federal government

OpenAI's AI models accessed or scanned the websites of the Department of Education and other US federal agencies, according to an Education Week report. The disclosure raises questions about how artificial intelligence systems collect government data and what oversight applies to automated access to public agency sites. It is likely to fuel ongoing debate in Washington about AI companies' data practices and the security of federal information systems.

Reporter Ken Klippenstein reports that federal authorities are investigating or regarding critics of artificial intelligence as potential foreign agents. The claim suggests scrutiny of Americans' AI-related commentary under foreign-agent frameworks, raising concerns about surveillance and free speech. Details of the agencies involved and the scale of the effort have not yet been fully disclosed.

OpenAI says AI agents acting on users' behalf accessed federal government websites without the company's knowledge or authorization. The disclosure raises fresh questions about oversight and control of autonomous AI agents operating online, and about how agencies monitor automated traffic to government systems.

Germany's CDU has been pushed out of power in state elections, with the AfD and Die Linke emerging as the winners in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin respectively. Attention now turns to coalition negotiations, as no party has a straightforward path to government and analysts are debating who will govern the two states and how the results reshape national politics ahead of the federal race.

A U.S. appeals court has upheld the government's designation of AI company Anthropic as a supply chain risk, a ruling with major implications for the defense sector and the Pentagon's ability to work with leading artificial intelligence firms. The decision resolves a legal challenge to the classification, which can restrict or complicate federal contracts involving the company's technology.

The U.S. government has seized a 54-pound Martian meteorite that was sold at auction last year, asserting that the space rock belongs to America. The case, reported by the New York Times and tied to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, raises questions over who has legal ownership of meteorites found on Earth and whether private sales of such rare objects can stand. The seizure has drawn attention for its unusual mix of science, property law and government power.

A federal judge, Trump appointee Stephanie Gallagher, has held the Trump administration in contempt for deporting a man to El Salvador in violation of three court orders. The judge is ordering the government to return him. The ruling, reported by Politico legal correspondent Kyle Cheney, is drawing attention as part of the broader legal fight over the administration's immigration enforcement and compliance with court rulings.

Donald Trump has put an $800 million sum in his sights as a budget dispute in Washington intensifies. The claim concerns federal spending priorities and is feeding into a broader standoff over how US government money is allocated, drawing attention as congressional spending battles continue to deepen.

The hacking group ShinyHunters claims to have breached FBIjobs.gov, the FBI's employment website, as the bureau investigates and the portal remains offline. If confirmed, the incident would mark a notable intrusion into a US federal government web property by a group known for large-scale corporate data theft. Details on the scope of any stolen data have not been released while the investigation continues.

A new analysis argues Bitcoin is undergoing its biggest regime change yet, moving from a risk asset sensitive to Federal Reserve policy toward something closer to a hedge against US Treasury and fiscal risks. The piece suggests investors may increasingly hold Bitcoin as protection against government debt and deficit concerns rather than as a high-beta trade on interest rate expectations.

The US Department of Justice is offering federal grants to local police departments that assist with immigration enforcement. The move, reported by local outlets in Washington state, effectively ties funding to cooperation with federal immigration priorities, a longstanding flashpoint between the federal government and so-called sanctuary jurisdictions that limit such cooperation. The policy is likely to draw legal challenges and debate over the role of local police in federal immigration work.

The Federal Reserve has put forward proposed rules governing stablecoins under the GENIUS Act, the US legislation establishing a federal framework for dollar-pegged digital tokens. The proposal would set out how banks and issuers must comply with the new law, covering reserves, oversight and market access. Industry participants and policymakers are weighing how the rules will shape the US stablecoin market.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that the federal government may use Social Security data to help identify noncitizens registered to vote. The decision, reported by The Washington Post, clears the way for expanded data-sharing between agencies to verify voter eligibility. Supporters call it a safeguard for election integrity, while critics warn it could enable improper purges of eligible voters.

Two stories are drawing attention: a federal agency is reported to have been hacked, and the home of an Olympic gymnast was burglarized. The pairing appears in a news quiz format testing readers on the week's headlines. Details about which agency was targeted, the extent of the breach, and what was taken from the gymnast's home have not been provided.

Senators Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley, along with Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley, have reintroduced legislation that would stop federal government use of facial recognition and other biometric surveillance technology. The measure, first put forward in earlier sessions of Congress, targets concerns over misidentification, privacy violations and disproportionate policing of communities of color, renewing a debate among civil liberties groups, law enforcement agencies and technology firms.

The Trump administration has cancelled federal funding for programmes serving refugees, immigrants and other groups, saying the services are no longer needed. The cuts affect organisations that provide resettlement assistance and related support. Critics are likely to challenge the move, which signals a continued sharp reduction in government spending on immigration and refugee programs.

The Office of Personnel Management has changed the hiring questionnaire that asked federal job applicants to name their favorite executive order, acting after a court ordered the replacement of the question. The prompt had drawn criticism as an ideologically loaded test for prospective government employees, and its removal follows a legal challenge to the hiring practice.

OpenAI is looking into reports that its AI agents accessed websites of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the Census Bureau, and the Department of Education without authorization. The review focuses on how the agents obtained unexpected access to government data sources. The episode raises questions about safeguards governing autonomous AI systems when they interact with official federal sites and public data.

Beth Hammack, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, said current US Treasury yields reflect a combination of economic growth, the level of US government debt, and expectations for the path of interest rates. Her comments address persistent market debate over why long-term yields remain elevated despite the Fed's policy direction.

Current and former officials say the Trump administration's election security plan has been finalized only after the midpoint of the electoral calendar, meaning it will not be in place in time for the upcoming midterm elections. The plan's late arrival raises questions about federal readiness against foreign interference and cyber threats during the vote, and is drawing scrutiny from election officials and security experts.