The Wrap: VA Scaling AI Use Cases; Consolidating Contracting; NSF CIO Departs
Welcome to The Wrap for Friday, March 21!
From the newsroom at MeriTalk, it’s the quickest read in Federal tech news. Here’s what you need to know today:
VA Scaling AI Use Cases
AI is not slowing down any time soon, and neither is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In an interview with MeriTalk, Chief AI Officer (CAIO) Charles Worthington said the VA plans to scale AI use cases across the department in 2025. In fact, the number of AI use cases in the VA’s inventory increased by over 100 from 2023 to 2024, and he predicts that number will only grow. “The big theme for 2025 is to scale useful AI products across the VA,” Worthington said. “We’re focusing on trying to figure out what are some of the VA’s most pressing challenges and then line up where we think AI can help with those challenges.” One exciting use case he shared is a an on-network generative AI chat interface for VA employees. The agency started piloting the tool last year, and Worthington said the VA just scaled from about 1,000 users to about 4,000 users. The VA is piloting another use case in which an “ambient scribe” assists in clinical encounters. This tool utilizes natural language processing to summarize the encounter for the patient’s electronic health record, saving doctors vital time. “The ultimate payoff is going to be basically equipping people to just do their jobs with a lot more effectiveness and efficiency,” Worthington said. Please check out the full story for all of the CAIO’s insights.
Consolidating Contracting
The General Services Administration ( GSA ) just got a whole lot busier. President Donald Trump signed an executive order (EO) late Thursday that aims to consolidate Federal contracting under GSA, including IT contracts. Give me the specifics: Within 30 days of the executive order, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will designate GSA as the “executive agent” of all governmentwide acquisition contracts for IT. Additionally, GSA can “defer or decline” the executive agent designation for governmentwide acquisition contracts for IT “when necessary to ensure continuity of service or as otherwise appropriate.” According to the White House, Federal agencies have been independently purchasing software – such as office productivity tools – leading to pricing inconsistencies. “For example, the cost of a comprehensive suite of Microsoft Office 365 services could vary between agencies by more than $200 per license,” a fact sheet on the EO says, adding, “Consolidating the acquisition of this software in GSA could result in more than $100M in savings per year.” OMB will issue guidance to Federal agencies on how to carry out this executive order within 14 days.
NSF CIO Departs
A big thanks to Terry Carpenter, who has departed as the National Science Foundation (NSF) ’s chief information officer (CIO). An NSF spokesperson confirmed Carpenter’s departure in an email to MeriTalk, noting that Clyde E. Richards has since fulfilled the role of acting CIO. Carpenter left the agency at the end of February, a little over a year after taking the helm of the agency’s IT office. Before taking charge of the OCIO, Carpenter joined NSF in July 2023 as a senior adviser to Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. It is not yet clear what Carpenter’s plans are following his departure from the agency. As for Richards, he has served as the deputy CIO at NSF since March 2024.
IGs Save the Day (or $71.1B)
If you’re looking for a good way to save taxpayer money, the Federal inspectors general (IGs) have it figured out. The agency watchdogs saved $71.1 billion in cost efficiency improvements in fiscal year (FY) 2024, according to a report from the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE). The CIGIE report found that within the $71.1 billion saved in Federal agencies, inspectors general attributed $52.7 billion to audit recommendations and $18.4 billion to investigative receivables and recoveries, which reflects the results of criminal and civil trials as well as voluntary repayments. “CIGIE is proud to contribute to and support the IG community’s collective efforts that promote responsive, accountable, and transparent government programs and operations,” CIGIE Acting Chair Tammy Hall said. How did the IGs do it? They issued 2,042 audit, inspection, and evaluation reports and conducted investigations that resulted in 3,675 criminal prosecutions and 1,015 civil actions. Hooray for cost savings!
Once again, let’s “call IT a day,” but we'll bring you more next week. Until then, please check the MeriTalk breaking news website throughout the day for the latest on government IT people, process, and policy.
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