding picture and policy picture has been pretty complicated," said Loren Duggan.

Senate seeks to audit TRICARE pharmacy benefits program amid conflict concerns

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By: Anastasia Obis

16 July 2026 at 18:49

Express Scripts, the contractor that manages the TRICARE pharmacy program, also operates its own mail-order pharmacies that participate in the network.

Laid-off federal employees spotlight lasting impacts of State Dept RIF

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By: Drew Friedman

16 July 2026 at 18:29

Marking one year since a major State Department RIF, former federal employees warned the loss of expertise has harmed national security and global stability.

Pentagon eyes end to PDFs for budget transfers

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By: Rachel Cohen

16 July 2026 at 18:20

The Pentagon is testing a digital funding system to replace PDF-based budget transfers, aiming to cut disbursement times from months to as little as two weeks.

International Team of Military Personnel Have Meeting in Top Secret Facility, Female Leader Holds Laptop Computer Talks with Male Specialist. People in Uniform on Strategic Army Meeting

Can the Pentagon’s contracting system keep pace with the demands of today’s battlefield?

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By: Terry Gerton

16 July 2026 at 12:53

"I encourage policy folks to start talking speed and to drop the term reform," said Stephanie Halcrow.

Boeing displayed models of some of its military aircraft at the 2014 Association of the Army Expo in Washington, D.C.<br><br><i>(Photo by Shefali Kapadia/Federal News Radio)</i>

SDA resumes satellite launches after months-long pause

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By: Anastasia Obis

15 July 2026 at 16:12

“We did see software and hardware issues on the ones on orbit right now. That's why we delayed and took a pause,” Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo said.

Before policymakers can improve border security, they need confidence in how they’re measuring it

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By: Terry Gerton

15 July 2026 at 14:47

"We've recommended that DHS develop and implement a process to systematically review the reliability of data," said Heather MacLeod.

FILE - A Border Patrol agent checks a migrant seeking asylum before the man is transported and processed, Wednesday, June 5, 2024, near Dulzura, Calif. President Joe Biden has suspended asylum processing at the U.S. border under a new policy unveiled this week. But the proclamation has an exception for “operational considerations.” The Homeland Security Department said in a detailed document outlining the ban that “demographics and nationalities encountered at the border significantly impact” its ability to deport people.(AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

Democrats demand transparency from White House on Schedule Policy/Career

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By: Drew Friedman

15 July 2026 at 13:24

A letter sent to the White House pushes for details on Schedule Policy/Career and if there are plans to expand the list of those stripped of their protections.

Democratic candidate James Walkinshaw, who is running for the empty 11th congressional seat in Virginia, talks with reporters following a news conference, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 in Fairfax, Va. Walkinshaw will face Republican Stewart Whitson in a special election on Sept. 9 to fill Rep. Gerry Connolly's congressional seat in Fairfax County (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Senate bill would codify language accessibility standards targeted by Trump

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By: Justin Doubleday

15 July 2026 at 12:01

The bill would reinstate governmentwide language accessibility requirements, after Trump declared English as the "official" language of the United States.

FILE - In this July 17, 2020 file photo, Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., speaks during a House Small Business Committee hearing on oversight of the Small Business Administration and Department of Treasury pandemic programs on Capitol Hill in Washington. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has decided to endorse 23 freshmen House Democrats in this fall’s elections. The move represents a gesture of bipartisanship by the nation's largest business organization, which has long leaned strongly toward Republicans. (Erin Scott/Pool via AP)

Pentagon seeks to shift billions to cover rising personnel costs

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By: Anastasia Obis

14 July 2026 at 18:48

DoD is asking Congress to shift money away from a range of procurement programs to cover increased military personnel costs.

Congress has a lot on its agenda and a short window of time

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By: Terry Gerton

13 July 2026 at 13:38

"It's kind of surprising that the NDAA is stuck in suspended animation right now," said Mitchell Miller.

The U.S. Capitol, center, is seen with the Supreme Court of the United States, left, and the Library of Congress, right, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

House report details how DHS used FEMA to bolster immigration crackdown

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By: Justin Doubleday

10 July 2026 at 17:30

The House Dems' report argues the deployments threaten public trust in FEMA and further weaken an agency already flagging from thousands of staff cuts.

FILE - The Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters is photographed in Washington, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

DoD class deviation leaves contractors with more questions than answers

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By: Anastasia Obis

10 July 2026 at 17:27

“It's not entirely clear what the rulemakers were intending here,” Tracye Howard said.

Pentagon, defense spending, budget, money

Federal agencies are being asked to move faster, but they need a good business forecast

All News – Federal News Network

By: Terry Gerton

9 July 2026 at 13:23

"The issue is, and it always is with Congress, the devil is in the details and making sure that the priorities align to provide that service," said Jim Carroll.

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