The Government Technology Insider Podcast

​Federal agencies are facing a growing FOIA challenge: request volumes have surged dramatically over the past decade, while the requests themselves have become increasingly complex, often involving large volumes of electronic records, multiple custodians, and sensitive data sources. At the same time, many agencies are trying to meet statutory response deadlines with reduced staffing, and processes that still rely heavily on manual review and disconnected legacy systems. As agencies attempt to fulfill these requests and comply with the 20-day turnaround time required by law, the legacy technology and systems that form the backbone of eDiscovery in the federal government are showing their age. These challenges increase security and litigation risks, contribute to a growing backlog of requests, and undermine public trust in an open and transparent government. ​ ​Addressing these challenges and modernizing FOIA processes and eDiscovery systems relies on a foundation of next-generation technology, powered by artificial intelligence. In this episode of the Government Technology Insider Podcast, Victoria Cash, Product Director, Open Government Solutions, and Kelly Swank, Vice President of Business Development, from Casepoint joined host, Lucas Hunsicker, to explore developments in eDiscovery technology and imagine a more sustainable, integrated, and secure FOIA platform that will support federal agencies for years to come. ​

In this episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, host Lucas Hunsicker discussed the practical implications of the CMMC 2.0 pause with Doug Barbin, President and National Managing Principal at Schellman. Barbin explained why the announcement, despite its abruptness, wasn’t entirely unexpected, why identifying and tracking CUI as it moves from primes down through layers of subcontractors continues to be the biggest ongoing challenge, and why the majority of Schellman clients are still moving forward with the certification. He also looked ahead to the DoW’s 60-day review, the significance of responding to the Request for Information (RFI), and where he sees emerging solutions helping smaller contractors shrink their compliance footprint.

To support operations worldwide, the U.S. Air Force relies on a secure and resilient network infrastructure, but delivering Air Force-grade connectivity is rarely a quick process. According to the Government Accountability Office, major federal acquisitions can take years to go from requirement development to implementation, which creates challenges for organizations trying to keep up with rapidly evolving technologies and mission demands.In this episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, host Matt Langan spoke with Verizon experts Luis Delgado, Senior Client Partner, and Cung Nguyen, Senior Sales Engineer, about the procurement challenges that can delay critical network modernization efforts across the Air Force. Additionally, they discussed how agencies can better align acquisition timelines with operational requirements, when more flexible approaches like Other Transaction Authority (OTA) may be appropriate, and where traditional contracting vehicles like Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) can support mission needs.

Government is not an exception to the growing adoption of AI across industries. The Government Accountability Office reported that federal agencies’ use cases for AI more than doubled in one year, from approximately 571 in 2023 to 1,110 in 2024, with generative AI use cases increasing by nearly nine times, from 32 to 282. This massive growth is opening the door for agentic AI, which goes beyond automation to scale efficiency across government IT and proactively address problems. In this episode of Government Technology Insider podcast, host Lucas Hunsicker dives deeply into how government IT teams are utilizing automation and AI to improve service delivery and streamline operations with Nate Riley, Field Sales Manager for Public Sector at BMC Helix. They discuss how agencies are using AI-powered self-service tools, knowledge management systems, and agentic digital assistants to reduce ticket volume, expedite resolutions, and free up IT staff to focus on higher-value work. The conversation also delves into hot-button strategies like the ‘bring your own large language model (LLM)’ model and how leaders can transform small-scale pilots into secure, mission-critical initiatives.

By enabling real-time anomaly detection, adaptive access control, and more secure digital environments, AI is reshaping how state, local, and education (SLED) organizations approach cybersecurity. However, as adoption grows, leaders are learning that implementing AI-powered cyber defenses isn't just about technology; it also involves user education, evaluating vendors wisely, and fostering a culture of trust and transparency. In part one, Government Technology Insider podcast, host Luas Hunsicker spoke with Aaron McAllister, Principal Solutions Architect for SASE at Cloudflare, and MT Robertson, Director of Cybersecurity at Presidio about the foundation of AI-powered Zero Trust solutions. They covered topics like the role of explainable AI, the significance of data ethics, and how automation can strengthen defenses in understaffed environments. In part two, their discussion shifts from theory to application. The guests look at the human aspect; how to explain the practical applications of AI to administrators, educators, and IT teams without overwhelming them with technical terms. Robertson emphasized the need for engaging and scalable user training, saying: “There’s an element of gamification that goes into it... leaderboards, that type of thing can be powerful in helping train on what to be looking out for, what not to do, and what to do.” They also explore key questions that SLED organizations should consider when evaluating AI and Zero Trust vendors, such as how well AI can integrate into existing systems and how transparent and accurate they are. For vendor partnerships to deliver true value, McAllister emphasized that they must go beyond industry buzzwords.