Summary4 min read

The Daily Scoop Podcast

Episode Summary: "CDC Targets Agentic AI Use in New AI Strategy"

Date: March 17, 2026
Host: Billy Mitchell

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Billy Mitchell covers two major developments in U.S. government technology and policy:

The CDC’s release of a new artificial intelligence strategy focused on agentic AI applications in public health.
President Trump’s executive order launching a new anti-fraud task force using enhanced data-sharing in federal programs.

The program emphasizes practical steps being taken by major federal agencies to modernize technology, improve data sharing, and combat fraud at the national level.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. CDC’s New AI Strategy and Guidance

[00:48 – 03:45]

Strategy Release:
The CDC has launched a new AI strategy and accompanying guidance for public health officials nationwide. These documents set direction for the agency’s own use of AI and provide resources for broader adoption at the state and local level.
Agentic AI Focus:
Notably, the CDC is encouraging the adoption of “agentic” AI – systems capable of autonomously carrying out specific tasks (beyond mere automation or simple summarization tasks).
- “The publications encourage the use of agentic or deep research AI uses... which the CDC is already tapping into.” — Billy Mitchell [01:27]
Current AI Use at CDC:
- Nearly 10% of the CDC’s 100 AI use cases in 2025 were agentic tools.
- This represents roughly one third of all agentic AI deployments across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Strategic Goals:
The CDC aims to:
- Promote adoption of agentic AI tools.
- Empower the CDC workforce to use modern AI solutions.
- Ensure proper governance and oversight.
- Support public health, strengthen research and data management, and improve access to critical data sets.
Guidance for Partners:
The agency has simultaneously released specialized guidance for state, tribal, local, and territorial health authorities, built from internal CDC experience with agentic AI.
- "One of the number one asks that the department got from its partners is guidance around agentic AI.” — Travis Hoppe, CDC acting chief AI officer (as reported by Billy Mitchell) [02:45]
Examples in Action:
- CDC is already using deep research AI tools to accelerate literature review, data analysis, policy assessment, and other inputs for decision-making.
  - “…CDC is already using a deep research tool to speed up the process of reviewing literature, data, policy and other sources to inform decision making.” — Billy Mitchell [03:15]

2. New White House Task Force on Federal Benefits Fraud

[03:45 – 04:22]

Executive Order Overview:
President Trump has signed an executive order creating a new federal task force aimed at eliminating fraud in federally run programs.
Focus on Data Sharing:
The task force will aggressively promote data-sharing between federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies to clamp down on fraudulent activities.
- "The EO calls specifically for new measures to improve eligibility verification processes and create controls to prevent the dispersal of improper payments." — Billy Mitchell [03:56]
Historical Context & Scope:
The order is partly a response to high-profile fraud involving Medicaid, child nutrition, and small business programs highlighted during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Task Force Structure:
- To be led by the Vice President.
- Chair of the Federal Trade Commission will serve as deputy.
- Representatives from key agencies (Treasury, Labor, Justice, Homeland Security, Agriculture, HHS, Education, and others) will participate.
Mandates:
- Develop a national anti-fraud strategy for federal benefits.
- Enhance eligibility checks and payment controls.
- Dismantle organized fraud networks via enhanced government coordination.

Notable Quotes and Moments

On Agentic AI’s promise:
“The promise of agentic tools for agencies like CDC is that they can go beyond uses like email summarization and prescriptive tasks to take action and move things forward.”
— Travis Hoppe, relayed by Billy Mitchell [03:01]
Agency Needs:
"One of the number one asks that the department got from its partners is guidance around agentic AI."
— Travis Hoppe, as quoted (via Billy Mitchell) [02:45]
On Anti-Fraud Efforts:
"The task force will also be required to promote the facilitation of information and data sharing and coordination between state, local, tribal and territorial governments in the federal government and benefit providing agencies and law enforcement agencies."
— Billy Mitchell [04:12]

Key Timestamps

[00:48] – CDC launches new AI strategy overview
[01:27] – Emphasis on agentic AI uses and statistics
[02:45] – Travis Hoppe on partner demand for agentic AI guidance
[03:15] – CDC’s use of deep research AI tools
[03:45] – White House launches new anti-fraud task force
[04:12] – Task force mandates on data sharing and oversight

Conclusion

This episode highlights the CDC’s strategic embrace of advanced, autonomous AI systems to modernize public health research and response. The timely release of specific guidance for broader public health partners illustrates a push for practical, scalable tech adoption on the front lines. Simultaneously, the federal government is moving to strengthen anti-fraud operations across multiple agencies through better tech and data-sharing—demonstrating a government-wide recognition of how technology can both improve program integrity and public trust.

For ongoing news at the government-technology intersection, listeners are directed to fedscoop.com.

Loading summary

Transcript2 lines

[00:01]
A
Today on the Daily Scoop Podcast from the Scoop News Group, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention releases a new AI strategy and guidance with an eye towards the use of agentic AI and President Trump takes deeper aim at fraud with the launch of a new task force. It's Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Welcome to the Daily Scoop Podcast, where you'll hear the latest news and trends facing government leaders. I'm the host of the Daily Scoop Podcast, Billy Mitchell. Thanks so much for joining me. And now let's dive into the day's top headlines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a new strategy and guidance for the use of artificial intelligence last Thursday, setting a direction for the agency's own work and providing resources for public health officials across the nation. Those documents point to a desire to promote the adoption of the technology, empower the workforce to use it and and ensure the tools are governed properly. But more uniquely, the publications encourage the use of agentic or deep research AI uses those that can autonomously carry out specific tasks, which the CDC is already tapping into. Almost 10% of CDC's roughly 100 AI use cases were agentic tools in 2025, according to the Department of Health and Human Services recently reported. AI Use Case Inventory, its share of agentic uses makes up roughly a third of such deployments across the department. As a result, the CDC's new strategy includes specific language to leverage that technology to support public health, strengthen research and data management and improve access to data. And simultaneously, the agency released specific guidance for state, tribal, local and territorial public health authorities on the use of AI agents for research based on experiences from its own exploration. Travis Hoppe, the CDC's acting chief AI officer, told FedScoop that one of the number one asks that the department got from its partner is guidance around agentic AI. The AI inventory showed where the agency was using the technology, and the new materials followed through with more information, Hoppe said. The promise of agentic tools for agencies like CDC is that they can go beyond uses like email summarization and prescriptive tasks to take action and move things forward, hoppe said. For example, the CDC is already using a deep research tool to speed up the process of reviewing literature, data, policy and other sources to inform decision making. Now, moving on to other news, the White House is planning to launch a new task force aimed at eliminating fraud in federally run programs, a goal that will be pursued largely through beefed up data sharing processes. The executive order signed Monday by President Donald Trump is framed through the lens of various fraud cases in Minnesota involving Medicaid a Department of Agriculture child nutrition program and Small Business Administration loan programs during the COVID 19 pandemic. Investigations into the alleged fraud began under the Biden administration's Department of justice, but the scandal has since been wielded by the Trump White House to freeze funds and strip away benefits from residents of the Gopher State. Under Trump's new order, the task force will be charged with developing a national strategy to combat fraud in federal benefits programs. The EO calls specifically for new measures to improve eligibility verification processes and create controls to prevent the dispersal of improper payments. The task force will also be required to promote the facilitation of information and data sharing and coordination between state, local, tribal and territorial governments in the federal government and benefit providing agencies and law enforcement agencies. Per the order. Interagency data sharing would additionally be prioritized as part of an overarching enforcement push aimed at disrupting and dismantling fraud networks and facilitators, the EO states. The task force, which will be led by the Vice President and tap the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission to serve as the number two, will also include representatives from the Departments of Treasury, Labor, Justice, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Health and Human Services and Education, as well as several other agencies charged with administering federal benefits programs. For more news at the intersection of the federal government and technology, make sure to visit fedscoop.com
[04:26]
B
thanks so much for tuning in to another episode of the Daily Scoop Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. If you've already rated the podcast on your platform of choice, thanks so much. High ratings and good reviews of the show help more people to find it. The Daily Scoop Podcast is a production of the Scoop News Group in Washington, DC. Adam Butler and Carlin Fisher help put the show together and the entire Scoop News Group team contributes. We'll be back tomorrow with more top headlines. Until then, I'm your host. As always, Billy Mitchell. Thanks so much for listening.