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Welcome to the Fed Tech Priorities Summit!

As the federal government gears up for FY26, agencies face a critical inflection point for modernization. Learn more about the administration’s federal priorities from top agency leaders.

Sponsored by Maximus

As agencies accelerate transformational technology deployments—from AI systems and cloud modernization to Zero Trust architectures and cybersecurity resilience—securing the right talent is emerging as a defining challenge for modernization success. Federal technologists and policymakers alike have acknowledged that shrinking workforce ranks, prolonged hiring freezes, and outdated hiring processes have strained agency capacity even as demand for digital skills grows. With fewer than 9% of federal employees under the age of 30 and workforce pipelines disrupted by hiring bottlenecks and processes, there’s a need for new approaches to recruitment and retention.

This session will unpack how agencies and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) are experimenting with next-generation talent strategies—from skills-based hiring frameworks and cross-government virtual job fairs to new programs like the U.S. Tech Force that seek to bring early-career and specialized technologists into public service. Attendees will explore how to expand internal tech expertise, streamline recruitment pathways, partner with education and private sector stakeholders, and build flexible, cross-agency teams equipped for the future of federal mission delivery.

Sponsored by OutSystems

Artificial intelligence is no longer a speculative topic in federal IT — it’s rapidly becoming a core operational capability across mission portfolios. According to recent federal inventories, agencies reported more than 1,700 distinct AI use cases, with generative AI adoption increasing nearly ninefold over the past year and applications spanning from internal operations to direct citizen service delivery. Across the federal landscape, organizations including HHS, VA, and DHS are using AI already to streamline workflows, augment analytics, and enable new service models that improve outcomes and responsiveness. 

This session will highlight concrete AI deployments that are delivering measurable mission value — from predictive analytics and automation of administrative workflows to secure, citizen-facing services — while addressing the practical hurdles of scaling, compliance, and integration in the federal context. Panelists will share lessons on operationalizing AI, managing risk, and aligning investments with FY26 priorities, giving attendees actionable strategies to turn experimentation into impact.

As government services grow increasingly digital, agencies face a mounting challenge: ensuring security and protecting mission integrity without creating barriers that erode trust or accessibility. Recent reporting highlights how identity fraud, synthetic identity misuse, and payment abuse are rising even as agencies expand online interactions for benefits, licensing, and tax processing — exposing gaps in legacy authentication models and traditional risk frameworks. 

This session will explore how federal leaders are rethinking digital identity and fraud prevention for the modern citizen — combining adaptive risk scoring, real-time behavioral analytics, and privacy-preserving credentialing with user-centered design. Panelists will examine how agencies can deploy emerging technologies such as federated identity frameworks, continuous authentication, and AI-enhanced anomaly detection to reduce fraud while maintaining seamless, equitable access to services. Attendees will gain practical insights on balancing security, usability, and compliance; navigating cross-agency identity initiatives; and building digital trust without compromising speed or convenience.

Federal acquisition is at a pivot point—with continued modernization efforts, emerging policy reforms, and a shifting supplier landscape shaping how agencies buy technology and services. While updates to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) aim to streamline processes, the growth of hybrid contract vehicles, modular procurement approaches, and outcomes-based acquisitions is redefining how missions are delivered.

This session will go beyond headlines to explore how acquisition innovation is reshaping the federal marketplace — from regulatory redesign and data-driven contract strategy to flexible vehicles that support rapid tech refresh cycles. Panelists will offer insights for federal buyers and industry partners on navigating the changing landscape, reducing procurement friction, and aligning acquisition strategies to FY26 modernization priorities.

Federal cybersecurity priorities are rapidly evolving from abstract mandates to operational imperatives—shaped by the National Cybersecurity Strategy, cross-agency funding guidance in the FY26 budget, and an expanding constellation of compliance regimes. Agencies are now contending not only with Zero Trust implementation plans and modern defense architectures, but also with secure software supply chain requirements, rising expectations for incident response readiness, and new reporting obligations for critical infrastructure protections. 

This session will unpack how fiscal signals and evolving mandates are reshaping what it means to defend federal missions. Rather than viewing compliance as a checkbox, panelists will explore how organizations are embedding security into operations—from hardened identity infrastructure and continuous monitoring to shared defense models that integrate government and contractor teams. Attendees will hear firsthand how leaders are meeting obligations for Zero Trust, software assurance, and supply chain risk management without impeding mission delivery, and how adaptable cybersecurity programs are being built to withstand disruptions while enabling agility and innovation.

As federal appropriators and agency leaders finalize FY26 plans, technology priorities are emerging through investment signals and strategic guidance that reflect modern needs and constrained resources. With cybersecurity, AI, cloud, and digital transformation rising as agency budgets wane, this session will provide a comprehensive look at where federal dollars are flowing and how agencies can position themselves to capture funding and advance their tech agenda. 

This session will explore how fiscal signals and policy decisions are shaping the federal IT investment outlook — identifying where funding is holding firm, where reductions are likely, and where opportunities remain for innovation and industry engagement. Panelists will explore cross-agency spending priorities, trade-offs among workforce, infrastructure, and digital services, and emerging investment channels driving modernization in FY26. Attendees will gain a grounded understanding of how to position projects, partnerships, and proposals to align with administration goals and secure funding in a constrained but opportunity-rich budget landscape.

Thank you for attending The Fed Tech Priorities Summit 2026!