Front Burner
DOGE ‘Doesn’t Exist’ with Eight Months Left on its Charter
Reuters reports that according to Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) “doesn’t exist.” Kupor also noted that the government hiring freeze has concluded.
Trump Appears to Ready Executive Order on State AI Law Preemption
FedScoop reports that a draft executive order would establish an artificial intelligence (AI) litigation task force to challenge state AI statutes.
Coast Guard Seeks AI for Acquisition Upgrade
MeriTalk reports that the U.S. Coast Guard has issued a Request for Information on the commercial market for AI powered contracting and acquisition solutions to modernize its procurement processes.
VA Eliminates Veteran Family Health Care Backlog
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the complete elimination of the backlog of health care coverage applications for qualifying Veteran spouses, dependents, survivors, and caregivers by leveraging overtime pay and automation.
Pentagon’s Growing List of ‘Made in America’ Drones has a Loophole for Certain Parts Made in China
DefenseScoop reports that the Pentagon’s Blue Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) initiative, which aims to offer domestic and allied produced drones, includes loopholes for some Chinese parts, particularly motors.
Congressional Update
Senate Appropriators Aim to Unveil Unreleased Spending Bills
Roll Call reports that at least one of the Senate’s four pending 2026 appropriations bills could be published this week, with the Senate version of the Energy-Water Appropriations Bill seen as the most likely to emerge.
White House to Pitch a Trump Obamacare Extension with Limits
Politico reports that the White House plans to unveil a two-year extension, with new limits on eligibility, of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. Disagreements over the ACA subsidies triggered October’s government shutdown.
Lawmakers Seek NSA Playbook on AI Security Under Bipartisan Bill
FedScoop reports that two Senate Intelligence Committee members have introduced bipartisan legislation directing the National Security Agency (NSA) to develop an AI security playbook to guard against threats from foreign adversaries. The Senate bill has a bipartisan House companion.
2025 U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Highlights Advance Tech Manufacturing, Trade Considerations, Threat to Taiwan
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has published its latest report to Congress. The 2025 report warns that China is positioned to “attain first mover advantage” in industries of the future. It also highlights China’s record trade surplus, fueled by China’s leveraging of critical minerals and pharmaceutical products.