Horizon cutting-room links: Friday, 15 August 2025

"AI companies are chasing government users with steep discounts," the Verge

AI companies OpenAI and Anthropic are offering their generative AI chatbots, ChatGPT and Claude, for a nominal fee of $1 to federal agencies. This initiative aims to secure a foothold in the lucrative government sector, where IT and cyber-related investments exceed $100 billion annually.

• OpenAI and Anthropic are targeting government clients by providing their AI chatbots for just $1 for a year, catering to the executive and all branches of government, respectively.
• The US government spends over $100 billion yearly on IT and cyber-related investments, making it a prime market for AI companies seeking to expand their user base.
• By familiarizing government employees with their AI tools, these companies may gain soft power, potentially influencing future regulatory decisions concerning AI technologies.

"FEMA, USCIS become latest agencies to end collective bargaining," Federal News Network

Federal employees at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have lost their collective bargaining rights, as both agencies have announced the immediate cancellation of all collective bargaining agreements. This decision reflects a broader trend among federal agencies to terminate union contracts, following the Trump administration's executive order aimed at suspending collective bargaining for national security reasons.

• USCIS and FEMA have revoked all collective bargaining agreements, ending the use of office space and resources for union activities and halting grievance processes, effective immediately.
• The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and other unions are preparing legal challenges, claiming the cancellations represent an unprecedented attack on federal workers' rights.
• This move comes after the VA and EPA terminated their collective bargaining agreements, in line with a court decision that supported the Trump administration's executive order on union activities.

"Republican support for an apolitical federal workforce is shrinking, survey finds," Federal News Network

As the Trump administration reshapes the federal workforce, a recent survey reveals shifting perspectives among Republicans regarding presidential powers over federal employment. This change highlights a growing polarization in public opinion about the civil service's role amidst evolving political landscapes.

• Nearly 66 percent of Republicans now believe in a more significant presidential role in hiring federal employees, down from 90 percent who previously supported a nonpartisan civil service.
• Public trust in government has seen a modest increase, with 33 percent of Americans expressing confidence, up from 23 percent last year, largely driven by a surge in trust among Republicans.
• The Partnership for Public Service warns that recent regulatory changes proposed by the Trump administration threaten the apolitical nature of the federal workforce, moving away from merit-based hiring practices.