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DOL Unveils Open Data Portal to Expand Public Access to Workforce Data
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Department of Labor logo. DOL launched an open data portal to expand public access to labor data.

The Department of Labor has launched an open data portal designed to improve transparency and expand access to labor-related datasets.

DOL Unveils Open Data Portal to Expand Public Access to Workforce Data

As federal agencies expand access to data and modernize digital tools, leaders across government and industry continue to examine how technology can improve mission delivery and public services. These priorities will take focus at the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit, where a panel of experts will discuss strategies for leveraging case management tools, data and artificial intelligence to improve service delivery. Sign up today for the April 22 event!

DOL said Wednesday the portal supports the department’s efforts to comply with the OPEN Government Data Act of 2019 and aligns with the Federal Data Strategy introduced during President Trump’s first administration.

The new portal will replace the department’s existing enforcement data page, which will be decommissioned on Monday, Feb. 23.

What Data & Tools Does the DOL Data Portal Offer?

According to the department, the portal includes data from multiple DOL agencies, including national weekly unemployment insurance claims data from the Employment and Training Administration; federal contractor veteran employment data from the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service; and county-level childcare price data from the Women’s Bureau.

DOL said the portal also features a data visualization gallery and a modern application programming interface that allows developers and data users to submit customized requests.

Since its October 2024 soft launch, the platform has attracted over 1,400 registered API users, who have collectively submitted more than 5 million queries, according to DOL.

The department said it plans to further improve the portal over the next year by expanding datasets, enhancing search capabilities, improving artificial intelligence integration and adding additional tools to help users interact with the data.

What Did DOL Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Say About the Data Portal?

Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said the new portal marks a significant improvement.

“The department’s new data portal is a significant improvement, featuring better integration with other federal data sources and enhanced artificial intelligence compatibility for finding, visualizing and using data,” Chavez-DeRemer said.

She added that the portal supports a wider user community, including data scientists, researchers, journalists and the general public, and described it as part of the department’s broader vision for improving open data access.

The launch of the new platform came days after DOL unveiled a new framework to guide AI skill development efforts across the U.S. workforce and education systems.

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Majority of HHS’ Office of the CIO Officials Now Serving in Acting Capacity
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A meeting of professionals. A majority of the IT team at HHS is now serving in an acting capacity.

The Department of Health and Human Services has made several changes to its IT leadership team, with six of eight officials within the Office of the Chief Information Officer serving in their roles in an acting capacity, NextGov reported Tuesday.

Who Is Leading HHS’ IT Operations?

On the official website of the HHS, the department listed David Hong as acting deputy CIO, Arman Sharma as acting deputy chief artificial intelligence officer and Michael McFarland as acting executive officer.

Clark Minor, who joined the HHS as CIO in 2025, also serves as acting CAIO. Meanwhile, John McDermott was assigned as acting executive director of the Office of Operations.

Christopher Bollerer serves as chief information security officer and executive director of the Office of Information Security, both in an acting capacity.

What Other Leadership Changes Are Happening at the HHS?

Beyond the OCIO, HHS is undergoing a leadership shakeup broadly. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, will assume new responsibilities as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jim O’Neill and Mike Stuart, who serve as HHS’ deputy secretary and general counsel, respectively, recently announced their departure from the department, CNN reported. 

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FedRAMP Issues Public Notice for FY26 Q2 Security Inbox Emergency Test
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FedRAMP logo. FedRAMP issued a public notice of a planned Security Inbox emergency communications test.

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program has released a public notice of a planned emergency communications test scheduled for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 as part of its newly implemented FedRAMP Security Inbox requirements.

FedRAMP Issues Public Notice for FY26 Q2 Security Inbox Emergency Test

As FedRAMP advances new Security Inbox requirements and strengthens emergency communication protocols, cybersecurity preparedness remains a central focus for government and industry stakeholders. Register now for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21 to stay engaged with the GovCon cyber community and gain insights from experts shaping the federal cybersecurity landscape. 

FedRAMP said Thursday it will conduct the FY26 Q2 Emergency Test during normal business hours between March 2 and March 13.

The program noted that it will perform quarterly tests to validate provider compliance with the new policy and is required to provide public notice at least 10 business days in advance. 

In September, FedRAMP sought public comments on the FedRAMP Security Inbox for cloud service providers, or CSPs.

What Is the FedRAMP Security Inbox?

FedRAMP described the FedRAMP Security Inbox as a mandatory requirement designed to strengthen emergency communications between the program and FedRAMP-authorized CSPs.

The policy establishes a dedicated mechanism for FedRAMP to directly contact CSP security teams in the event of a security incident or other urgent situation. According to the program, the requirements became effective on Jan. 5, and apply to all CSPs operating under FedRAMP authorization.

According to FedRAMP, the emergency test email will be sent from fedramp_security@gsa.gov and will include a FedRAMP ID, a link to a Google Form and a unique three-word code designed to ensure providers submit responses for the correct cloud service offering.

What Actions Does FedRAMP Expect CSPs to Take for the FY26 Q2 Emergency Test?

FedRAMP said providers will be required to complete the Google Form for each cloud service and submit the FedRAMP ID, along with the unique three-word code included in the test email.

CSPs must also provide the name, title and email address of a preferred point of contact for follow-up; confirm whether they are aware of the FedRAMP Secure Configuration Guide rules; and indicate whether they have met the guide’s requirements and recommendations.

In addition, FedRAMP said providers must identify where the program or federal agencies can access the provider’s Secure Configuration Guide.

FedRAMP said it will track response times and review results, and noted that individual response times may be published as a security metric.

The program also instructed CSPs that do not receive the informational notification by Monday, Feb. 23, to contact info@fedramp.gov to start troubleshooting potential issues with their FedRAMP Security Inbox.

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DIU Soliciting Industry Proposals for Commercial Geosynchronous Tactical Reconnaissance System
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Satellites in orbit. DIU posted a commercial solutions opening for GHOST-R

The Department of War is seeking commercial technologies to monitor geosynchronous orbit, where both U.S. and adversary satellites operate in an increasingly contested environment.

The Defense Innovation Unit posted a commercial solutions opening to solicit industry proposals for a geosynchronous high-resolution optical, space-based tactical reconnaissance capability.

The effort, dubbed the Geosynchronous High-Resolution Optical Space-Based Tactical Reconnaissance, also known as GHOST-R or Ghost Recon, aims to leverage commercially developed space vehicles, buses and electro-optical payloads to deliver high-resolution space-to-space imagery and characterize resident space objects in GEO.

Proposals are due March 3.

DIU Soliciting Industry Proposals for Commercial Geosynchronous Tactical Reconnaissance System

Hear top defense officials discuss how industry can deliver the capabilities that American warfighters need to stay ahead of adversaries in the space domain at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30. You can secure your tickets for one of the most anticipated GovCon events of the year as early as today. 

What Is the Department of War’s GEO Reconnaissance Timeline?

According to DIU, within 24 months, the department wants a minimum viable product, which means that the technology must be capable of capturing a high-resolution electro-optical image of a GEO object using a commercially operated spacecraft. Within 36 months, the “Ghost Recon” space vehicle would transition from commercially owned and operated to government-owned and operated. By 48 months, the system should perform at least one drive-by or inclined track design reference mission per week.

What Technical Standards Must Vendors Meet for the CSO?

Proposed systems must meet baseline requirements, including a design life of at least three years in GEO, rendezvous and proximity operations capability, and compliance with National Security Space Launch integration standards. Space vehicles must also satisfy cybersecurity controls under the risk management framework and National Security Agency encryption requirements.

The CSO notes that a prototype other transaction agreement could result in a direct follow-on production award without further competition, contingent on successful prototype performance.

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Army Expands AI-Enabled Acquisition Effort With Source Selection Tools, ARP Prototypes
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Artificial intelligence. The Army is testing AI tools to modernize acquisition documentation processes.

The Army is expanding its use of artificial intelligence in procurement, with the Program Executive Office Enterprise anticipating fiscal year 2026 Small Business Innovation Research awards for two AI-enabled source selection tools, DVIDS reported Wednesday.

The service branch has been working to accelerate its procurement processes. In January, personnel at Army Contracting Command’s contracting centers in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Detroit Arsenal and Rock Island started evaluating AI prototypes under ACC’s Smart Contracting Initiative. One prototype focuses on accelerating the development of Acquisition Requirement Packages, or ARPs — documentation that defines what the government intends to buy and how statutory and regulatory requirements are addressed. 

Army Expands AI-Enabled Acquisition Effort With Source Selection Tools, ARP Prototypes

The Potomac Officers Club will host the 2026 Army Summit on June 18, bringing together senior Army officials and industry leaders to discuss how the service is restructuring its approach to resources, contracting and modernization following recent transformation efforts. The event will provide insight into how the Army is working toward its Army 2030 goals. Register now.

Why Is the Army Improving the ARP Development Timeline?

Patrick Colleran, director of acquisition management at PEO Enterprise, described ARP development as the most resource-intensive activity during the pre-award phase. The packages can span hundreds of pages and require consistency across evolving technical and regulatory inputs. Errors or inconsistencies can lead to unclear solicitations, prolonged question-and-answer exchanges with industry, and potential protests that delay contract awards.

PEO Enterprise previously used one of the prototypes in fiscal year 2025 to support two supply-type contract awards. The Army is now piloting the tools across a broader mix of acquisitions, including services and non-IT supply categories.

“Our goal is to integrate the tool so that it can fully populate a solicitation within Army Contract Writing System and send the ARP documents directly into the contract file of record,” Colleran said. “Right now, the user has to download files and manually move them over.”

How Does the ARP Prototype Testing Fit Into the Smart Contracting Initiative?

The Smart Contracting Initiative traces back to an August 2025 call for solutions issued by ACC–Aberdeen Proving Ground. The notice highlighted procurement issues, including long award timelines for high-value contracts and a largely manual drafting and review process that can extend beyond a year.

It sought AI-enabled capabilities to automate document preparation, improve compliance and reduce administrative burden across contracting workflows. The ARP prototype testing represents one of the early operational applications of that modernization effort.

The initiative aligns with the Army’s broader experimentation with generative AI in acquisition, including a 2024 pilot program using LIGER, a tool designed by LMI to support acquisition teams through faster information retrieval and AI-generated outputs supported by citations.

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NASA CSDA Signs 8 Agreements for Multispectral, SAR Data
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SAR Image. NASA's CSDA program has finalized eight agreements to deliver multispectral and synthetic aperture radar data.

NASA’s Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition, or CSDA, program has finalized eight agreements with seven commercial providers to deliver multispectral and synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, data for Earth science research and applications.

The agency said Wednesday the agreements expand CSDA’s access to commercial data and enhance the quality and availability of Earth observation information for researchers.

“These new agreements will provide users with a range of high-quality multispectral and SAR data that can be used in a variety of applications from environmental monitoring to surface deformation,” said Dana Ostrenga, CSDA project manager. “In addition, they exemplify the CSDA Program’s commitment to acquiring data that enhances and supports the agency’s application and research objectives.”

What Do CSDA’s Agreements Cover?

NASA executed three agreements with Planet Labs, Airbus U.S. and Vantor to obtain near-global multispectral and pan-sharpened electro-optical imagery covering most of the world’s land and coastal areas. The datasets offer spatial resolutions ranging from approximately 30 centimeters to 10 meters and include top-of-atmosphere radiance and surface reflectance products across visible and near-infrared bands.

The CSDA program has expanded its Satellite Data Explorer, or SDX, platform to include three of Vantor’s Precision3D elevation products along with imagery from its Legion satellite archive, dating back to 1999.

Five agreements with Capella Space, ICEYE US, MDA Space, Umbra and Airbus U.S. provide high-resolution SAR imagery in multiple modes, including Spotlight and StripMap. The all-weather, day-night imaging supports monitoring of flooding, land deformation, sea ice movement and infrastructure impacts.

Who Can Access the Data?

Authorized NASA-funded investigators and designated collaborators may access the datasets under established End User License Agreements. Data will be available through the CSDA Satellite Data Explorer and related portals.

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Treasury Completes AI Cybersecurity Initiative for Finance Sector
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Treasury seal. The Treasury Department completed a public-private effort to enhance AI cybersecurity in financial services.

The Department of the Treasury has completed a public-private initiative aimed at strengthening cybersecurity and risk management for artificial intelligence in the financial services sector.

Treasury Completes AI Cybersecurity Initiative for Finance Sector

With the White House’s AI Action Plan accelerating adoption across federal missions, the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18 will spotlight how policy is translating into real-world AI deployment. Sign up now!

The department said Wednesday it will publish six resources in February that were developed with industry and federal and state regulators. The resources are intended to promote secure, resilient AI adoption across the U.S. financial system.

The initiative follows 2024 Treasury reports noting that financial institutions are increasing their use of AI, including generative AI, for cybersecurity and fraud detection, and highlighting potential vulnerabilities associated with AI adoption in the financial sector.

What Is the Artificial Intelligence Executive Oversight Group?

The Artificial Intelligence Executive Oversight Group, or AIEOG, brings together financial institutions, federal and state regulators, and sector stakeholders. Formed through a partnership between the Financial and Banking Information Infrastructure Committee and the Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council, the group examined gaps in AI adoption and developed tools to address AI-specific cyber risks.

What Do the New Resources Address?

The resources will cover potential uses of AI in governance, data practices, transparency, fraud prevention and digital identity. They are designed to provide practical implementation guidance rather than new regulatory mandates, with a focus on helping small and mid-sized institutions manage AI-related threats.

How Does the Treasury Initiative Support the AI Action Plan?

The initiative aligns with the White House’s AI Action Plan through efforts to enhance AI system security across financial services, advance best practices for responsible deployment and support broader international use of U.S.-developed AI technologies.

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DOW CIO Kirsten Davies Outlines Warfighter-Focused Vision for Information Enterprise
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Kirsten Davies. The War Department’s CIO said the DOW information enterprise must directly support the warfighter.

Kirsten Davies, the Department of War’s chief information officer and a 2026 Wash100 awardee, emphasized a mission-first approach to technology modernization, stating that DOW’s information enterprise must directly support the warfighter and align with the National Defense Strategy, DOW said Tuesday.

DOW CIO Kirsten Davies Outlines Warfighter-Focused Vision for Information Enterprise

The DOW CIO’s remarks underscore how senior defense technology leaders are aligning modernization efforts with measurable mission outcomes and direct support to the warfighter. Reserve your seat at the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22 to connect with government and industry executives driving the next phase of federal digital modernization.

“Our mission is to support the National Defense Strategy … and the warfighters,” Davies said during Feb. 10 remarks at the department’s Mark Center location in Alexandria, Virginia in front of senior Pentagon officials. “Everything we do should be supporting the warfighter community and their mission.”

She described the Office of the CIO vision as building an information enterprise that is “resilient, modern, secure and agile,” and said the department’s IT environment must be “worthy of the warfighter.”

Davies, who was confirmed by the Senate as the department’s CIO in December, also called for what she described as “ruthless prioritization” of ongoing initiatives, noting that some efforts may be eliminated if they do not directly support the warfighter mission.

What Are Davies’ Technology Transformation Priorities as DOW CIO?

Davies said the department must transform its technology landscape in response to a rapidly evolving information environment. She identified data analytics and artificial intelligence as key focus areas, along with securing the department’s advantage in the electromagnetic spectrum.

“We need to execute on data analytics and AI. … We need to secure our advantage in the spectrum,” Davies said, describing the effort as a long-term national security priority for the department and its allies.

She directed OCIO leaders to become familiar with the recently published National Defense Strategy and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s ongoing “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, which aims to reform acquisition processes to speed up the delivery of capabilities to warfighters and strengthen U.S. manufacturing capacity.

What Did Davies Say About Visibility Across the DOW Enterprise?

Davies highlighted visibility as a priority area for OCIO.

“We can’t defend what we can’t see, [and] we can’t optimize something if we don’t know what’s there,” she noted.

According to Davies, increasing enterprisewide visibility will help OCIO evaluate how resources are allocated across the department.

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Devin Ure Named DOT Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget & Programs
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DOT logo. Devin Ure has been appointed deputy assistant secretary for budget and programs at the DOT.

The Department of Transportation has promoted Devin Ure to deputy assistant secretary for budget and programs. Ure announced the appointment Sunday in a LinkedIn post.

“I’m incredibly grateful for my previous role as the Chief Financial Officer for the Office of the Secretary at U.S. Department of Transportation and for the mentors who supported me along the way. I’m looking forward to working with the talented team we have,” said Ure.

Who Is Devin Ure?

Ure is a career public servant with extensive experience applying analytics-driven strategies to financial management and organizational modernization. He has implemented automation, dashboards and predictive tools to streamline legacy processes, reduce inefficiencies and support real-time decision-making, while guiding teams in shifting from transactional roles to strategic advisory functions.

What Will Ure Do in His New DOT Role?

In his new role, Ure oversees more than $140 billion in budget and contract authority, leading a team of over 80 professionals responsible for the department’s budget development and execution. He also leads agency-wide performance evaluation and risk management efforts, with an emphasis on operational transformation and data-driven decision-making.

What Experience Does Ure Bring?

Ure has spent nearly 14 years at the department. Prior to this appointment, he served as CFO for the Office of the Secretary, managing a $5 billion annual budget. The government finance leader also served as director of financial management at the Volpe Transportation Center. Earlier in his career, Ure held budget analyst roles at both DOT and the Department of Labor.

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INL, NVIDIA Partner to Advance AI-Driven Nuclear Deployment Under Prometheus Challenge
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Partnership. INL and NVIDIA have teamed up to speed up the deployment of nuclear reactors using artificial intelligence.

The Idaho National Laboratory and NVIDIA have partnered to leverage artificial intelligence to accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear energy systems.

INL, NVIDIA Partner to Advance AI-Driven Nuclear Deployment Under Prometheus Challenge

As AI adoption continues to expand across government and industry, collaborations like the INL-NVIDIA effort underscore how emerging technologies are being applied to complex national priorities. These developments reflect the broader momentum behind AI-driven modernization efforts across the federal landscape. Save your spot now at the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18!

INL said Tuesday the partnership supports the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission and focuses on a “grand challenge” known as Prometheus, which aims to bring commercial-scale nuclear reactors online in years rather than decades.

“This partnership represents a transformative approach to one of our nation’s greatest challenges for deploying abundant, reliable nuclear energy at the speed and scale required for our AI-driven future,” said INL Director John Wagner. “By leveraging AI to design, license and operate reactors, we can fundamentally change the timeline for bringing advanced nuclear energy online.”

What Is the Objective of the Prometheus Challenge?

The Prometheus Grand Challenge aims to use AI-enabled, human-in-the-loop workflows to accelerate nuclear reactor development and operations.

According to INL, Prometheus seeks to achieve at least a twofold acceleration in deployment schedules and more than a 50-percent reduction in operational costs. The initiative also aims to address rising electricity demand and harness AI to drive a scientific and industrial revolution.

What Are the Strategic Initiatives of the INL-NVIDIA Collaboration?

INL said its partnership with NVIDIA will focus on several strategic initiatives: AI-powered nuclear design, licensing, manufacturing, construction and operation; industry advancement; supercomputing infrastructure; data validation; and code acceleration.

Through the collaboration, the two organizations will expedite nuclear energy deployment by developing generative AI, agentic workflows and digital twins and advance the use of MOOSE, BISON, Pronghorn, Griffin and other nuclear simulation codes on NVIDIA GPU architectures to enhance simulation capabilities.

“Combining INL’s decades of nuclear expertise with NVIDIA AI infrastructure will put AI to work to design, license and operate reactors faster, safer and at lower cost — delivering the abundant energy needed to power scientific discovery,” said John Josephakis, global vice president of sales and business development for HPC/supercomputing at NVIDIA.

The partnership may expand to include reactor developers, investors, utilities and other national labs to develop a broader ecosystem for AI-enabled nuclear deployment.

“This public-private partnership presents a targeted approach to AI-acceleration that goes beyond incremental ‘uplift’ improvements. It has the potential to transform the paradigm for how we deploy nuclear energy in addition to how we advance R&D and discovery,” said Rian Bahran, deputy assistant secretary of energy for nuclear reactors.

What Is the Genesis Mission? 

According to DOE, the Genesis Mission is a national initiative that aims to develop a scientific platform to drive energy innovation, accelerate discovery science and strengthen national security. 

Established through a November executive order, the mission seeks to connect leading supercomputers, AI systems, experimental facilities and unique scientific datasets to double the research productivity and impact of U.S. research and innovation within 10 years.

DOE recently announced 26 science and technology challenges intended to advance the Genesis Mission and accelerate AI-enabled innovation. Prometheus is one of those challenges.

In December, DOE signed agreements with NVIDIA, Accenture, Amazon Web Services, Google, Oracle, Microsoft and 18 other organizations to advance the Genesis Mission and announced a $320 million investment to accelerate the development of AI capabilities in support of the initiative.

NVIDIA also signed a memorandum of understanding with Argonne National Laboratory to leverage AI and high-performance computing to address energy and national security challenges.

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