The Daily Scoop Podcast: FAA, DOD Data Silos and the DCA Crash; State Department’s Next AI Leap

Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Billy Mitchell

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on two key government technology stories:

1. The National Transportation Safety Board’s final report on last year’s deadly mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), highlighting how data silos between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DOD) contributed to the tragedy.
2. The State Department’s advancement toward agentic AI, building on its leadership in federal artificial intelligence adoption.

Key Discussion Points

1. DCA Crash: Data Silos and Safety Failures

[00:01–02:48]

• NTSB’s Final Report on the Crash

  • The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that inadequate information sharing and deficient data practices at the FAA and DOD/Army were partly responsible for a mid-air collision near DCA last year.
  • Key Findings:
    • FAA’s Air Traffic Organization had multiple chances to spot collision risks—missed due to poor data analysis and weak risk assessment (“insufficient data analysis, safety assurance systems and risk assessment processes failed to recognize and mitigate”).
    • The Army lacked a flight safety data monitoring program for helicopters, resulting in missed hazards.
    • NTSB noted “the limited access to and use of available objective and subjective proximity data hindered industry and government stakeholders’ ability to identify hazards and mitigate risk.”
  • Investigation by NTSB included 50–60 staff and collected 19,000 pages of evidence.
  • In Senate testimony, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy stated:

    “The collision ultimately was preventable.” [~02:10]

• Agency Responses

  • FAA: Did not respond to comment.
  • Army: Major Montrell Russell, Army Spokesperson, thanked NTSB for its work and stated the Army “remains committed to collaborating closely with the NTSB, FAA and other federal partners to support lasting improvements in aviation safety that honor those who were lost.” [02:30]

2. State Department Eyes Agentic AI

[02:48–04:33]

• Background: State’s AI Experience

  • State Department previously launched an internal chatbot and normalized AI for translation, summarization, and other uses.
  • CIO Kelly Fletcher announced at the FedScoop-produced GDIT Emerge event in Washington, D.C., that the department will roll out “AgentIC AI” and continue embedding AI in its systems.

• Quotes & Highlights

  • Fletcher emphasized the ongoing need to democratize access to generative AI at State and signaled that “any shift towards agentic AI won’t come with a snap of the fingers.” [03:10]
  • On reducing hurdles for workers:

    “The more you can make it easy for people to do their job to reduce administrative friction, the better off you’re going to be. Part of that is agents, and part of that is consolidation.” — Kelly Fletcher [03:32]

  • State is considering consolidation and standardization (from end-user devices to help desks).
  • Definition: Agentic AI goes beyond standard generative AI. Agents can autonomously create content and perform tasks without human input, increasing efficiency for complex jobs.

• State of Agentic AI Technology

  • Per a September 2025 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report (Science, Technology, Assessment and Analytics Division), AI agents are already used for software development and customer service, but the field is still maturing.
  • The best-performing AI agent could only autonomously complete about 30% of software development tasks tested, reflecting both promise and limitations.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• NTSB on DCA Crash:
  • “The collision ultimately was preventable.” — Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chairwoman [~02:10]
• Army Spokesperson on Safety Commitment:
  • “The army remains committed to collaborating closely with the NTSB, FAA and other federal partners to support lasting improvements in aviation safety that honor those who were lost.” — Major Montrell Russell [02:30]
• State Department on Agentic AI:
  • “The more you can make it easy for people to do their job to reduce administrative friction, the better off you’re going to be. Part of that is agents, and part of that is consolidation.” — Kelly Fletcher [03:32]

Important Timestamps

• [00:01] — Episode opens with DCA crash coverage
• [01:00] — Key NTSB findings on data silos
• [02:10] — Homendy: Crash was preventable
• [02:30] — Army spokesperson’s official statement
• [02:48] — State Department’s AI adoption and future plans
• [03:32] — Fletcher on reducing admin friction with agents
• [03:50] — GAO report on the current limits of agentic AI

In Summary

This episode delivers crucial insights into how government data silos can have real-world, tragic consequences—exemplified by the DCA crash findings—and how agencies like the State Department are redefining the digital workplace with advanced AI. The discussions underscore the importance of robust data sharing, safety management, and the careful, thoughtful expansion of AI autonomy in federal environments.