The Daily Scoop Podcast

Episode: Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia Tapped for New Leadership Roles at GSA

Date: February 20, 2026
Host: Billy Mitchell

Overview

This episode highlights major leadership changes in federal technology management, specifically focusing on Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia's expanded roles at the General Services Administration (GSA). The episode also explores an ongoing ethics dispute between the Pentagon and AI company Anthropic about the use of AI in military operations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Greg Barbaccia's New Leadership Roles at GSA

Timestamp: 00:30 – 03:10

• Dual Leadership Roles:
  Greg Barbaccia, the current Federal Chief Information Officer, is appointed:

  • Acting Director of Technology Transformation Services (TTS)
  • Senior Advisor to GSA Administrator Edward Forst

• Context & Transition:

  • Barbaccia replaces Thomas Shedd as TTS Director. Shedd will continue at GSA as Senior Advisor for Fraud Prevention.
  • Shedd was one of the last remaining officials tied to the previous year’s Department of Government Efficiency’s cost-cutting initiative.

• Shedd’s Legacy:

  • Recognized for expanding core programs like login.gov and cleaning up sam.gov.
  • Served on unpaid leave from Tesla since President Donald Trump’s second term began, with an unclear continuing role as Deputy Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service.

• Barbaccia’s Vision:

  • Applauds TTS’s modernization efforts under Shedd:

    "It has worked to modernize how the federal government builds and delivers digital services, making interactions with government simpler, more accessible and more efficient for the American public."
    (Barbaccia, 02:15)

  • Frames his interim leadership as ensuring “continuity of leadership and a strong focus on delivering value to the taxpayer.”

• GSA Administrator’s Endorsement:

  • Edward Forst highlights Barbaccia’s blend of “technology strategy and hands-on execution” to accelerate the digital transformation mission.

2. Pentagon, Anthropic, and Military AI Ethics

Timestamp: 03:11 – 05:00

• AI Adoption in Defense:

  • The Pentagon affirms it will accelerate AI adoption—specifically “frontier AI”—while adhering strictly to laws and regulations involving surveillance, security, and democratic norms.

• Limits on Tech Companies’ Control:

  • The Department of Defense will not permit vendors like Anthropic to dictate operational rules for their AI models after sale.

• Ethics Dispute Background:

  • Anthropic is in a standoff with the DoD over how its “Claude” AI can be employed in military settings.

• DoD’s Position—Quotes from Emil Michael, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering:

  "You can't have an AI company sell AI to the Department of War and then don't let it do Department of War things because we're in the business of defending the country and defending our troops." (Emil Michael, 04:00)

  "If someone wants to make money from... the Department of War, those guardrails ought to be tuned for our use cases, so long as they're lawful." (Emil Michael, 04:12)

  "I believe and hope that [Anthropic] will cross the Rubicon and say this is common sense. The military has certain use cases. There are laws and regulations that govern how those use cases can be done. We're willing to comply with them." (Emil Michael, 04:40)

• Current Status:

  • Dialogue is ongoing as the Pentagon seeks to balance procurement of AI technologies with compliance to legal and ethical standards.
  • Emil Michael reports on recent updates during the Microelectronics Commons Summit, underscoring the push for practical, ethical solutions.

Notable Quotes

• Barbaccia on TTS Progress (02:15):

  "It has worked to modernize how the federal government builds and delivers digital services, making interactions with government simpler, more accessible and more efficient for the American public."
  — Greg Barbaccia

• Emil Michael on AI and Military Use (04:00):

  "You can't have an AI company sell AI to the Department of War and then don't let it do Department of War things because we're in the business of defending the country and defending our troops."
  — Emil Michael, Department of Defense

• Emil Michael on AI Guardrails (04:12):

  "If someone wants to make money from... the Department of War, those guardrails ought to be tuned for our use cases, so long as they're lawful."
  — Emil Michael

• Emil Michael Urging Common Sense (04:40):

  "I believe and hope that [Anthropic] will cross the Rubicon and say this is common sense. The military has certain use cases. There are laws and regulations that govern how those use cases can be done. We're willing to comply with them."
  — Emil Michael

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:30 – 03:10: Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia’s new roles at GSA, context on Thomas Shedd, and priorities for TTS.
• 03:11 – 05:00: Pentagon’s AI ethics dispute with Anthropic, statements from Emil Michael, ongoing negotiations.

Tone & Language

The episode maintains a professional, news-driven tone—direct, focused on concise updates, and punctuated by insightful quotations from government leaders.

This summary provides a comprehensive breakdown of the episode’s coverage on leadership changes at GSA and ethical questions in military AI deployment.