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The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was established by President Trump on January 20, 2025, and is situated within the existing United States Digital Service (USDS). The authorizing Executive Order (EO), Establishing and Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency," directs the reorganized USDS to “implement the President’s DOGE Agenda, by modernizing federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”
This week on February 11, the White House issued another EO, Implementing the President's "Department of Government Efficiency" Workforce Optimization Initiative, and an accompanying fact sheet with direction on how to downsize the federal government by consolidating or eliminating agencies and enhance conduct standards.
Read more about DOGE’s implementation to date—including authorizing executive actions, practices underway, and legal implications—in our analysis.
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Cabinet Confirmations
The Senate voted this week to confirm Robert F. Kennedy as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services in a 52-48 vote. In addition, they confirmed Brooke Rollins as the new Secretary of Agriculture with a bipartisan vote of 72-28.
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Advancing Social and Economic Mobility | |
GAO Finds USDA's SNAP Must Change Funding Practices to Comply
SNAP is funded by annual appropriations. Before September 19, 2023, USDA recorded daily obligations based on benefits issued each day. On that date, USDA began obligating FY 2023 funds for FY 2024 benefits issued in October 2023. The GAO found both practices violated the recording statute, which requires obligations to be recorded when appropriations are available. The proper amount to record should be the best estimate of FY 2023 benefits. The change also violated the bona fide needs statute by using FY 2023 funds for FY 2024 benefits. However, the previous daily recording practice complied with this statute. USDA must adjust its accounts to charge FY 2024 benefits to FY 2024 appropriations and report an Antideficiency Act violation if funds are insufficient.
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Moving Human Services Upstream | |
GAO Report Highlights Medicaid Enrollment Challenges for Former Foster Care Youth
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report titled "Medicaid: Enrollment in and CMS Oversight of Former Foster Care Children Eligibility Group." In this report, it addresses the challenges faced by individuals who have aged out of foster care in enrolling and maintaining Medicaid coverage. The report highlights barriers such as frequent address changes and mistrust of state agencies, and it discusses state efforts to address these issues, including using text messaging and collaborating with trusted organizations.
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Strengthening the Human Services Sector | |
RFI on Development of AI Action Plan
The National Coordination Office (NCO), within the National Science Foundation's Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD), and on behalf of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), has issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. Released on February 6, 2025, this RFI seeks input from a broad range of stakeholders, including academia, industry groups, private sector organizations, and government entities, to help shape the future of AI policy in the United States. The initiative, directed by a Presidential Executive Order, aims to define priority policy actions to sustain and enhance America's AI leadership while ensuring that regulatory requirements do not stifle private sector innovation. Interested parties can participate by submitting their comments via email or mail by March 15, 2025.
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Copyright Office Releases AI and Copyright Report on Copyrightability
The U.S. Copyright Office has published part 2 of its report on copyright and AI, which addresses the copyrightability of AI-generated content. In this report, it establishes that AI-generated works, including art, can be eligible for copyright protection if there are sufficient human contributions to the AI-generated outputs to constitute authorship. However, the report clarifies that purely AI-generated material, which lacks human intervention or transformation, does not qualify for copyright protection.
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WEBINAR: Learn to THRIVE...Live!
Join APHSA for an interactive walk-through and live demo of our Training Hub for Resources, Innovation, and Virtual Exchange (THRIVE). THRIVE is a Learning Management System (LMS) offering various resources, interactive eLearning courses, and online community spaces for collaboration and engagement with human services professionals. Discover how to navigate THRIVE, enroll in courses, access resources, and connect with peers to invest in your professional growth.
February 19
2:00-3:00pm ET
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APHSA National Human Services Summit 2025 - Call for Proposals
We are seeking proposals for the APHSA National Human Services Summit in Philadelphia, PA, June 1-4. Submissions should highlight innovative policy, practice, and system approaches; elevate the important work of the human services sector; and showcase leadership strategies that foster a sense of resilience, workforce well-being, and productive collaboration.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 28, 2025
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ISM Education Conference & Expo 2025 - Call for Proposals
We are also seeking proposals for the IT Solutions Management for Human Services (ISM) Education Conference & Expo in Reno, NV, September 14-17. Submissions should highlight tech-enabled innovation; people-powered design; data-driven program delivery; cross-systems alignment; and evidence-based policy.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 28, 2025
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PHSA Education Conference 2025 - Call for Proposals
We are seeking proposals for the Public Human Services Attorneys (PHSA) Education Conference in Reno, NV, October 19-22. Submissions should highlight innovative, evidence-based, best or promising practices or important foundational content and reflect on the current landscape of agencies and the communities they serve.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 28, 2025
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APHSA Career Center - Post Your Open Positions Today
APHSA serves as a clearinghouse for job opportunities throughout the Human Services sector. Employers reach a wide audience of candidates searching for careers and job seekers will find a number of opportunities throughout the country.
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