New task force to oversee DoD’s removal of all diversity, equity and inclusion offices

Federal Newscast

#Society #News #Government #Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio

1:14:43

Artificial intelligence is evolving at an unprecedented pace—what does that mean for the future of technology, venture capital, business, and even our understanding of ourselves? Award-winning journalist and writer Anil Ananthaswamy joins us for our latest episode to discuss his latest book Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Math Behind Modern AI . Anil helps us explore the journey and many breakthroughs that have propelled machine learning from simple perceptrons to the sophisticated algorithms shaping today’s AI revolution, powering GPT and other models. The discussion aims to demystify some of the underlying mathematical concepts that power modern machine learning, to help everyone grasp this technology impacting our lives–even if your last math class was in high school. Anil walks us through the power of scaling laws, the shift from training to inference optimization, and the debate among AI’s pioneers about the road to AGI—should we be concerned, or are we still missing key pieces of the puzzle? The conversation also delves into AI’s philosophical implications—could understanding how machines learn help us better understand ourselves? And what challenges remain before AI systems can truly operate with agency? If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for exclusive insights and updates on upcoming TechSurge Live Summits. Links: Read Why Machines Learn, Anil’s latest book on the math behind AI https://www.amazon.com/Why-Machines-Learn-Elegant-Behind/dp/0593185749 Learn more about Anil Ananthaswamy’s work and writing https://anilananthaswamy.com/ Watch Anil Ananthaswamy’s TED Talk on AI and intelligence https://www.ted.com/speakers/anil_ananthaswamy Discover the MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellowship that shaped Anil’s AI research https://ksj.mit.edu/ Understand the Perceptron, the foundation of neural networks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perceptron Read about the Perceptron Convergence Theorem and its significance https://www.nature.com/articles/323533a0…

рік тому 7:25

MP3•Головна епізоду

A new task force will oversee the Defense Department's efforts to abolish all diversity, equity and inclusion offices within the department. The task force's mission is described as getting rid of “any vestiges of such offices that subvert meritocracy, perpetuate unconstitutional discrimination, and promote radical ideologies related to systemic racism and gender fluidity.” The move is part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to create “merit-based, color-blind policies.” Housed under the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, the task force will oversee the removal of DEI programs and the reform of promotion and selection policies. Hegseth said the Defense Department “will not consider sex, race, or ethnicity when considering individuals for promotion, command, or special duty.”

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2018 епізодів

New task force to oversee DoD’s removal of all diversity, equity and inclusion offices

Federal Newscast

published рік тому

Поширити

MP3•Головна епізоду

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2018 епізодів

#Society #News #Government #Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio

All episodes

1
Veterans Affairs planning to eliminate 72,000 positions 6:30

2 дні тому6:30

6:30

The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning major cuts to its workforce later this year. VA Secretary Doug Collins says the department is looking at a 15% cut to return the agency to 2019 staffing levels. That would meaning eliminating about 72,000 positions. Collins says VA will shrink the workforce without any cuts to veterans’ health care or benefits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
DoD says DOGE identified $80 million in wasteful spending 6:31

3 дні тому6:31

6:31

The Defense Department says Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has so far identified about 80 million dollars in what it considers wasteful spending. Press Secretary Sean Parnell said DOGE has found one point nine million dollars for diversity, equity and inclusion training in the Air Force; six million dollars to the University of Montana to “strengthen American democracy by bridging divides;” and three point five million dollars at the Defense Human Resources Activity for support to DEI groups. DOGE saving the Defense Department 80 million dollars represent less than one percent of the Pentagon’s total budget. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
National Science Foundation rehires half of employees fired two weeks ago 7:24

4 дні тому7:24

7:24

The National Science Foundation has just rehired about half of the employees it fired two weeks ago. The reversal comes after a federal judge ruled last week that the Trump administration's directives telling agencies to fire their probationary employees were illegal. The reinstated workers will receive backpay and will not see a break in service. While 84 employees will be going back to work, the other 86 fired workers will still be out of their jobs. NSF says that's because they were intermittent employees and not full-time staff members. The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents NSF workers, says it's looking forward to welcoming back the reinstated employees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
DoD orders transgender service members be removed from the military 7:53

5 днів тому7:53

7:53

A new memo from the Defense Department's office of personnel and readiness directs service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria to be separated from the military. The department says transgender service members may be granted a waiver if there is a “compelling government interest in retaining the service member who directly supports warfighting.” The Defense Department said all service members impacted by this policy will be separated with an honorable characterization of service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Military services to remove all DoD news and media promoting DEI 6:31

6 днів тому6:31

6:31

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesperson, has instructed the military services to remove all DoD news and feature articles, photos, and videos that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by March 5th. If the services are not able to remove all DEI content from DoD social media accounts by March 5th, they will be required to temporarily scrub all DEI news articles, photos and videos published during the four years of the Biden administration. Components using DVIDS are also required to review their DEI content, which is scheduled for removal. The digital content refresh memo from Sean Parnell follows President Donald Trump’s various executive orders eliminating DEI across the federal government and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “Restoring America’s Fighting Force” memo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Is the Army future soldier prep course putting recruits at risk? 6:28

9 днів тому6:28

6:28

The Defense Department Office of Inspector General found that recruits who went through the Army’s future soldier prep course did not receive medical services, such as metabolic and cardiovascular screenings, assessments by a dietitian or medical clearance before proceeding to basic training. The inspector general found that many trainees far exceeded the Army body fat standards before starting the prep course. The future soldier prep course was designed to help recruits meet academic and physical standards before starting basic training. The news comes after the service managed to meet its recruitment goals in 2024, mainly due to the success of the prep course . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
More leadership changes at the IRS 5:56

10 днів тому5:56

5:56

The acting head of the IRS is stepping down and retiring from the federal government. IRS Chief Operating Officer Melanie Krause will take over as the new acting IRS commissioner. Krause joined the IRS in 2021 and started as its chief data and analytics officer. She’ll take over for Doug O’Donnell, a career employee with 38 years of service who will retire this Friday. The IRS recently fired about 6,500 probationary employees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
OPM offers late guidance to federal workforce on Musk email 7:01

11 днів тому7:01

7:01

It came a little late – but the Office of Personnel Management issued guidance last night telling agencies how they should handle this weekend’s mysterious email telling employees to summarize their accomplishments over the past week. The memo, published just a few hours before the midnight deadline, says responses should be sent to both OPM and agency leadership. OPM says agencies should make their own decisions about what actions to take toward employees who don’t respond to the email. The guidance also makes clear that employees who didn’t have access to email yesterday shouldn’t be held to the deadline. It also completely exempts White House staff from the need to respond. Several large agencies have already told employees they don’t need to respond to the email. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
FEMA advisory board begins to take shape 6:15

12 днів тому6:15

6:15

A new advisory board that will consider reforms to the Federal Emergency Management Agency is starting to take shape. DHS put out the official charter for FEMA Review Council late last week. The council is slated to hold its first meeting by April 24th and deliver an initial report to the White House by late July. President Donald Trump has called for potentially eliminating FEMA and sending emergency management funds directly to states. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has a seat on the new council, has said the administration should “get rid of FEMA the way it exists today.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Connolly wants clarification of Elon Musk's role in the Trump administration 6:37

14 днів тому6:37

6:37

A top House Democrat is pressing for information on Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration. In a letter sent to President Donald Trump Thursday, Congressman Gerry Connolly called for transparency in Musk’s involvement in federal operations. Connolly says Musk has been widely portrayed as the leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, or “DOGE.” But a White House official recently claimed that Musk is *not* an employee of the U.S. DOGE Service. Connolly’s letter pushes for answers on who *is* DOGE’s current administrator, and the nature of Musk’s relationship to the federal entity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
U.S. Postal Service and letter carrier union at an impasse over new labor contract 6:11

15 днів тому6:11

6:11

The Postal Service and its letter carrier union are at an impasse over a new labor contract. The dispute now heads to a panel of third-party arbitrators. Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers overwhelmingly voted down a tentative agreement for a new contact earlier this month. USPS and the union failed to reach a new deal within a 15-day window. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Air Force evaluating its Family Days policy 6:11

17 днів тому6:11

6:11

The Air Force is evaluating its Family Days policy to ensure it “aligns with the force’s ability to support warfighter readiness.” Family Days are extra days off that military commands typically grant to service members around federal holidays to create an extended weekend. A new memo from the acting assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs says while commanders may authorize a day off for military members on these dates, civilian employees are not granted additional leave. Airmen and Guardians expressed concerns that the service might eliminate Family Days to ensure mission readiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
TRICARE pharmacy changes impact military members 6:29

18 днів тому6:29

6:29

Close to 400,000 military members with health insurance through TRICARE may have been impacted by pharmacy changes over the last couple years. The Defense Health Agency has gradually reduced the number of pharmacies available through TRICARE to cut costs and save taxpayer dollars. But the Government Accountability Office said the pharmacy changes could make it take longer for beneficiaries to access prescription drugs. DHA officials, though, said the pharmacy changes were only a reduction in participants’ choices for their preferred pharmacy, and not a loss of overall access. Still, GAO is recommending that the agency more closely monitor prescription timeliness and data, and make adjustments as needed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Republican lawmakers propose bill to fast track Trump plans 5:17

22 дні тому5:17

5:17

Two Republican lawmakers want to make any governmentwide reorganization plan an up or down vote by Congress. Congressman James Comer and Senator Mike Lee's Reorganizing Government Act of 2025 would fast-track any plan President Donald Trump submitted to Congress. Lawmakers say the bill would help give the president the authority to streamline government operations to better serve the American people. Comer and Lee say this legislation restores a reorganization authority that was last in effect in 1984, aiming to modernize and improve government efficiency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Lawmakers want answers on DoD’s pause on sexual assault training 7:27

23 дні тому7:27