Agreement reached between Google and the Trump administration on AI for federal agencies
Welcome to the AI Newsletter: What’s New in Technology In this edition: Trump’s administration partners with Google to utilize AI across federal agencies. The AI initiative is seen as a safeguard against China’s growing threats. AI’s role in assisting hackers to bypass browser security measures. AI in Washington: The General Services Administration (GSA) shared plans […]
HHS is ending recognition of unions for employees at the CDC, FDA, NIH, and other agencies.
HHS Recognizes Union Representatives, Citing a Focus on Mission-Critical Work On Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it will officially recognize union representatives for multiple sub-agencies and office staff, stating this decision will help eliminate “unnecessary obstacles to mission-critical work.” However, HHS is not extending this recognition to representatives involved […]
Can ICE utilize personal data from other agencies to uphold immigration regulations?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been found to mine personal data from various agencies to locate individuals who could be deported, a practice that has led to 14 lawsuits claiming violations of federal privacy laws. These legal challenges bring to mind the travel ban lawsuits during Trump’s presidency. While Trump may eventually prevail in […]
GSA signs agreement with Google AI for federal agencies
GSA Partners with Google for AI Deployment The General Services Administration (GSA) announced a new agreement on Thursday to integrate Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) cloud services across federal agencies. This initiative aligns with the Trump administration’s “American AI Action Plan.” Under this deal, federal agencies will pay $0.47 per person for access to Google’s AI […]
Defense Department provides civilian workers with volunteer opportunities at ICE and CBP agencies
Volunteers for Homeland Security: A New DOD Initiative The Department of Defense is offering civilian employees a chance to volunteer in homeland security efforts, collaborating closely with ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents as part of the Trump administration’s immigration strategies. Officials from the U.S. defense sector informed that these volunteer roles are […]
Email from Clapper shows agencies worked together on Trump-Russia narrative
Insights on the Russiagate Situation It’s easy to overlook the latest developments in the ongoing Russiagate saga, especially with everything happening lately, like the significant summit involving Russia and the administration’s actions in Washington, D.C. Back in December 2016, just as Donald Trump was stepping into the presidency, Mike Rogers, who was then the Director […]
Several Officers Shot by Virginia Law Enforcement Agencies
Shooting Incident in Virginia Claims Lives of Law Enforcement Officials A tragic incident unfolded in southern Virginia on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of several law enforcement officers, as reported by Virginia Rep. John McGuire. The shooting occurred in Gretna, Virginia, where at least three officers are said to be facing life-threatening injuries. While McGuire […]
Awards Should Be Given Only to Top Performers, Agencies Advised
Changes to Federal Employee Performance Evaluations According to OPM, the aim is to ensure that only top performers receive appropriate rewards, both financially and otherwise. However, the recent updates to the performance rating criteria—reflecting directives from the Trump administration—indicate that fewer employees may achieve high ratings. As stated, agencies must secure both financial and non-monetary […]
Government agencies ordered to remove COVID-19 vaccination records and exemption requests from employee files
Federal Agencies Directed to Erase COVID-19 Vaccination Records The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced new guidance instructing all federal agencies to delete records related to employees’ COVID-19 vaccination statuses, alongside any records of prior violations of the mandate or requests for exemptions. This guidance was shared in memos on Friday across all […]
Trump administration orders federal agencies to remove employee COVID vaccination records
The Trump administration announced on Friday that all federal agencies must remove records concerning workers’ COVID-19 vaccination status, any violations related to pandemic protocols, and requests for vaccine exemptions. This decision, made by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is part of a broader initiative to undo policies considered detrimental from the pandemic era, which […]