Our Top Stories
FAA air traffic control modernization moves into integration-led delivery
The FAA is advancing a major modernization push for the air traffic control ecosystem, with a prime integrator approach that makes delivery integration the core accountability. For federal IT leaders, this is a live example of how to run a multi-year modernization program where safety and uptime constraints make sequencing, testing, and cutover planning as important as the technology refresh itself.
For program teams and industry partners, the takeaway is that modernization at this scale is governance-heavy by necessity. Expect stronger emphasis on interoperability, integration testing, vendor coordination, and operational continuity planning, because the biggest failures in large refresh cycles usually happen at the seams between components and teams.
Sources: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/12/faa-s-air-traffic-control-modernization-effort-draws-scrutiny https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-selects-prime-integrator-nationwide-air-traffic-control-it-modernization-effort
The Technology Modernization Fund freeze tightens the modernization pipeline.
The Technology Modernization Fund now reflects an authorization reality that blocks new investments under current law. That matters because TMF has been one of the few scalable levers to start cross-agency modernization work without waiting for long budget cycles, especially for high-impact shared services and legacy replacement initiatives.
For CIOs, the practical impact is portfolio triage and sequencing. Programs that assumed TMF participation should re-plan funding paths, adjust phasing, and update risk registers, because stop-start funding is a delivery killer and often increases total cost and operational risk.
Sources: https://tmf.cio.gov/investments/
OPM launches US Tech Force to recruit technologists for modernization delivery
OPM has announced the United States Tech Force as a cross-government program intended to recruit engineers, data scientists, and technology leaders to modernize government systems. This is an explicit acknowledgment that talent scarcity is not a side issue, it is a direct constraint on modernization outcomes and on the government’s ability to own architecture and delivery.
For CIOs and program owners, the key question is how Tech Force participants will be empowered and measured. If the program comes with real authority, clear scopes, and hard delivery metrics, it could strengthen internal oversight and reduce long-term dependency on contractor-led execution.
OMB Memorandum M-26-04 turns AI governance into procurement enforcement
OMB’s M-26-04 memo sets “Unbiased AI Principles” expectations for federal acquisition of large language models and calls for updates to procurement policies on a defined timeline. Regardless of the political framing, the operational shift is that AI governance is being formalized through contract requirements and reporting processes, which will shape vendor selection and implementation practices.
For acquisition and security leaders, this is a cue to prepare standard evaluation approaches for model behavior, document testing results, and align vendor requirements with internal governance. AI risk management is moving into the same compliance muscle memory as other high-stakes procurements.
Sources: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-resources/guidance/memoranda/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/M-26-04-Increasing-Public-Trust-in-Artificial-Intelligence-Through-Unbiased-AI-Principles-1.pdf
NIST publishes draft Cybersecurity Framework Profile for AI
NIST has released an initial public draft of a Cybersecurity Framework Profile for Artificial Intelligence. This is useful because it helps organizations map AI risks into concrete security outcomes and control expectations across the AI lifecycle, from data handling to monitoring and incident response.
For security and architecture teams, the practical use is to turn AI security into measurable requirements that can be embedded in reference architectures and procurement language. This provides a common vocabulary for cross-functional AI governance that prevents AI risk discussions from becoming abstract or inconsistent.
GSA OASIS Plus Phase II expands competition and reshapes services buying
GSA’s OASIS Plus program is progressing into Phase II activity that broadens participation across services domains. This matters because OASIS Plus is becoming a key channel for buying modernization, cloud, data, and AI-adjacent professional services, even when the work is described at a high level.
For vendors, this is a readiness test around documentation, domain alignment, and evaluation mechanics. For buyers, expanded pools can reduce friction, but only if requirements and scoring are written to favor outcomes over generic capability statements.
FedRAMP 20x Phase 2 tests faster authorization-to-operate mechanics
FedRAMP 20x Phase 2 is positioned as a practical test of a faster ATO approach, with implications for how quickly agencies can adopt cloud services. If the process proves it can be both faster and auditable, it becomes a real accelerator for modernization without lowering security expectations.
For agency leaders, focus on evidence quality and continuous monitoring approaches that reduce paperwork while improving assurance. For vendors, early alignment to the Phase 2 model may translate into faster federal adoption and clearer paths to scale.
Sources: https://www.fedramp.gov/fedramp-20x-phase-2/
NASCIO 2026 State CIO Top 10 shows AI takes the top spot
NASCIO’s 2026 Top 10 priorities show artificial intelligence taking the number one position, with cybersecurity moving to number two. That change signals that state CIOs see AI adoption, governance, and value delivery as the defining operational challenge for the coming year, even while security remains foundational.
For state leaders, the priority now is to make AI adoption repeatable and governable through shared platforms, policies, and workforce enablement. For vendors, state procurement demand will increasingly favor offerings that are packaged with governance, privacy, and cost controls.
Sources: https://www.nascio.org/press-releases/theres-a-new-day-in-state-technology-ai-takes-the-top-spot-on-state-cios-priorities-for-2026/ https://www.nascio.org/resource-center/resources/state-cio-top-ten-policy-and-technology-priorities-for-2026/
Cyber watch: Fortinet exploitation signals reinforce exposure management discipline
A Fortinet vulnerability associated with active exploitation has been flagged through official vulnerability tracking, reinforcing the need for disciplined patch prioritization. Even on days when the show isn’t cyber-heavy, this is the kind of edge exposure that can undercut modernization programs and operational continuity.
For security leaders, the practical action is to validate asset inventory for perimeter and edge devices, confirm patch windows, and verify detection coverage. Exposure management is still one of the highest-leverage risk controls you can run.
Sources: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-59718
Topics We’re Tracking (But Didn’t Make the Cut)
Dropped Topic: Secondary analysis of the OMB memo’s political implications.
Why It Didn’t Make the Cut: It adds commentary without changing the operational requirements already covered.
Why It Caught Our Eye: It foreshadows vendor and procurement market reactions.
Dropped Topic: Additional Hill strategy reporting on reauthorizing the Technology Modernization Fund.
Why It Didn’t Make the Cut: Today’s key operational fact is already confirmed by the TMF program’s own statement.
Why It Caught Our Eye: Congressional pathways may change quickly and could become tomorrow’s lead.
Quick Disclaimer and Sources Note: The author used AI in part to create this newscast. Our goal is to be transparent and show you how we sourced the info we used.
This newscast was developed using only public sources of information.
This update was assembled using a mix of human editorial judgment, public records, and reputable national and sector-specific news sources, with help from artificial intelligence tools to summarize and organize information. All information is drawn from publicly available sources listed above. Every effort is made to keep details accurate as of publication time, but readers should always confirm time-sensitive items such as policy changes, budget figures, and timelines with official documents and briefings.
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