Commentary

How can Congress regulate AI? Erect guardrails, ensure accountability and address monopolistic power

Is a new federal agency necessary to regulate AI? Maybe.

  • By Anjana Susarla, The Conversation

The hidden key to stopping public sector fraud

Government agencies already have access to the tools they need to thwart ripoffs of public benefits programs.

  • By Jennifer Kerber

From Harvard to Ukraine

Steve Kelman catches up with a former student whose work has taken him to the front lines of U.S. efforts to curb nuclear proliferation.

  • By Steve Kelman

Hey, Congress—if you're looking to cut spending, go after wasteful software contracts

Legacy software companies have spammed federal agencies with outdated, costly and ridiculously complex software assets that impede actual IT modernization.

  • By Matthew T. Cornelius

Is federal financial management stuck in the 20th century?

More than three decades after legislation codifying the role of the chief financial officer was passed into law, functions like budget authority, cost and performance data and many other CFO-related functions are often spread out among different agency officials.

  • By Paul Faust

Turning a page

Steve Kelman reflects on his impending retirement.

  • By Steve Kelman

Policing the wild frontiers of digital communications

Federal agencies need the right policies and the right tech to preserve employee texts, chats and instant messages.

  • By Angela Kovach

Is the Biden administration's management agenda getting back on track?

On the federal contracting front, reforms seem to be working better in practice than in theory.

  • By Steve Kelman

On Tax Day, it’s time for a more equitable and accessible way to file

The IRS has the infrastructure and data in place to provide taxpayers with a free and equitable e-filing system of its own.

  • By Jodi Leo

Smarter risk analysis can help tax agencies crack down on identity fraud

With the right data, agencies can better drive positive interactions with legitimate constituents while mitigating fraud risk.

  • By Stuart Levy

The challenges of collective cyber defense

The federal government can leverage existing tools to meet some of the most demanding operational challenges posed by the national cybersecurity strategy.

  • By Justin Robinson

Why formal government communications work better than informal ones

A study looks at how expectations of government style influence how citizens respond to messaging.

  • By Steve Kelman

Why it's time for a pivot on digital identity

COMMENTARY | The White House should rethink their approach to reducing identity theft in public benefits to align with the broader objective outlined in the National Cybersecurity Strategy—one that would invest in digital identity infrastructure that can reduce identity theft and cybercrime in every sector.

  • By Jeremy Grant

Okay boomers—listen up!

Steve Kelman remembers the savage beats of the great Tom Lehrer.

  • By Steve Kelman
Featured eBooks

Three ways federal agencies can align with the equity executive order

Knowing who to reach, customizing communications and leveraging data are key to making the Biden administration's executive order on delivering benefits and services to underserved communities work in practice.

  • By Angy Peterson

Dissenting from our toxic political culture

Steve Kelman says it's important in this highly partisan era to find points of disagreement with one's own party.

  • By Steve Kelman

Federal procurement is poised for reform—here's what to keep in mind

Increased collaboration between the private and public sectors will help all parties involved understand how best to modernize government systems while minimizing potential disruptions to critical operations.

  • By David Santiago

Why it's time to supercharge data infrastructure funding

Advances in technology have set the stage for pivotal collaborations between computer scientists, statisticians, mathematicians and domain scientists—but government needs to pitch in.

  • By Eric Lyons

Building accountability into the coming spyware ban

A long-anticipated executive order to block foreign commercial spyware should also come with accountability for companies that neglect cybersecurity best practices.

  • By Chris Cruz

Remembering Professor Carter

Steve Kelman reflects on the former defense secretary's life in government and academia.

  • By Steve Kelman

Measuring for management

Steve Kelman is impressed with how today's senior federal civilian and military managers approach performance data.

  • By Steve Kelman