Federal IT Leaders to Agencies: Collaborate, Use AI to Rethink Workflows

by  K. Sophie Will

Tech leaders from across agencies and industry said the government must work together to use AI to fix broken systems, not just use it as a band-aid.

Summary

At the GSA-hosted Federal Emerging Technology Showcase at the Interior Department, over 1,400 attendees heard federal and industry leaders stress that AI adoption requires reengineering processes, not just automating existing ones. GSA's Chris Grigsby said the goal is questioning outdated workflows rather than automating for its own sake, while federal CIO Greg Barbaccia called for unified models and tools across agencies. OPM's Adam Starr described an “AI Catalyst Program” pairing engineers with teams to rethink work and reduce adoption barriers.

Speakers also addressed access and certification hurdles — including FedRAMP's shift to ongoing certification and VA's move to waive it for some bids. OpenAI's Felipe Millon said employees must use AI to understand it, while IBM's Jonathan Entwistle predicted the next phase will focus on context-building software beyond today's AI agents.

 Read full story at FedSc

Lack of FISA Reform Lets Federal Govt Surveil 'Entire Communities' With AI

by  By Trese Beoudreaux |

As Congress plans to reauthorize a major government surveillance authority, privacy advocates say that failing to enact reforms would allow the federal government to spy on Americans at an unprecedented scale with artificial intelligence.

Summary

Privacy advocates warn that Congress's pending reauthorization of FISA Section 702, due by March 2027, could enable unprecedented AI-powered surveillance of Americans. The law permits warrantless surveillance of foreign targets but routinely sweeps up U.S. citizens' communications, storing data up to five years.

Don Bell of the Project On Government Oversight said AI could let agencies build detailed profiles using data purchased from brokers, bypassing warrants through a “data broker loophole.” Bell's organization built an AI model that generated detailed dossiers — including addresses, employers, and finances — within seconds using commercial data.

Bell called for closing the loophole, warning that unchecked AI surveillance could eliminate privacy at scale. Congress remains divided, having rejected a clean extension amid bipartisan privacy concerns.

 Read full story at The Center Square

Lawmakers Propose Giving 2015 OPM Breach Victims Identity Protection for Life

by  David DiMolfetta

The federal governments' coverage for 22.1 million people hoovered up in the China-linked breaches is scheduled to end Sept. 30, 2026

Summary

New legislation proposes providing lifetime identity protection for victims of the 2015 Office of Personnel Management (OPM) breaches.

The bill, introduced by Senators Mark Warner and Eleanor Holmes Norton, aims to replace the current 10-year coverage limit with lifetime protection, addressing the ongoing risk of data exploitation. It also allows agencies to reimburse employees and contractors for privacy tools and services.

 Read full story at NextGov

Copilot Worm Can Spread Through Microsoft Word Docs

by  Evan Schuman

Although there are a few ways to mitigate the risk, the only way to block it is to get AI to differentiate instructions from data, which is impossible today.

Summary

Norwegian researcher Håkon Måløy disclosed an “AI worm” that spreads through Word documents via Microsoft Copilot. Hidden instructions embedded in a source document can alter figures when Copilot generates or edits new documents, then copy themselves into that output, turning it into a carrier for future attacks. Microsoft confirmed the findings and said it has deployed mitigations, though experts note the core vulnerability remains unresolved. Security analysts called it dangerous because it bypasses traditional defenses like DLP and endpoint protection, since no malicious code executes — only AI-followed instructions.

Experts largely agree the root problem is generative AI's difficulty distinguishing data from instructions, comparing it to early SQL injection flaws. Suggested mitigations include restricting Copilot's auto-discovery of documents, requiring human review of AI-generated changes, and tracking content provenance, though some argue a full fix requires industry-wide architectural agreement.

 Read full story at Computerworld

How Volunteer Cyber Experts Are Helping Protect Rural Water Systems

by  Eric Geller

A first-in-the-nation program is yielding promising results as it charts a path for supporting the U.S.'s most vulnerable infrastructure.

Summary

DEF CON Franklin, a volunteer program launched in 2024, connects cybersecurity experts with small, rural water utilities to enhance their cyber defenses. The program, a collaboration between DEF CON, the University of Chicago, and the National Rural

Water Association, has deployed 27 volunteers to 21 utilities, providing guidance on cybersecurity best practices and helping to map networks. While the program has yielded valuable insights and improved security for participating utilities, its limited scale and the challenges faced by small, underfunded utilities remain significant obstacles.

 Read full story at Cybersecurity Dive

OpenAI Says Apple's Trade Secrets Lawsuit Is “Aggressive and Oddly Personal”

by 

“We do not have, nor want, any of their trade secrets,” the ChatGPT maker says.

Summary

OpenAI accused Apple of filing a c“areless, aggressive and oddly personal lawsuit” claiming the AI start-up stole trade secrets.

OpenAI denies the allegations, stating they do not possess or desire Apple's trade secrets and accusing Apple of making vague accusations and changing their narrative. The dispute stems from OpenAI's expansion into consumer products and Apple's partnership with Google to revamp Siri.

 Read full story at arsTechnica

$700M Microgrid Bill Has State Energy Office, Electrical Manufacturer Support

by  Robert Woltan

The bill would make microgrids and distributed energy resources eligible for state energy program grants and establish state-run grid resilience programs.

Summary

The STRONG GRID Act, introduced by Sen. Peter Welch, aims to boost microgrid adoption with a $200 million DOE pilot program and $500 million in state grants.

The bill, supported by the National Association of State Energy Officials and the GridWise Alliance, seeks to make microgrids eligible for state energy program grants and establish state-run grid resilience programs. It focuses on leveraging microgrids for grid modernization, reliability, and supporting growing energy demands.

 Read full story at Utility Dive

Clean Power Alliance Approves 200 MW Solar and Battery Storage Agreement

by  CPA Press Release

Clean Power Alliance Approves 200 MW Solar and Battery Storage Agreement Tulare County Project Will Provide Long-Term Price Stability, Grid Reliability, Local Jobs and Community Benefits Los Angeles, Calif

Summary

Clean Power Alliance has approved a 20-year power purchase agreement with Avantus for the Rexford 2 solar and battery storage project in Tulare County, expected to begin operations by May 1, 2029. The project will deliver 200 megawatts of solar generation and 200 MW/800 MWh of battery storage, providing fixed pricing with no escalation over the contract term. CPA VP Lindsay Descagnia said the deal protects customers from market volatility while supporting jobs in a disadvantaged area. Avantus already supplies CPA through the neighboring Rexford 1 project, online since February 2025.

The solar capacity is expected to power about 84,000 homes annually and avoid 210.2 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Construction will create roughly 500 jobs and 10 permanent positions, with the project having secured key permits and interconnection agreements.

 Read full story at CAL CPA

Georgia Power Breaks Ground on Natural Gas Expansion at Plant Bowen Despite Air Pollution Concerns

by  Alander Rocha

A major natural gas expansion at Georgia Power's Plant Bowen will hurt air quality in the Atlanta region, which is already struggling with ozone pollution, according to environmental groups challenging a state air permit for the project.

Summary

Georgia Power is expanding its Plant Bowen facility with new natural gas turbines and battery storage, despite concerns from environmental groups about worsening air quality in the Atlanta region.

The expansion, supported by a federal loan, aims to meet growing energy demands, particularly from data centers. However, the Southern Environmental Law Center and Sierra Club are challenging the state air permit, arguing it violates federal air standards and will exacerbate health issues like asthma.

 Read full story at News From the States