Digital Government

The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has aggressively downsized the federal workforce. To maintain essential services with fewer staff, the administration must embrace digital transformation, leveraging AI, automation, and self-service portals to improve efficiency and modernize government operations.

The Trump administration has two choices after ending de minimis treatment for imports from China: Either turn Customs and Border Patrol into the largest federal agency, or make it a leader in government technology. In the age of AI, the right path is obvious.

The UK’s new Data (Use and Access) Bill aims to enable AI and data-driven services, reviving parts of the previous DPDI Bill. To seize post-EU opportunities, it should adopt provisions tightening personal data definitions and aligning government-ICO priorities.

Data-informed and evidence-based decision making can drive optimum outcomes in local governments.

Congress should pass the Improving Digital Identity Act to coordinate a government-wide effort to promote digital identity use in the public and private sectors.

The EU's complex digital regulations, including the recent AI Act, are causing major tech companies to delay AI rollouts, leaving Europe behind its global counterparts. To boost competitiveness, the EU must shift its focus from strict regulation to fostering digital adoption.

Following the King’s Speech two weeks ago, which outlined the new government’s legislative agenda, three key issues are likely to dominate UK AI policy discussions: AI legislation, boosting the UK’s AI ecosystem, and unlocking AI-driven productivity in the public sector. Crucially, the thread tying these three issues together is Labour’s desire for economic growth, which the UK technology sector should take as a positive step in the long road to homegrown AI innovation.

Europe's evolving political landscape, marked by recent elections and changing priorities, has significant implications for AI policy. While EU policymakers focus on defense, security, and economic growth, integrating AI could bolster these efforts.

The recent White House-sponsored conference on AI Aspirations earlier this month provided an optimistic vision for how AI could drive progress in various sectors. The breadth of the topics covered at the conference demonstrated the potential for the public sector to address important societal challenges using AI. With growing awareness of the potential benefits of AI, it is time for the federal government to create a national AI adoption strategy to accelerate its deployment.

Rob Atkinson appeared on Embracing Digital Transformation to discuss government technology policy with host Darren Pulsipher, chief solution architect for public sector at Intel.