White House Uses AI to Enhance Government Efficiency

Published Date : 30/09/2025 

The White House has officially made artificial intelligence a cornerstone of its government efficiency agenda, aiming to streamline operations and enhance productivity with fewer federal employees. 

The Trump administration has officially recognized artificial intelligence (AI) as a crucial element in its government efficiency agenda. Many agency leaders have previously discussed how AI can streamline operations and get more work done with fewer federal employees. Now, the White House is making AI one of its science and technology priorities for fiscal year 2027.

Recent staffing losses at the U.S. Forest Service have caused the agency to put its modernization plans on hold. The Forest Service has been looking to modernize the way it tracks and maps wildfires. However, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that the agency has struggled to dedicate resources to long-term planning due to workforce overhauls. Although agency officials have recently managed to staff back up to previous levels, the next steps for improving technology remain unclear.

The Department of the Air Force has implemented a new policy to manage Software as a Service (SaaS) subscriptions as a commodity-based service rather than a licensed software asset. A new memo requires the Air Force to use enterprise contract vehicles for SaaS instead of purchasing it as a contract line item. This centralized approach will enhance visibility, reduce costs, and ensure standardized governance across the force. The policy also mandates that vendors guarantee unrestricted government data ownership, data transfer rights, and the ability to download, migrate, and access data in a usable format without additional charges.

The Senate has confirmed Mike Dodd as the first assistant secretary of defense for critical technologies. In this new role, Dodd will serve as the Pentagon's chief advocate for unifying and advancing investments in critical defense technologies. The Defense Department created this position last year to better position the office of the under secretary of defense for research and engineering to execute its mission of preserving the nation’s technological edge. Dodd's top priorities include reforming DoD acquisition, strengthening the adoption of critical technologies, and planning for the transition from the outset of each project. He will also continue to serve as the acting director of the Defense Innovation Unit.

The Census Bureau plans to test using postal workers as census takers. A Federal Register notice announced that the agency will conduct practice counts for the 2030 Census in at least two locations early next year. Potential sites include western Texas, tribal lands in Arizona, Colorado Springs, Colo., western North Carolina, Spartanburg, S.C., and Huntsville, Ala. While the idea has been proposed before, a 2011 GAO report found it might not be cost-effective due to the relatively high pay of postal employees compared to temporary Census workers.

Federal correctional officers have become the latest employees to lose their collective bargaining abilities. The Federal Bureau of Prisons has terminated its union contract with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) effective immediately. The canceled contract, initially set to last until May 2029, covered over 30,000 correctional officers. AFGE officials warn that the loss of union protections will exacerbate existing workforce challenges, such as understaffing and low pay.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is making significant progress on its IT modernization initiatives. However, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) noted that the agency has not decommissioned any of its legacy systems yet, which is one of the ultimate goals of the project. IRS IT officials informed TIGTA that they are getting closer to this target. According to TIGTA, about 63% of IRS IT systems are considered legacy systems, and the IRS spent over $39 million in fiscal 2024 to maintain and operate these legacy systems. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the White House's new policy on AI in government?

A: The White House has officially made artificial intelligence (AI) one of its science and technology priorities for fiscal year 2027, aiming to streamline government operations and enhance productivity.

Q: Why has the U.S. Forest Service put its modernization plans on hold?

A: The U.S. Forest Service has put its modernization plans on hold due to recent staffing losses and the struggle to dedicate resources to long-term planning.

Q: What is the new policy for managing SaaS subscriptions in the Department of the Air Force?

A: The Department of the Air Force will now manage Software as a Service (SaaS) subscriptions as a commodity-based service, using enterprise contract vehicles to improve visibility, reduce costs, and ensure standardized governance.

Q: Who is Mike Dodd, and what is his new role?

A: Mike Dodd has been confirmed as the first assistant secretary of defense for critical technologies. His role is to unify and advance investments in critical defense technologies and reform DoD acquisition processes.

Q: What is the Census Bureau's plan for the 2030 Census?

A: The Census Bureau plans to test using postal workers as census takers and will conduct practice counts in at least two locations early next year for the 2030 Census. 

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