Haywood Talcove: Public Sector Has a 20% Fraud Rate
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Haywood Talcove: Public Sector Has a 20% Fraud Rate

Haywood Talcove, CEO of LexisNexis Risk Solutions’ Government Group, said the public sector experiences fraud at a rate of about 20 percent compared with about 3 percent in the private sector.

At a House subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, Talcove attributed the disparity to the federal government’s inability to use the tools employed in the private sector.

“Front end identity verification, self-certification, and then finally, making sure that individuals are who they say they are. If we start using these tools, you will see the fraud rate go down dramatically because for the most part, this fraud isn’t taking place by real individuals. It’s individuals whose identities have been stolen on the dark web,” he told lawmakers.

Criminals “use that information pretending to be somebody else. And because of the antiquated systems, processes and technologies in place in government programs, they were able to steal at scale,” Talcove added.

During the hearing, he agreed with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., that the federal government never addresses its issues with data theft and stolen identities “because it can’t be forced to go out of business.”

“One of the things I noticed during COVID was that criminals learned that government was the mark because it never runs out of money … and the likelihood of getting caught is virtually zero,” Talcove noted.

Digital Matching

The three-time Wash100 awardee touched on the issue of digital matching and the need to update the 1974 Privacy Act.

“These aren’t people problems. These are technology problems. You can’t process the number of individuals that are accessing our systems person by person. It just takes too much time,” Talcove said during the hearing.

“So, by updating the 1974 Privacy Act and allowing for digital matching, you would very quickly realize that a large portion of the PPP loan funds were going to the wrong person. You would have been quickly able to match, I think the number was 20%, and were on the do not pay list. You can’t expect people to do what a machine and especially AI can do today,” he added.

3-Step Plan to Reclaim Control of Federal Payment Systems

The chief executive suggested a plan outlining three measures to prevent fraud and abuse of federal payment systems.

“There’s no excuse for the government to lag if we do the following. Number one, implement identity verification on the front end. Criminals should never receive a dime. Eliminate self-certification. No more honor system for billion-dollar programs. And continuous auditing. Keep verifying because criminals never stop adapting,” Talcove stated.

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Hegseth Says DOD to Reform Foreign Military Sales Process
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Hegseth Says DOD to Reform Foreign Military Sales Process

Defense News reported Friday that the Department of Defense plans to reform the foreign military sales, or FMS, process, according to Secretary Pete Hegseth, a 2025 Wash100 Award winner.

In a press briefing following a NATO Defense Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium, the defense secretary said, “We need to reform that process so it’s quicker, so a request today isn’t delivered seven years from now but three years from now with less red tape and with the most efficient and effective technology possible.”

Reforming the FMS Process

The FMS process involves years of exchanges between the United States and foreign countries interested in purchasing U.S.-made weaponry. Due to its slow pace, the process has been the subject of criticism and reform initiatives prompted by the Ukraine war.

In 2023, Congress, the Pentagon and the State Department created a tiger team to accelerate the process and remove barriers. In June 2023, a memo ordered the agencies to implement the tiger team’s recommendations.

These include improving the Defense Department’s understanding of ally and partner country requirements, providing them with relevant priority capabilities, and increasing the efficiency of technology release review processes.

Despite efforts by the tiger team to streamline sales approval, the challenge of the industry’s manufacturing capacity not keeping up with orders remained.

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Bipartisan Legislation Works to Boost Quantum Research
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Bipartisan Legislation Works to Boost Quantum Research

United States Senators Dick Durbin and Steve Daines have introduced bipartisan legislation that aims to bolster the nation’s investment in quantum information science.

Enhancing Quantum Research

The Department of Energy Quantum Leadership Act of 2025 is intended to authorize over $2.5 billion in funds for quantum research and development, Durbin said Thursday. The funds, allocated for the next five years, far exceed the budget for the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018. The now-expired act had a budget of $625 million for DOE programs related to quantum science.

DOE Quantum Leadership Act

Key features of the DOE Quantum Leadership Act include:

  • Reauthorization and expansion of quantum R&D across DOE until 2030
  • Further the progress made by DOE’s five national research centers
  • Address possible challenges to quantum supply chain and commercialization
  • Boost coordination among agencies and industries in the quantum space
  • Establishment of new programs to train and equip workers for quantum R&D and commercial ecosystems.

“Senator Daines and I are introducing the bipartisan DOE Quantum Leadership Act to supercharge research, development and commercialization of quantum technologies — technologies that will grow the medical, financial and materials industries and create jobs along the way,” said Durbin. “With this legislation, we can ensure our DOE facilities are well-equipped to lead the quantum revolution.”

“America is a leader in cutting-edge science and technology and in order to maintain our strong position, we must invest in research and development projects,” added Daines. “Spurring innovation through the National Quantum Initiative Program will help strengthen our national security, create Montana jobs and accelerate quantum research projects.”

U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer of New York, Lisa Murkowski of Arkansan, Alex Padilla of California and Todd Young of Indiana cosponsored the legislation.

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Army Tests Precision Strike Missiles
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Army Tests Precision Strike Missiles

The U.S. Army conducted a production qualification test of the Precision Strike Missile Increment 1 missile on Feb. 12 at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

Enhancing Long-Range Precision Strike Capability

Two PrSM Increment 1 missiles were launched from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, during the demonstration, the Army said Tuesday. The flight test is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the long-range precision strike capability of the Army.

During the test, the two PrSM Increment 1 missiles engaged multiple threats while following a predicted range and trajectory. The missiles, which were able to target a mock SCUD missile, radar and rotary wing platforms, performed as expected with regard to range, time of flight, accuracy and height of burst.

What Is a Precision Strike Missile?

The PrSM Increment 1 is a long-range precision-strike missile designed to enhance the Army’s capability to neutralize targets in support of joint all-domain operations. With its enhanced range and lethality, the PrSM is intended to supplant the Army Tactical Missile System for Army field artillery formations.

In December last year, the Army conducted the limited user test for the PrSM Increment 1 missile. The Operational Test Command was in charge of assessing the missile’s performance during the demonstration. 

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SSC Aims to Upgrade Small Subcontractors Via Networking Event
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SSC Aims to Upgrade Small Subcontractors Via Networking Event

The Space Systems Command is planning to make its recent SSC Subcontracting Forum an annual event and hold similar gatherings in other markets for potential partnerships between large defense contractors and small businesses. Its Small Business Office, which oversaw 2024 contracts awards worth almost $945 million to qualified small businesses, is spearheading the initiative, SSC said. 

Overall, SSC works on a $15.6 billion budget for acquisition programs that the Department of Defense mostly awards to a prime contractor from the commercial sector drawing support from small subcontractors. Through the recent forum and its planned future iterations, the command seeks to expand the ranks of potential subcontractors and explore possibilities of supporting some of them to grow as prime contractors.

Supply Chain Expansion

“Today, we are introducing agile, innovative small businesses to our supply chain via subcontracting opportunities both to broaden our access to cutting-edge technologies and to work faster on behalf of our warfighters,” said Aaron Parra, SSC’s Small Business Office head.

The recent event, aimed mainly at improving SSC engagement with partners and the industrial base, drew nearly 200 representatives from over 150 private companies. It was held early February in El Segundo, California, host to the command’s headquarters and the Los Angeles Air Force Base.

Central California Coast, Central Florida Markets

Additional venues for future networking forums between small businesses and prime contractors are being considered in California’s Central Coast, the home of Vandenberg Space Force Base, and Central Florida, host to Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. 

Parra noted that SSC has small business stewards at the Patrick and Vandenberg bases, opening the possibility of having forums in their areas. 

“There is a wide range of needs – and opportunities – at those installations and others across the country, and we really want to make certain we can bring subcontractors with the capabilities we need on board, no matter where they are located,” the SSC official said.

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Brianne Ogilvie Named VA OSDBU Deputy Executive Director
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Brianne Ogilvie Named VA OSDBU Deputy Executive Director

The Department of Veterans Affairs has appointed Brianne Ogilvie, a more than a decade VA executive, as deputy executive director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, or OSDBU.

The VA office announced Ogilvie’s appointment in a LinkedIn post published Tuesday.

Brianne Ogilvie’s Career Highlights

Ogilvie most recently served as acting deputy undersecretary for policy and oversight at the Veterans Benefits Administration, a role she assumed in October 2024. In addition to this position, she served as assistant deputy undersecretary at VBA. 

In these capacities, she managed the operation of 10 business lines and program offices responsible for over $154 billion in benefit payments to veterans, service personnel, their family members and survivors.

The Wellesley College graduate previously served as executive director of the VBA Office of Administrative Review, formerly the Appeals Management Office. In this position, she oversaw VBA’s modernized decision review program for veterans and managed VBA’s legacy appeals, related policy and operations for 2,100 employees across the country. Before becoming chief, she served as the office’s deputy executive director.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Ogilvie spent nearly a decade at the VA Board of Veterans’ Appeals, where she served as chief of litigation and customer support division and special counsel to the chief counsel for operations.

The VA official has a Juris Doctor degree from Baylor University.

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House Budget Resolution Includes $100B Defense Funding Boost
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House Budget Resolution Includes $100B Defense Funding Boost

The House has proposed a budget plan that would add $100 billion in defense funding, increase the debt limit by $4 trillion, include tax cuts worth approximately $4.5 trillion and reduce government spending, Breaking Defense reported Wednesday.

“This budget resolution is a key step to start the process in delivering President Trump’s America First agenda,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement on X.

“With nearly every House Republican directly engaged in this deliberative process, this resolution reflects our collective commitment to enacting the President’s full agenda—not just a part of it,” Johnson added.

Budget Reconciliation

House Republicans plan to use budget reconciliation to pass a list of the president’s spending priorities without the threat of a filibuster.

The House Budget Committee is set to tackle the budget plan on Thursday.

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SDA Seeking Executive Summaries for Iron Dome for America
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SDA Seeking Executive Summaries for Iron Dome for America

The Space Development Agency has issued a special notice calling for executive summaries in preparation of 60-day studies on the Iron Dome for America missile defense architecture and capability.

About the Notice

SDA said Monday it wants to know the industry’s take on Iron Dome of America implementation, focusing on boosting the current impact of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, or PWSA, on global kill chains and missile defense.

The agency is looking for novel architecture concepts, systems, technologies and capabilities that could catapult enhancements for future PWSA tranches and capability layers, or enable new capability layers addressing the emerging warfighter requirements.

The SDA will respond with a letter of interest to encourage or discourage full proposal submission for the study. Interested parties may submit their executive summaries until Feb. 28.

In January, the agency issued a broad agency announcement, or BAA, soliciting new systems, technologies and capabilities for the upgrade of the PWSA’s future tranches. The solicitation was published via the updated Systems, Technologies and Emerging Capabilities BAA.

What Is the Iron Dome for America?

The Iron Dome for America is the concept of a protective technological shield against missile attacks, described in a late January Executive Order from President Trump.

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Trump to Nominate Sean Cairncross as Next National Cyber Director
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Trump to Nominate Sean Cairncross as Next National Cyber Director

Sean Cairncross, a former official of the Republican National Committee, has been revealed as President Donald Trump’s nominee for the position of national cyber director.

The former RNC chief operating officer is set to succeed Harry Coker as head of the Office of the National Cyber Director, according to a document obtained by NextGov/FCW late Tuesday night and reported Wednesday. The document containing the names of nominees will be sent to the Senate for confirmation.

Who Is Sean Cairncross?

Despite his supposed lack of formal cybersecurity and intelligence background, Cairncross will become the first cybersecurity official to be formally nominated by the Trump administration. He will be responsible for leading the ONCD as it serves as the administration’s main communicator or facilitator of cyber policies. In addition, the office will oversee efforts to maintain relationships between Capitol Hill and federal agencies.

Cairncross served as CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corp., or MCC, for two years during Trump’s first term. The humanitarian agency was established in 2004 to promote long-term economic growth in developing nations.

The ONCD nominee served as Trump’s deputy assistant before he was appointed head of the MCC. He was also COO of the RNC from 2015 to 2016. Most recently, Cairncross was involved with the RNC budget for the election cycle last year.

Should the Senate approve his nomination, Cairncross will be the third ONCD director to be confirmed. The office was established four years ago with Chris Inglis, a former Wash100 Award winner, as the first confirmed director. He was followed by Kemba Walden who served in an acting capacity before Coker took over in December 2023.

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Fort Moore Fosters Innovation With New Collaborative Hub
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Fort Moore Fosters Innovation With New Collaborative Hub

The Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Moore have inaugurated the Maneuver Innovation Lab, marking the first time a collaborative hub has opened in the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC, installation.

The Army said Wednesday the MIL was established in collaboration with the Maneuver Battle Lab, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, the Civil-Military Innovation Institute and Columbus State University. The collaborative hub is designed to foster innovation and modernization by empowering soldiers, academics and industry leaders and encouraging them to work together.

MIL’s 3 Core Components

The MIL fosters innovation through three elements:

DIRT Lab

The Design, Innovation, Research and Technology, or DIRT, Lab is a rapid prototyping and problem-solving platform, sponsored by DEVCOM and operated by the Civil-Military Innovation Institute, where soldiers work with Auburn University through the Catalyst Pathfinder Program to develop innovations.

Robotics & Uncrewed Systems With CSU

The collaboration with Columbus State University’s Robotic Engineering Department provides students with resources and real-world experience in an Army setting, where they can design, build and experiment with robotic and uncrewed systems. The partnership also allows CSU students to interact with leaders and innovators from the Army and the industry.

EXFOR

The Uncrewed Systems Experimentation Facility, or EXFOR, allows soldiers to experiment in a controlled environment enabling rapid assessment and enhancement of small unmanned aerial systems and unmanned ground systems.

Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, commanding general of Fort Moore, said, “At the core of the Maneuver Innovation Lab lies the concept of bottom-up innovation, where soldiers are empowered to transform their ideas into prototypes and collaborate with our academic partners to drive technical solutions.”

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