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.

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.

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.