Building the Workforce to Build AI in Government

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Implementing artificial intelligence (AI) is a focus of agencies across government. Quickly moving from pilot projects to use in mission-facing work, the technology is ready, but the workforce may not be. The success of AI in the public sector depends on people--a workforce that understands how to apply AI responsibly, govern it effectively, and integrate it into mission-critical work. As agencies confront talent shortages, evolving skill requirements, and growing competition from the private sector, building that workforce has become one of the most urgent challenges facing government leaders.

In this post, we'll take a look at three ideas for developing the workforce required to build, and responsibly use, AI at scale. Continue reading →

SNOw Way! Fun Facts About the Winter Olympics

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In this post, we're taking a break from our focus on events for our government to look at an event that involves many governments--the Olympics. The 2026 Winter Olympics kick off in Italy on February 6.

These games mark the first time two cities have officially hosted. Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo are the named hosts, with events spread across Northern Italy. Continue reading →

Government-Wide Technology Funding and Measurement in Flux

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For more than a decade, the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) and the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) have served as twin pillars of accountability and investment. Together, they helped move federal IT away from fragmented decision-making and aging systems toward a more strategic, enterprise-focused approach.

However, both programs are in a sort of holding pattern while Congress decides on 2026 funding, and while it re-examines how best to measure the agency IT modernization process against the quickly evolving tech environment and ongoing changes in the current administration's goals. Continue reading →

Exploring the State of State and Local Cyber Resources

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State and local organizations are highly targeted by cyber criminals due to the value of the data they hold and the criticality of the systems they operate. In 2024, there were over 40,000 potential cyber attacks targeting state, local, and tribal governments. Despite this very real threat, these same organizations are largely underfunded and understaffed when it comes to cyber protection.

The federal government has looked to fill this gap between risk and preparedness. The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) was established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, providing (when combined with the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program) $1 billion in funding available over four years for state, local, tribal, and territorial cybersecurity efforts. This program ended at the close of the 2025 government fiscal year but received a short-term extension under the stopgap funding agreement that reopened the government in November 2025. Continue reading →

Acquisition Impacts of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

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The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President. It authorizes $900 billion in spending and includes significant reforms to the acquisition process, impacting how that money is spent.

Provisions in the NDAA that impact acquisition include: Continue reading →