Department of Technology

A new academic article examines how technology-driven movements, from the civic tech era to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have shaped the American administrative state. The piece traces how reformers with tech backgrounds moved from open-government and civic innovation efforts to aggressive efficiency-driven restructuring of federal agencies, and asks what this shift means for public administration.

Texas authorities have announced that the victim of a 1983 murder, long unidentified, has now been given back a name. The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the breakthrough in the decades-old cold case. Identification of victims after so many years typically involves advances in DNA and forensic genealogy, and such announcements often raise hopes that the killer may still be traced.

The Pentagon is investing in space-based solar power, a technology that would collect solar energy in orbit and beam it back to Earth. The initiative signals growing US military interest in alternative energy sources for operational resilience. Space-based solar has long been considered technically difficult and costly, so the Department of Defense's commitment is drawing attention from energy and aerospace observers.

The US Department of Justice says it has broken up a smuggling network that allegedly shipped roughly $300 million worth of computer chips to China, in violation of US export controls. The announcement is drawing wide coverage across news outlets, with attention focused on how advanced semiconductors were illicitly obtained and moved abroad despite tightening restrictions on sensitive technology exports.

Enduraphin has been named the official protein partner of Rochester Institute of Technology Athletics. The partnership makes the nutrition brand the designated protein provider for RIT's athletic programs, a common arrangement as colleges increasingly sign sponsorship deals with sports supplement companies to supply teams and promote products to student athletes and fans.

Police leadership in Decatur, Alabama, is using its proposed budget to invest in new technology and bring the department to full staffing levels. The plan, reported by local station WAFF, signals the department's priorities for the coming fiscal year, though specific costs, equipment purchases, and hiring targets have not been detailed in available coverage.

The US Department of Justice has indicted a chief executive on charges of smuggling advanced AI chips into China, in violation of US export controls. The case highlights ongoing US efforts to stop high-end semiconductors from reaching China amid tight restrictions on technology transfers and growing enforcement against evasion networks.

Colorado Springs officials have put forward funding proposals in the city's 2027 budget covering street repairs, including pothole fixes, and new technology for the Colorado Springs Police Department. The proposals were reported by KOAA News 5. Details on specific funding amounts and which technology purchases are planned have not been laid out in the available reporting.

Anthropic's Claude AI has been adopted across several US government agencies, but the Pentagon has so far refrained from using it. The divide highlights uneven uptake of commercial AI tools within the federal government, with defence officials apparently holding back even as other departments move ahead with Anthropic's technology.

A new report examines Detroit's policy on artificial intelligence, detailing how the city government deploys AI tools and the rules governing their use. The piece walks through the city's stated guidelines, what departments are allowed to do with the technology, and the safeguards in place for residents as AI adoption spreads across local government services.

The Pentagon has announced a set of new initiatives covering bases, technology and warfare. The announcement was carried by Fox News, which framed it as a package of defense modernization measures. Details of the specific programs, funding levels and timelines have not been provided, and it is not yet clear how the initiatives will affect US military operations or defense contractors.

A Fortune commentary argues the United States should create a dedicated Department of AI, warning that without centralized oversight and coordination, the federal government risks allowing artificial intelligence disruption to push the US economy 'over the brink'. The piece adds to a widening debate in Washington over how to govern rapidly advancing AI while keeping America competitive, as lawmakers and industry leaders weigh whether existing agencies are equipped to handle the technology's economic impact.

The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is questioning the New York Police Department's relationship with Flock, the automated license plate reader company. In a new update, the group says newly obtained data suggests the NYPD may have been knowingly using Flock equipment, contrary to earlier assumptions, and that the exact nature of the partnership remains unclear. Privacy advocates are pressing for disclosure and oversight of how the department deploys the cameras across the city.

Commentary in the HR technology press argues that payroll should be treated as a company-wide strategic function rather than a task confined to HR or finance departments. The piece suggests payroll touches compliance, employee trust and business operations, and calls for broader ownership and cross-departmental collaboration in how organisations manage and pay their workforce.

A judge has ruled that a police search conducted using the Flock camera network amounted to mass surveillance, a decision with potential consequences for how law enforcement uses automated license plate reader systems. The ruling, reported by The Washington Post, is likely to fuel ongoing legal and public debates over privacy rights and the expanding use of surveillance technology by police departments.

ROC has been awarded a $64.3 million contract by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide digital evidence technology. The deal positions the company as a technology supplier for the department's handling of digital evidence, though further details about the scope and duration of the contract have not been made available.

An opinion piece argues that finance departments should stop treating their work as isolated tasks and instead adopt systems thinking, viewing budgeting, reporting, forecasting and compliance as interconnected processes. The author contends that this approach helps teams spot dependencies, reduce errors and adapt more easily as data volumes and tooling grow. The discussion forms part of a broader debate on modernising finance functions through better processes and technology.

Stevens Institute of Technology's men's tennis team completed its second day of competition at the ITA Regionals, according to the athletics department. The regional tournament brings together college players from across the area in fall singles and doubles play. Details of individual results from the day were not immediately available.

The US Department of War's Critical Technologies Office has announced a partnership with In-Q-Tel, the intelligence community's nonprofit venture capital firm, aimed at accelerating the development and adoption of emerging technologies. The partnership signals a push to speed cutting-edge tech into defense applications by leveraging In-Q-Tel's track record of investing in commercial startups for national security purposes.

Utah is operating a regulatory sandbox that allows artificial intelligence companies to request exemptions from certain state rules while the state develops its own AI oversight framework. Observers describe it as an interesting state-level policy experiment, with Utah's commerce department hosting program details, though commentators note the latest update carries little concrete news beyond the program's existence.

The Trump administration has issued a national emergency order aimed at blocking risky foreign technology from the US power grid. The order gives the Energy Department new authority to restrict purchases of foreign electrical equipment deemed a national security threat. The move is being discussed in cybersecurity circles as a significant escalation in protecting critical infrastructure from foreign influence.

Police departments across Maine are reporting an increase in automatic 911 alerts triggered by crash detection technology built into smartphones and vehicles. The feature, standard on devices like the iPhone, contacts emergency services when it senses a severe collision. The rise in automated calls is prompting departments to adjust how they respond to these alerts.

The US government's America.gov website has relaunched with AI features, built by former members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and powered by Musk's Grok chatbot. The project ties the federal web presence directly to Musk's xAI technology, raising questions about procurement, political influence and the role of AI in official government communications.

The Georgia State Election Board is asking the US Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security to intervene in the state's effort to update its election equipment. The request means state officials want federal agencies involved in overseeing or assisting with the modernization of voting technology used in Georgia elections.