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Login.gov Implements Persistent Browser ID, Raising Privacy Concerns Amid Push for Universal Federal Sign-On

Login.gov Implements Persistent Browser ID, Raising Privacy Concerns Amid Push for Universal Federal Sign-On

Login.gov, the U.S. federal government's identity platform, has introduced a persistent browser identifier, `nds_experiment_uuid`, stored as a long-lived browser cookie. This identifier is linked to analytics data, including IP addresses, browser information, and other device data. The implementation is part of an experiment with the National Design Studio (NDS), a White House organization, to test versions of Login.gov's redesigned interface. While a Login.gov developer approved the implementation, a GitHub issue questioning the identifier's apparent 20-year lifespan and the privacy review process remains unanswered. This development raises concerns about how the practice aligns with Login.gov's public statement that its website analytics are anonymized and that no personally identifying user information is tied to this data. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has directed agencies to offer Login.gov as a sign-on option for public-facing services, aiming for a universal federal sign-on.

Why is Federal Baseline Budgeting Important

Why is Federal Baseline Budgeting Important

Baseline budgeting is a specific accounting method employed by the United States Federal Government to project future budgets. This system uses cur...

George Mason University Launches Second Year of Grand Challenge Initiative Funding

George Mason University Launches Second Year of Grand Challenge Initiative Funding

George Mason University recently held its first Grand Challenge Initiative (GCI) Exchange Day, bringing together over 200 faculty members to discuss ongoing GCI-related work and foster collaboration. The event, hosted by the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact (ORIEI) and interim vice president Aurali Dade, marked the launch of the second year of GCI funding. George Mason launched GCI in 2025 with a five-year, $15 million investment to align university resources and expertise around six interconnected solutions aimed at securing a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous future. The initiative has already awarded funding to two large and five small catalyst projects in its first year. President Gregory Washington emphasized that GCI is transforming George Mason into a unified research engine capable of competing at the highest levels and positioning the university for long-term competitiveness by focusing on areas of national priority. The event included a fireside chat with George Mason alumnus S...

Akeba Rice Resigns as Chair of NYU Administrative Management Council Amid Budget Concerns

Akeba Rice Resigns as Chair of NYU Administrative Management Council Amid Budget Concerns

Akeba Rice has resigned as the chair of New York University's Administrative Management Council (AMC), cutting her year-long term short by nine months. Jen Curtis, the council's vice chair, has succeeded her and will serve for the remainder of the term. Rice, who has been an implant manager at the NYU College of Dentistry since 2018, previously served as vice chair of the AMC's Professional Development Committee in 2023 before becoming chair for the 2024-25 academic year. Her resignation was announced in a September 10 email to administrators. The AMC, which includes all NYU administrators, aims to address community concerns, lead service initiatives, and support professional development. The resignation comes amidst significant frustration among administrators regarding recent layoffs at NYU, particularly in the Stern School of Business and the Information Technology department, where at least 25 IT administrators were affected. Additionally, the university faces a potential risk of over $150 million in i...

U.S. Department of Education Oversees National Educational Policies and Programs

U.S. Department of Education Oversees National Educational Policies and Programs

The U.S. Department of Education serves as the principal federal agency responsible for establishing policy, administering, and overseeing educational programs across the nation. Its comprehensive structure includes various key offices such as the Office of the Secretary and the Office of the Deputy Secretary, which guide the department's overall direction. Additionally, specialized divisions like the Office for Civil Rights ensure equitable access to education, while the Office of Non-Public Education addresses the needs of private schools. The Office of Student Aid plays a crucial role in providing financial assistance to students pursuing higher education. The department also maintains regional offices to facilitate the implementation of its initiatives at a local level, all working towards its core mission of promoting educational access and achievement for all American students. This organizational framework allows the department to manage a wide array of educational functions, from policy development...

Committee Approves Bills to Strengthen Maritime Cybersecurity and Federal Real Estate Oversight

Committee Approves Bills to Strengthen Maritime Cybersecurity and Federal Real Estate Oversight

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has approved several legislative measures aimed at enhancing maritime cybersecurity, increasing oversight of federal real estate, and improving aviation safety. Among the approved bills is an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to H.R. 10305, the Strengthening Oversight in Public Buildings Act of 2026. This bill modifies the public building reforms previously enacted in the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024. The primary goal of H.R. 10305 is to ensure greater transparency within the federal real estate portfolio. Key modifications include directing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide space utilization data to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Public Buildings Reform Board. Additionally, agencies with independent leasing authority will be required to report data on office space leases to relevant congressional committees. This legislation was introd...

Chemify Secures £22 Million Grant to Expand AI-Powered Chemistry and Build New Chemifarm

Chemify Secures £22 Million Grant to Expand AI-Powered Chemistry and Build New Chemifarm

Chemify Secures £22 Million Grant to Expand AI-Powered Chemistry and Build New Chemifarm

Student Loan Borrowers Face Repayment Plan Changes Amid Legal Battles and SAVE Plan Elimination

Student Loan Borrowers Face Repayment Plan Changes Amid Legal Battles and SAVE Plan Elimination

As of September 16, 2026, millions of student loan borrowers are navigating significant changes to their repayment plans following the elimination of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan by the Trump administration. The SAVE plan, initially introduced by the Biden administration, aimed to provide more affordable payment options and easier pathways to loan forgiveness. However, a lengthy legal battle initiated by Republican-led states led to its termination. Borrowers now have until September 29 to select a new repayment plan to avoid being automatically enrolled in plans with potentially higher monthly costs. An ongoing lawsuit seeks to block this forced transfer of SAVE borrowers to new plans, but a judicial ruling is still pending. The Department of Education has advised borrowers to promptly choose a 'lawful' repayment option, despite reports of glitches, incorrect billing statements, and delinquency notices experienced by some borrowers during this transition period.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde Highlights European Investment in U.S. AI Boom

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde Highlights European Investment in U.S. AI Boom

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde Highlights European Investment in U.S. AI Boom

Palm Springs Desert Sun

Study ranks U.S. cities by least to most intellectual, 7 in California

Study ranks U.S. cities by least to most intellectual, 7 in California

Maxwell Social, recently ranked the 50 most populous cities by which are most intellecutal.

UC Berkeley Haas School of Business Seeks Marketing Lecturers for Temporary Positions

UC Berkeley Haas School of Business Seeks Marketing Lecturers for Temporary Positions

UC Berkeley Haas School of Business Seeks Marketing Lecturers for Temporary Positions

University of Missouri Investigates Professor Over Alleged DEI Sympathies Following Video

University of Missouri Investigates Professor Over Alleged DEI Sympathies Following Video

The University of Missouri is currently investigating one of its professors following the emergence of a video that allegedly shows him expressing support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices. The video, reportedly filmed by Accuracy in Media (AIM) using a hidden camera, features Professor Wayne Brekhus, chair of the Department of Sociology, discussing DEI. In the video, Professor Brekhus mentions that many faculty members conduct DEI-related research, including work on identities, inequalities, and LGBTQ+ issues. He also suggests that some institutions have made DEI programs less visible by changing their names or placing them under different umbrellas. AIM claims the video demonstrates a public employee violating federal and state laws against DEI practices. The University of Missouri, which previously eliminated all DEI programs and requirements, stated on its X account that Professor Brekhus's conduct would be investigated and appropriate actions taken. Professor Brekhus later issued an...