Future of Payment Integrity within the U.S. Federal Government

Submitted by on Tue, 01/30/2024 - 21:01

Paying the right person, in the right amount, at the right time—from Social Security benefits to tax refund payments—constitutes a bedrock of trust in government. Disbursing payments, whether via check or (ideally) direct deposit, is one of the most direct ways that the federal government interacts with the public. It also represents one of the primary levers that the federal government uses to provide a safety net to vulnerable populations, promote economic prosperity, and ensure national security.

What does “accountability” mean for government experts?

Submitted by on Mon, 01/29/2024 - 18:31

That’s the puzzle hiding at the core of the increasingly raucous debate about Schedule F and the future of the American civil service. Former Trump officials are promising to bring back the executive order launched at the end of the administration. They hope to make it easier to fire poor performers inside the federal government—and those intent on blocking Trump’s policies in a second term.

EXPERTS IN GOVERNMENT: A Conversation with Prof. Don Kettl.

Submitted by on Mon, 01/29/2024 - 16:23
How do we balance the age-old battles between expertise and accountability in government? What is the role of experts in governance? Why have the challenges of bureaucratic capacity and control become far greater in the twenty-first century? Join host Michael Keegan as he explores these questions and more with Professor Don Kettl, author of EXPERTS IN GOVERNMENT: The Deep State from Caligula to Trump and Beyond on a Special Edition of The Business of Government Hour – Conversations with Authors.
Broadcast Date: 
Monday, January 29, 2024 - 16:12
Author: 
Don Kettl
Audio: 
Audio icon don_kettl2_podcast_abcd.mp3

Weekly Roundup: January 22-26, 2024

Submitted by on Fri, 01/26/2024 - 20:47

TMF funds 3 more agency projects to improve IT, customer service. The TMF is investing more than $70 million in a new wave of IT projects to modernize legacy IT and enable a higher level of customer service. Federal Chief Information Officer Clare Martorana said in a statement that the TMF investments will “strengthen cybersecurity, reduce burden for the federal workforce so they can focus on mission, and improve trust with the millions counting on the

How Can AI Drive Better Taxpayer Experience and Improved Tax Agency Operations?

Submitted by on Fri, 01/26/2024 - 17:23

Blog Co-Author: Paul Dommel, Partner, Federal Tax and Finance, IBM Consulting

Interest in artificial intelligence (AI) has surged across government. National and international legislation has been proposed, and U.S. Federal agencies are now implementing requirements set forth in the new Executive Order on AI. Such policy and progress affect government work across civilian and defense sectors—including work done by tax agencies with the public and business communities.

Toward More Useful Federal Oversight

Submitted by on Thu, 01/25/2024 - 14:41

Well-executed oversight is an invaluable aspect of government operations. It complements program and cross-program implementation by increasing the likelihood that government spending and actions realize their intended benefit.

Collin Coil

Submitted by on Thu, 01/25/2024 - 14:01
Collin Coil is a leading-edge researcher at the American University Center for Data Science, harnessing the power of machine learning to tackle challenges across diverse fields. His expertise spans reinforcement learning, deep learning, and large language models, leading to groundbreaking applications in cheminformatics, finance, political science, and beyond. Driven by real-world impact, Collin collaborates with diverse stakeholders to develop innovative AI solutions, drawing on his theoretical background to lead discussions on AI governance,

Caroline Bruckner

Submitted by on Thu, 01/25/2024 - 13:57

Caroline Bruckner is a tax professor on the faculty of the Kogod School of Business (KSB) and is the Managing Director of the Kogod Tax Policy Center at American University (AU). Since joining KSB in 2015, she has released groundbreaking research on the gig economy and small business tax literacy as well as women business owners and the U.S. tax code.

AI and the Modern Tax Agency

Submitted by on Thu, 01/25/2024 - 12:00

On behalf of the IBM Center for The Business of Government, in collabo­ration with the American University Kogod School of Business Tax Policy Center, we are pleased to present this new report, AI and the Modern Tax Agency: Adopting and Deploying AI to Improve Tax Administration, by Caroline Bruckner and Collin Coil of the Kogod Tax Policy Center.

Event Highlights: Building On Regulatory Foundations and Bridging to the Future

Submitted by on Wed, 01/24/2024 - 18:22

Two more recent, but no less important, foundations are Executive Order 12866 of 1993 and Circular A-4 of 2003. In November, the IBM Center for the Business of Government and the George Washington University Regulatory Studies Center gathered regulatory experts to reflect on these foundations and explore emerging opportunities and challenges for good regulatory practice.

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