Last week, the U.S. Senate confirmed Michael Kratsios as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology. During the first Trump Administration, Voices for Innovation leaders met with Kratsios—then Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer—at the White House where they discussed a range of issues facing the tech industry, including the need for federal data privacy legislation.
Following last week’s confirmation, President Trump sent a letter to Kratsios underscoring key science and tech priorities for the Administration, including securing our nation’s position as the “world leader in critical and emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and nuclear technology.” Additional details about these priorities can be found in coverage here.
This Week in Washington
- Nextgov: On Monday, House members reintroduced the CREATE AI Act, which would permanently establish the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) initiative. Now operating as a pilot program, NAIRR aims to provide AI computing power and data access to qualifying organizations that would otherwise be unable to fully benefit from AI.
- FedScoop: The Expanding Partnerships for Innovation and Competitiveness (EPIC) Act was reintroduced in the House and the Senate earlier this week. The bipartisan bill would establish a nonprofit foundation aimed at boosting private-sector partnerships at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
- Nextgov: According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Nathan Simington, the Cyber Trust Mark, a recently unveiled cybersecurity labeling program for smart products, may expand to include equipment beyond household internet appliances.
- StateScoop: During a hearing on Tuesday, cyber experts urged lawmakers on the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection to reauthorize funding for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.
Article Summary
- Broadband Breakfast: In an effort to accelerate high-speed internet expansion, a new bill was introduced in the Michigan House that would exempt broadband grants from state taxation. The goal is to maximize the impact of broadband funding by ensuring providers can use the full value of their grants for infrastructure projects.
- UFHealth: Researchers at the University of Florida Health Cancer Center are developing AI algorithms for a range of medical image analysis tasks. The goal is to create effective, personalized and less costly healthcare solutions that decrease the burden of diseases such as cancer.
- StateScoop: The Indiana Secretary of State’s Office unveiled a generative AI tool called “Captain Record” that allows users to search more than 100 years’ worth of state documents. Captain Record is currently only available for internal use, but after the chatbot function is launched the state aims to make it publicly available.
Featured Highlight
- TEDTech
“We’re changing the world through the power of AI, not just revolutionizing technology, but enhancing human connection,” said software engineer Adam Mundler. Mundler is on a mission to break down communication barriers between the Deaf and hearing worlds through an AI platform called OmniBridge. Learn how AI technology can help bridge the gap between these worlds. (“How AI can bridge the Deaf and hearing worlds | Adam Munder” – March 28, 2025)