Five IT security priorities shaping federal procurement in 2026
AI threats to quantum migration, agencies are moving from frameworks to deadlines — and vendors need to keep up, writes Gina Scinta, deputy chief technology officer of Thales Trusted Cyber Technologies. The federal government does not issue security guidance quietly. In recent months, NIST, CISA, NSA, GSA, and the Department of Defense have each published new […]
Air Force wants its acquisition tools in the cloud
The Air Force envisions iteration number two of its LaunchPad environment as extending beyond the current base of engineering users. The Air Force has officially launched an effort to overhaul the technology tools its acquisition teams use access software, data and collaboration tools across the entire service branch. Currently called LaunchPad 2.0, the Air Force envisions […]
Redhawk Federal Solutions acquires SETA outfit
For Redhawk, this transaction follows Genesis Park’s investment in the two-year-old company in the fall. Redhawk Federal Solutions, a digital services company focused on business transformation and enterprise architecture support, has acquired a small business whose work includes what is commonly dubbed SETA – systems engineering and technical assistance. Twenty8 Technology opened for business in 2015 […]
Merlin Labs’ public offering collects $200M to build an AI autopilot for any aircraft
The Boston-headquartered defense tech company has big ambitions for its AI-powered autonomous flight system. Merlin Labs has already experienced growth in the market for its artificial intelligence technologies that are designed for autonomous flight, including contract wins with the Air Force and Missile Defense Agency. Now Merlin Labs has $200 million in fresh capital thanks to its public offering […]
GSA, NIST partner to craft evaluation standards for AI tools in federal operations
Through the Center for AI Standards and Innovation, both agencies will help streamline the process to develop standards for artificial intelligence tools being used in government workflows. Two federal agencies are joining forces to bring to life a new joint effort that will strengthen the federal government’s evaluation process for artificial intelligence models and services. The […]
Inside DOGE’s early days of pressure campaigns, rule breaking and ‘chaos’
Twenty-three hours of court testimony offer a rare glimpse into the Trump cost-cutting group that officials say “felt more like a club” than the agencies they were breaking. In the span of 77 minutes on a late-March Monday in 2025, an associate of the government-slashing Department of Government Efficiency sent Michael McDonald, the acting head of […]