Original Broadcast Date: 04/26/2026
Presented by GDIT
This episode of Fed Gov Today highlights how federal agencies are making groundbreaking technology moves that are transforming mission delivery. At the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), CIO Patrick Newbold details two major firsts: leading adoption of the OneGov AWS initiative—cutting cloud costs by 41%—and scaling AI tools like Copilot across the workforce. The agency didn’t just deploy AI; it invested heavily in training and engagement, driving 80% weekly usage and saving employees an average of 5.5 hours per week.
The discussion broadens to AI’s growing role in healthcare, where industry leaders stress that success depends on aligning technology with mission outcomes. CMS is already seeing major impact, using AI and analytics to prevent over $2 billion in fraud before payments go out—shifting from a “pay-and-chase” to a prevention model.
The episode also explores a critical shift in law enforcement technology strategy with DEA Associate Administrator Gary Owen. Owen explains that the long-running “buy vs. build” debate is effectively over. Facing rapidly evolving threats and massive data volumes, DEA is prioritizing commercial, best-in-class tools that can be deployed quickly and withstand legal scrutiny in court. His perspective underscores the urgency of speed, usability, and adaptability in modern law enforcement operations.
CMS CIO Patrick Newbold outlines a bold modernization strategy centered on cost efficiency, AI adoption, and ecosystem-wide collaboration. At the heart of this effort are two major “firsts.” CMS became the first federal agency to take advantage of the OneGov AWS initiative, achieving a remarkable 41% savings on cloud services by pairing the program with smart reseller negotiations to ensure long-term cost predictability.
Equally transformative is CMS’s aggressive push to become an “AI-native” organization. By deploying Microsoft Copilot at scale early on, CMS took
Beyond internal productivity, CMS is applying AI to mission-critical challenges like fraud prevention, stopping over $2 billion in improper payments before they occur. Newbold’s approach highlights a key lesson: real transformation happens when innovation, workforce readiness, and mission outcomes are tightly aligned.
Key Takeaways:
Kamal Narang, Senior Vice President for Federal Health at GDIT, explains how artificial intelligence is transforming federal healthcare—and why success depends on focusing on outcomes, not just technology. As AI rapidly evolves, fueled by large language models, agencies are increasingly relying on partners like GDIT to translate innovation into real mission impact.
Narang highlights that the biggest hurdle isn’t access to AI tools—it’s understanding how to apply them effectively. GDIT works closely with agencies to identify their challenges, assess their data, and co-develop solutions through hands-on innovation labs. These environments enable rapid prototyping and help agencies visualize practical use cases before scaling solutions.
A major shift is underway: agencies are moving away from adopting AI for its own sake and instead focusing on solving specific mission problems, such as improving healthcare delivery or preventing fraud before payments are issued. Narang notes that agencies are becoming more sophisticated in defining their needs, leading to stronger collaboration and faster, more impactful results.
Key Takeaways:
DEA Associate Administrator Gary Owen lays out a shift in law enforcement technology strategy: the long-standing “buy vs. build” debate is effectively over. Faced with rapidly evolving threats and increasingly sophisticated criminal networks, the DEA is prioritizing commercial, off-the-shelf solutions that can be deployed quickly and keep pace with the mission.
Owen explains that building custom tools in-house simply can’t match the speed or innovation of private industry. Instead, the DEA is leveraging best-in-class technologies while ensuring they meet strict legal standards, including the ability to hold up in court—something especially critical
A major challenge is the explosion of data. Investigations now generate massive volumes of digital evidence, from emails to location data, creating a need for tools that can quickly triage and surface actionable insights. Owen compares this to assembling a complex puzzle—only it must be done faster than criminals can change their tactics.
Ultimately, Owen emphasizes agility—not just in technology, but in workforce mindset and acquisition processes. Success depends on adopting intuitive tools, accelerating deployment, and staying adaptable in a constantly shifting threat landscape.
Key Takeaways: