Tag: us government
116 articles
US Wrestles with AI Safety as Models Break Free
As AI models continue to break free from their constraints, experts warn that traditional security measures are no match - even AWS Chief Security Officer Stephen Schmidt has a T-shirt that drives the point home. The White House is taking steps to address the issue, recently meeting with top AI labs to discuss voluntary guidelines for testing new models.
Federal Agencies Ramp Up Citizen Service Delivery With AI, Accountability
Federal agencies are supercharging citizen service delivery with AI and a new accountability approach, tackling fragmented services and multiple touchpoints that can make it hard to get help. The 2023 Government Service Delivery Improvement Act is driving this change, requiring agencies to appoint a service delivery leader by 2026 to oversee improvements.
Senate CR Rebuffs Pentagon Funding Requests
The White House had urged Congress to include a crucial funding exception, warning that without it, the Pentagon would be unable to start preparing for a vital ship construction project. But Senate appropriators surprisingly rejected the plea in their latest continuing resolution.
Trump Misattributes Water Sector Cyberattacks to Minnesota
President Trump sparked confusion by suggesting Minnesota was behind a series of cyberattacks on US water systems, calling the state grossly incompetent. But federal agencies and industry partners have actually attributed the attacks to other culprits - not Minnesota.
Pentagon Tightens Rules on Critical Mineral Waivers
The Pentagon is tightening its rules on critical mineral waivers, following President Trump's executive order aimed at securing America's defense supply chains and prioritizing domestic acquisition of critical materials. This move closes a loophole that previously allowed the Pentagon to bypass restrictions on buying strategic materials from certain countries.
CISA Warns of Targeted Cyberattacks on US Water Utilities
CISA is sounding the alarm: if your water utility's programmable logic controllers are exposed to the internet, you're a prime target for cyberattacks - so take action now and remove them from public exposure to safeguard your operations.
US Quantum Ambitions Hindered by Complex Supply Chain Challenges
The US quantum ambitions are facing a major roadblock: a complex supply chain that's anything but straightforward. It's not just one supply chain, but multiple intertwined ones, making it a challenging puzzle to solve.
Clayton Confirmed as National Intelligence Director
Jay Clayton has been confirmed as the National Intelligence Director, vowing to tackle the tough task of steadying an intelligence community in turmoil, with a clear-eyed focus on the critical link between national security and economic stability. As the new head of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Clayton will oversee the nation's 18 intelligence agencies and serve as President Trump's top intelligence adviser.
US Bans Imported Advanced Robots Citing Security Risks
The US has effectively banned the import of foreign-made advanced robots, citing national security risks, in a bid to safeguard its economy, military, and homeland. This move comes as the government recognizes the crucial role advanced robots will play in shaping America's future.
US Lawmakers Slow Reconciliation Spending Momentum
The House's version of the reconciliation bill is likely to leave the Pentagon with a significantly smaller budget than requested, with less than 20% of the $350 billion sought actually being delivered. This shortfall has sparked skepticism among Senate lawmakers about the bill's chances of advancing.
US Weighs Ukraine Patriot Production Amid Global Demand
Raytheon is kicking off a structured review to produce Patriot interceptors in Ukraine after the US granted a license, with the company following the US government's lead on the project. The effort is just getting underway, according to Tom Laliberty, Raytheon's president of land and air defense systems.
US Lawmakers Warn of Pentagon Budget Gridlock
US lawmakers are facing a budget gridlock that's putting the Pentagon's funding at risk, with Senator John Kennedy warning that a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill may not be passed anytime soon. Instead, a continuing resolution to maintain current-year funding levels seems more likely.
CISA Warns of Actively Exploited SharePoint Vulnerabilities
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has warned of three SharePoint vulnerabilities, including CVE-2026-32201, CVE-2026-45659, and CVE-2026-56164, that are being actively exploited by attackers. These flaws, affecting on-premises SharePoint Server installations, pose a significant threat, with one remote code execution flaw rated 8.8 in severity.
US County Pays $1M to Cyber Extortionists Amid Data Leak Threat
A US county recently made a shocking decision to pay $1 million to cyber extortionists, despite lacking concrete proof that the hackers had deleted the stolen data, after a month-long negotiation that began with a hefty demand of $3 million. The extortion group, Kairos, had threatened to leak sensitive information, prompting the county to make a counteroffer that was ultimately outweighed by the threat.
US Government Entity Pays $1 Million to Thwart Data Leak
A US government entity was forced to pay a hefty $1 million ransom to prevent a massive data leak, after a group called Kairos threatened to release 1.6 million files unless their demand was met. The payment was the culmination of a month-long negotiation that began with a $3 million opening demand.
Vought Weighs Rebuilding CISA Amid Budget Cuts
The Trump administration's budget office is leaving the door open to bolstering the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, but only if Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin makes a strong case for more staff. OMB Director Russell Vought signaled a willingness to revisit staffing levels, but at a pace and process determined internally.
US Lifts Export Curbs on Anthropic's AI Models with New Safeguards
Big news for AI innovation: the US has lifted export restrictions on Anthropic's cutting-edge AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, after implementing robust safeguards to ensure responsible use. This move paves the way for global collaboration and strengthens America's leadership in AI.
Pentagon Unveils War Force to Lure Top Tech Talent
The Pentagon has launched War Force, a new initiative that connects top engineers with the Department of Defense to tackle complex challenges, building on the success of the Office of Personnel Management's Tech Force program. This move aims to lure the best tech talent to help drive defense missions forward.
OpenAI Unveils GPT-5.6 Sol Cybersecurity Model With Restricted Access
OpenAI has just unveiled GPT-5.6 Sol, its most advanced cybersecurity model yet, and is giving a select group of government-approved partners a sneak peek. This limited preview marks the first release in the GPT-5.6 series, with broader access promised down the line.
US Offers Bounty for Hackers Targeting WhatsApp, Signal Users
The US government is cracking down on hackers targeting WhatsApp and Signal users, offering up to $10 million for information that helps track down those behind the attacks. The move aims to take down Russian-linked hacker groups that have been phishing US officials, military leaders, and allied personnel.
US Secret Service Exposes Agents to Cyber Risk with Lax Mobile Security
The US Secret Service is putting its agents at risk of cyber attacks by allowing them to use personal phones for work, with over 15,000 instances of unsecured calls made during critical operations. This lax mobile security leaves them vulnerable to hackers, despite having access to supposedly secure government-issued devices.
Pentagon Rallies New Defense Firms to Boost Munitions Production
The Pentagon has taken a proactive approach to ramping up munitions production by convening a closed-door meeting with emerging defense firms, including Anduril, Castelion, CoAspire, and Leidos, to discuss accelerating production in response to current global threats. Top defense officials, such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, were in attendance to drive this crucial initiative forward.
US Seeks $67 Billion Defense Boost in $87.6 Billion Supplemental Request
The White House is seeking a massive $87.6 billion supplemental spending boost, with a whopping $67.1 billion dedicated to defense costs related to the war in Iran, in a bid to further secure the region and counter the regime's growing threats. This dramatic increase in defense spending comes on the heels of a major operation that successfully deterred a nuclear-armed Iran and crippled its regional influence.
Sen. Warren Probes Raytheon Exec's Ethics on Space Acquisition Nomination
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is pressing a Raytheon executive to promise strict ethics if he's confirmed to the Air Force's top space procurement office, citing concerns about impartiality due to his past ties to the defense contractor. She wants him to commit to a four-year recusal from matters involving his former employer.