As Washington debates the pace and direction of emerging technologies, this week’s developments underscore just how much is at stake. From new scrutiny of AI’s role in authoritarian regimes to fresh urgency around online privacy laws and defense contracts, policymakers are confronting the complex implications of innovation across sectors. Meanwhile, the House takes up pressing questions around digital health data, quantum-era cryptography, and the global race for AI dominance. Catch up on the stories, contracts, and hearings shaping the future of tech governance.

In this week’s Nimitz Tech:

• Federalism: A GOP-led plan to block state AI laws for a decade just cleared a major hurdle — but the fight is far from over.

• Autonomy: Tesla’s long-hyped Robotaxi service is finally hitting the streets — but with safety drivers, limited routes, and plenty of unanswered questions.

• Vatican: Pope Leo XIV calls on global AI leaders to uphold human dignity, wisdom, and intergenerational responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence.

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Tuesday June 24th

• ⚛️ House Hearing: “Preparing for the Quantum Age: When Cryptography Breaks.” House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation. Hearing scheduled for 2:00 PM in 2247 Rayburn HOB. Watch here.

Wednesday June 25th

• 🧬 House Hearing: “Health at Your Fingertips: Harnessing the Power of Digital Health Data.” House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health. Hearing scheduled for 9:00 AM in 100 Longworth HOB. Watch here.

• 🇨🇳 House Hearing: “Algorithms and Authoritarians: Why U.S. AI Must Lead.” House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. Hearing scheduled for 9:00 AM in HVC 210 CAPITOL. Watch here.

What Else We’re Watching:

June 25-26

• 🛰️ SmallSat & Space Access Summit: Convenes key stakeholders across DoD, IC, Federal Government, and Industry for in-depth discussions on the latest advancements in commercial and government small satellite projects, launch capabilities, and space access solutions. The event will highlight the role of small satellite deployments to ensure a sustained advantage for the U.S. and allies in the space domain. Register here.

TECH NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

In Washington

• The Senate parliamentarian has approved a controversial Republican proposal to freeze enforcement of state and local artificial intelligence regulations for ten years, paving the way for its inclusion in the party’s sweeping legislative package. To comply with Senate budget rules, Senator Ted Cruz revised the measure so that states must honor the AI moratorium in order to receive federal broadband funding. While supporters like Cruz and Rep. Jay Obernolte argue it prevents a fragmented national regulatory landscape, the provision has sparked fierce opposition from both Democrats and some conservatives, including Senators Josh Hawley and Marsha Blackburn, as well as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who warned she may vote against the broader bill if the freeze remains.

• In a new policy brief, researchers Brian J. Chen and Serena Oduro argue forcefully against a proposed federal ban on state AI regulations, warning it would stifle innovation, erode consumer protections, and entrench Big Tech power. The brief dismantles common pro-moratorium arguments — including claims that AI is evolving too fast for regulation or that state laws remain sufficient — by showing how meaningful oversight enables accountability and safety. It highlights the risks already posed by unregulated AI systems, from discriminatory practices to worker surveillance, and criticizes the current industry-dominated research landscape as self-serving and scientifically hollow. Rather than delaying action, the authors contend that regulation is essential for democratic learning, public accountability, and responsible AI development.

• The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded OpenAI a $200 million, one-year contract to develop advanced AI tools for national security, marking the company’s first official defense agreement. Most of the work will take place in the Washington, D.C. area and support applications ranging from cyber defense to military healthcare administration. The contract launches “OpenAI for Government,” a new initiative that includes ChatGPT Gov and provides U.S. agencies with access to custom AI models aligned with OpenAI’s usage guidelines. This move follows recent defense-sector partnerships involving OpenAI, Anduril, and rivals like Anthropic, as major AI companies increasingly position themselves at the center of U.S. national security infrastructure.

National

• Tesla has launched a limited pilot of its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, marking its first step toward Elon Musk’s vision of widespread autonomous ride-hailing. The service, available only to select early users, is restricted to specific routes and includes safety monitors in the front seats, raising questions about how close Tesla truly is to full autonomy. Despite Musk’s claims that Teslas will soon drive themselves and generate income for owners, analysts note the launch lags behind competitors like Waymo, which already operates fully driverless taxis across multiple cities. Tesla’s rollout also faces technical, regulatory, and political hurdles — including concerns about safety, camera-only navigation in poor conditions, and backlash tied to Musk’s polarizing political stances.

• The fatal shooting of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband has renewed national attention on the role of people-search websites and data brokers in enabling privacy violations. Investigators found notebooks in the suspect’s car listing officials’ names, addresses, and the names of 11 data broker sites that sell personal information aggregated from public records. Though it’s unclear whether these sites directly enabled the attack, lawmakers like Rep. Lori Trahan and Sen. Ron Wyden are calling for swift passage of federal legislation like the Delete Act, which would allow Americans to remove their data from broker databases with a single request. Efforts to regulate data brokers have faced legal, political, and constitutional hurdles, but advocates argue that digitized and monetized personal data—particularly when linked and sold—poses a real threat to safety, especially for vulnerable communities.

International

• In a message to participants of the Second Annual Rome Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Corporate Governance, Pope Leo XIV urged a deeply ethical approach to AI development, rooted in the dignity and spiritual integrity of the human person. Acknowledging AI’s potential for great good as well as profound harm, he emphasized that technology must remain a tool subordinate to human values and intentions. The Pope cautioned against reducing intelligence to data access and stressed the need for AI governance to protect cultural diversity, foster intergenerational wisdom, and support the intellectual and moral development of young people. He affirmed the Church’s commitment to informed dialogue on AI, invoking a vision of human-centered innovation grounded in truth, justice, and solidarity.

FOR FUN

• 🎣 Friday Night Fishing, Diamond Teague Park - Navy Yard (6/127)

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