The U.S. Army will enhance its strategy toward becoming a more data-centric organization in 2024 by implementing proactive initiatives in information literacy as well as intelligence sharing and communication, said David Pierce, an Army intelligence officer.

Since the introduction of the Army Data Plan in 2022, the service branch has been working to improve its information management process, including assigning “data champions” different units and creating an information literacy task force, Pierce explained.

“While the Army is taking the right steps toward becoming more data-centric, technology is not enough to solve enterprise data challenges,” Pierce said. “Cultural shifts are required to change how the Army views the value of data.”

For instance, the task force established by the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point has been effective in preparing intelligence brigades manage information in real-world missions, whether multi-domain or joint all-domain operations.

Pierce underscored the importance of data accessibility in gaining decision-making advantage in combat. He said that the Army’s expanding access to information will deepen insights and lead to better and faster strategic outcomes in the battlefield.

“While the Army still has improvements it needs to make to its sensor capacity, the data we have today still needs to be able to be discovered and delivered to the right platforms and tools of choice,” he stated.

The Government Accountability Office has recommended that the Office of Science and Technology Policy facilitate interagency collaboration when identifying whether a funded organization is under foreign ownership, control or influence, or FOCI.

In a new report, GAO found that not all agencies use the same tools to vet foreign applicants for research funding and that existing government-wide databases lack common identifying information, limiting the ability to match foreign entities of concern with organizations receiving federal funding.

GAO has raised concerns that some foreign entities may try to jeopardize U.S. national security by exploiting the government’s research and development funding program.

To address this, GAO suggested that OSTP coordinate with federal R&D awarding agencies to facilitate information sharing on identifying FOCI.

The Senate on Tuesday is expected to vote on a continuing resolution that intends to avert a government shutdown by funding government operations until March.

The CR would provide funding through March 1 for four appropriations measures covering agriculture, veterans affairs, military construction, housing and urban development, energy and water development and transportation, the Senate Appropriations Committee said Sunday.

Funding for defense, homeland security, health and human services, education and all other federal operations and programs under eight appropriations bills will run until March 8.

The text of the bipartisan stopgap measure was released by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and came a week after congressional leaders reached a bipartisan topline appropriations agreement, which would set a total spending level of $1.59 trillion for FY 2024.

“While we continue working to negotiate and pass bipartisan, full-year spending bills, it is critical Congress prevent a needless and costly government shutdown come Friday—and that’s exactly what this CR will do. Hammering out serious bipartisan funding bills is no easy task but I am going to continue working nonstop with my colleagues to pass the strongest possible bills—and soon,” said Murray.

Under the current CR, signed into law in November, funding for continuing federal projects and activities will run through Jan. 19, and funding for defense and all other government operations is expected to expire on Feb. 2.