The GovBrief

The Trump Administration has released an early outline of its FY 2026 budget request, but only as a so-called "skinny budget", lacking all the details and appendices that normally accompany the White House's submission to the Congress. One of those appendices is the Analytical Perspectives volume in which we'd expect to find a statement of the President's Management Agenda, with goals and initiatives for governmental technologies and reforms. OMB will be in the forefront of this transformation, guiding the application of AI technologies to achieve savings and streamline government.

AI has the potential to transform the way citizens interact with the government and the way agencies deliver services to citizens. In previous episodes in this series we have heard from a number of Executive Branch leaders on the promises and potential risks of AI and how it's starting to transform government -- internal processes, service delivery, cybersecurity, and so on. Today, we turn our attention to the branch of government at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue and hear from Congressman Don Beyer, the Representative from Virginia's 8th congressional district. He's served in that position since 2015. The district is in the heart of Northern Virginia and includes Alexandria, Falls Church and Arlington. Let's see how some Congressional leaders are viewing AI and their early thinking about its potential.

The 2024 elections concluded smoothly, but what lessons did we learn about AI’s impact on election security? A distinguished panel—including John Gilligan of the Center for Internet Security, John Cohen of DHS, and Marci Andino, former State Election Director for South Carolina—explores the role of AI in identifying threats, managing misinformation, and supporting electoral integrity.

HPod hits the road, coming to you from AFCEA's TechNet Cyber event in Baltimore, Md., this time featuring three experts from HP Federal: Justin Hancock and Jeff Smith, both in advanced compute solutions, and Kristin Hempstead, advanced compute solutions strategy manager. They explore a complex balancing act — how federal agencies can securely harness AI and edge computing to meet the mission without exposing their operations or their infrastructures to new supply chain risks.

April 30 marked the 100th day of President Trump’s second term — a key milestone for gauging an administration’s early success. This period offers a first look at the President’s policy priorities and sets the tone for the next four years across the federal landscape.

So, what’s changed — and what’s coming next in this new era of government?

GovExecTV and top political experts break down the most significant policy shifts, workforce changes, and agency shake-ups since President Trump’s return to the White House. From hiring freezes to structural overhauls, we’ll explore what these early moves signal — and what federal leaders should be watching now to stay ahead.

Artificial intelligence and high-performance computing are evolving together, turning what was once impossible into reality. In the second episode of HPod, Matt Barry, chief operating officer at HP Federal, shares how government agencies can harness the power of these two swiftly advancing technologies while protecting and reinforcing government systems, data and supply chains.

As our world becomes more complex — and more digital — the supply chain is growing. While this is great news for innovation and development, it's also creating new targets for cyberattack. In this first episode of HPod, Tommy Gardner, chief technology officer at HP Federal and avid Nationals fan, delves into the intersection of supply chain, innovation and security — with a few baseball metaphors for good measure.

In the third and final episode of the Beyond Borders: The future of zero trust in government podcast series, experts from industry and government discuss the U.S. military and Defense Department's commitment to fully implement zero trust by 2027.

Jon Morgan, systems engineer for ThunderCat along with David W. McKeown, DOD senior information security officer and deputy CIO for cybersecurity and Brian “Stretch” Meyer, senior director of Axonius Federal Engineering, highlight key challenges DOD faces, as well as its strategies to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks and secure the nation’s digital defenses. The discussion also delves into upcoming trends in cybersecurity and how DOD and civilian federal agencies can future-proof their operations, offering practical insights on adapting security measures in a constantly evolving threat landscape.

AI and cybersecurity are a perfect match, one that has the power to significantly enhance the way government systems detect and respond to threats. Integrating AI into zero trust frameworks elevates their effectiveness even further. AI is always active, consistently monitoring user behavior, network traffic and devices. It also gives agencies the ability to quickly tweak and improve security capabilities to stay one step ahead of threats. 

In this episode of Beyond borders: The future of zero trust in government, Paul Blahusch, the chief information security officer at the Labor Department, Beau Nuanes, systems engineer from ThunderCat, and Christopher Hoesly, director of solutions engineering for BigID dive into practical tips and tricks federal agencies can use to maximize AI-boosted zero trust setups for increased security and efficiency.

As the sun sets over a remote military base, the quiet hum of drone rotors signals a shift in modern warfare. These drones, which began as simple consumer gadgets, now play crucial roles in military operations. 

In this episode, Mark Valentine, president and general manager of global government for Skydio, and retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Kirk S. Pierce discuss how Skydio is leading advancement in defense technology with its highly autonomous and innovative drones. The experts delve into the company's initiatives in base security, asset inspection and ISR/battlefield applications, highlighting how the new X10D drones bolster the effectiveness and safety of military operations.