Summary4 min read

The Daily Scoop Podcast: DOD Expands Its Classified AI Work with 8 Companies

Date: May 4, 2026
Host: Billy Mitchell
Podcast: The Daily Scoop Podcast (FedScoop)

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on two major updates shaping federal technology policy:

The U.S. Department of Defense's expanded partnerships with eight leading tech companies to deploy advanced AI on classified networks
Renewed bipartisan efforts in the Senate to establish the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIR) through the CREATE AI Act

Billy Mitchell breaks down these developments and their implications for national security, research, and AI democratization.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DOD’s Partnerships with Eight AI Leaders (00:20–02:53)

Announcement: The Defense Department has formally agreed to deploy advanced AI capabilities from eight companies: SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Oracle Facebook.
- Purpose: To enable lawful operational use of “frontier AI” on secure, classified networks.
- Background: This effort follows a contract dispute with Anthropic over ethical limits on AI use in warfare and national surveillance.
Quote from Pentagon Press Release:

“Integrating Secure Frontier AI capabilities into the Department’s Impact Level six and Impact Level seven network environments will streamline data synthesis, elevate situational understanding and augment warfighter decision making in complex operational environments.”
(Billy quoting the DoD, 01:24)
Security Context:
- Impact Level 6 (IL6): Required for processing classified data in cloud environments; emphasizes rigid compliance protocols.
- Impact Level 7 (IL7): The highest security for top-secret, highly sensitive, or critical national security information.
- All eight companies will support both IL6 and IL7 environments.
- Current deployment status varies; not all have full authorization yet. Some are on an expedited approval track.

2. Congressional Efforts to Establish CREATE AI Act and NAIR (02:54–04:28)

Legislation Update: The Senate has reintroduced the CREATE AI Act to formally establish the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIR) within the National Science Foundation.
- Sponsors: Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Todd Young (R-IN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Cory Booker (D-NJ)
- House Companion: Reps. Jay Obernolty (R-CA) & Don Beyer (D-VA)
Purpose & Vision:
- NAIR would broaden access to AI tools, curated datasets, education, testbeds, and technical training—particularly for U.S. AI researchers, educators, and students.
- Envisioned as a way to “democratize access to AI, ensuring that American workers are prepared for the future and primed to lead rapid advancements with the emerging technology to boost the US economy.”
  - Quote: Senator Heinrich in press release (03:22)
Historical Context:
- NAIR was first piloted in 2023 based on federal recommendations and an executive order under President Biden.
- Despite revocation of the EO under President Trump, the NAIR pilot remained live, according to NSF.
Legislative Status:
- The bill boasts support from major industry organizations (AI Policy Network, Information Technology Industry Council, Business Software Alliance).
- It advanced from committee last year but has not yet been enacted.
If Enacted, NAIR Would Provide:
- Access to computing power and structured AI models
- Curated datasets & data commons
- Collaborative testbeds (with NIST)
- Education & training for AI talent across the nation

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On DOD’s New AI Partnerships:

“Eight U.S. technology companies have signed formal agreements to deploy their frontier AI capabilities on the Defense Department's classified networks for lawful operational use, according to a Pentagon press release published on Friday.”
— Billy Mitchell (00:25)
On Security Levels:

“For DOD, IL6 marks a rigid compliance standard that is required to process classified data for cloud-based defense workloads. Beyond that is IL7, the most stringent security classification, which covers cloud computing environments designed to handle top secret, highly sensitive or critical national security information.”
— Billy Mitchell (01:56)
On AI Access & Workforce:

“The NAIR would go a long way toward democratizing access to AI, ensuring that American workers are prepared for the future and primed to lead rapid advancements with the emerging technology to boost the US economy.”
— Senator Martin Heinrich, via Billy Mitchell (03:22)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:20 – DOD’s expansion of classified AI collaborations
01:24 – Pentagon’s goals for integrating AI (Augmenting decision-making, streamlining data)
01:56 – Explanation of IL6 and IL7 security environments
02:54 – Congressional reintroduction of the CREATE AI Act
03:22 – Senator Heinrich’s vision for NAIR
04:20 – Status of NAIR, industry backers, and next steps

Episode Tone & Style

Concise and authoritative, with a focus on policy, technology milestones, and practical impacts for government and private sector collaboration.
Quotes and context maintain original language and neutrality appropriate for government and tech reporting.

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Transcript2 lines

[00:00]
A
Today on the Daily Scoop Podcast from the Scoop News Group, the DoD expands its classified AI work with eight companies and the US Senate looks to once again codify the NAIR It's Monday, May 4, 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. Eight U.S. technology companies have signed formal agreements to deploy their frontier AI capabilities on the Defense Department's classified networks for lawful operational use, according to a Pentagon press release published on Friday. DoD's new deals with SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services and Oracle Facebook follow a major contract dispute between the Department and Anthropic that culminated earlier this year over potential ethical constraints that accompany the use of AI in warfare and for national surveillance, defense officials wrote in Friday's press release. Quote Integrating Secure Frontier AI capabilities into the Department's Impact Level six and Impact Level seven network environments will streamline data synthesis, elevate situational understanding and augment warfighter decision making in complex operational environments. The DoD relies on its impact level classification system to categorize data and securely authorize cloud based hosting environments and services. Different federal agencies abide by different security protocols and for DOD, IL6 marks a rigid compliance standard that is required to process classified data for cloud based defense workloads. Beyond that is IL7, the most stringent security classification, which covers cloud computing environments designed to handle top secret, highly sensitive or critical national security information. The Pentagon's press release notes that the eight companies will provide resources to deploy their capabilities on both IL6 and IL7 environments. However, it's unclear whether all those tech giants have already been fully authorized to deploy their capabilities on DoD's classified networks at this time, or if some are still on expedited paths to get there. Now moving on to other news, a bipartisan congressional push to codify a National Science foundation based artificial intelligence research enabler continued this week with the reintroduction in the Senate of the CREATE AI Act. The bill from Senators Martin Heinrich, Democrat of New Mexico, Todd Young, Republican of Indiana, Mike Rounds, Republican of South Dakota and Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey, would establish the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource, or nair, that would give AI researchers, educators and students more access to tools, data and other information to help develop new systems. Heinrich, founder and co chair of the Senate AI Caucus, said in a press release that the NAIR would go a long way toward Democratizing access to AI, ensuring that American workers are prepared for the future and primed to lead rapid advancements with the emerging technology to boost the US economy. The Nair's origin story dates back to 2023, when a federal task force recommended a pilot version of the resource that was later launched via an executive order from then President Joe Biden. An NSF spokesman told FedScoop last year that despite President Donald Trump's move to revoke that EO, the Nair pilot was still operational. A companion bill in the House, led by Reps. Jay Obernolty, Republican of California, and Don Beyer, Democrat of Virginia, was introduced nearly a year ago. Heinrich last year led the bill out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. The legislation claims a host of influential backers and including the AI Policy Network, the Information Technology Industry Council and the Business Software Alliance. Despite the concerted push from both sides of the aisle and industry supporters, lawmakers have yet to get the Create AI act across the finish line. If the bill passes and is signed into law, it would establish a NAIR that offers computational resources, including structured access to AI models, curated data sets and AI data commons, education and technical training tools, and AI testbeds, paired with a collaborative project with the National Institute of Standards and Technology. For more news at the intersection of the federal government and technology, make sure to visit fedscoop.com
[04:36]
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.