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Dunkin broke down longstanding barriers as Energy’s CIO

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2 months ago

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When Ann Dunkin became the Energy Department’s chief information officer back in 2021, she got a call from one of her predecessors. Dunkin said that person told her Energy’s unofficial motto was “you’re not the boss of me.”

Nearly four years later, Energy’s long-time narrative has changed.

Ann Dunkin is the former CIO at the Energy Department.

“The environment that you go into at Energy is you’ve got semi-autonomous and autonomous organizations and all have different relationships with headquarters. So when I arrived, everyone kept asking me what my plan was and what I wanted to accomplish? I kept saying, essentially, I didn’t know, because you have all these independent organizations that are explaining to you exactly why they don’t have to do what you tell them,” Dunkin said during an “exit” interview on Ask the CIO. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say we got rid of separate email addresses or sub domains, or we got rid of different development environments, but what we did do was build collaboration in that space. For example, we had 57-58 tenants from Office 365. Now we’ve got 55 tenants. We’re down a few because we got rid of a couple.”

Through that effort, Dunkin said Energy signed an enterprise software deal with Microsoft so at least every lab and office has a vehicle with a common set of terms and conditions.

“That got really, really hairy due to some delays at the General Services Administration and some delays in our contracting shop; we were down to the last day, literally, to get that contract done. We had some folks who were ready to pull out of that contract, go do their own thing, and we held them together, and everybody is under the same contract,” she said. “We are saving 19% across DoE, which doesn’t sound like a lot of money, until you realize that’s a couple hundred million dollars over five years.”

To achieve these goals, Dunkin said first her team had to listen to what the challenges of the labs and offices were, and then second had to create trust and confidence that they would provide the service as well or better than the organizations could do it for themselves.

“We had some folks say, ‘take our email, take our infrastructure at some level.’ For example, my office was taking over a lot of the infrastructure at the [National Nuclear Security Administration] site offices. We took over some of the unclassified operations, which was a part of building that trust and confidence,” she said. “I will not tell you that every single person in DoE came to the table and said, ‘Let’s go do stuff together.’ But enough of them came that we built a pretty good coalition of the willing to do things, and really were able to strengthen those relationships, not just among the federal folks, but actually even more so with the labs, plants and sites with contractor organizations.”

Common tools, common structure

Another piece to breaking down the barriers to create collaboration across Energy was developing common tools. Dunkin said Energy didn’t have a strong low-code, no-code development capability when she arrived in 2021, but soon created one, first to help with COVID vaccination attestations and then later to help the IRS implement certain provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act.

“They got to the point where other departments were looking at us and saying, ‘we’d rather you do it than us if we’re going to work together.’ So that was a great example of how we really moved the needle in terms of our capabilities,” she said. “We also just created a lot more structure around how we did the work, having a really clear intake process, having a change control committee, having a prioritization process for new projects so that we could make sure that we could deliver those things we said we were going to do because we had the right resources. Across the entire organization, everyone was working on the same things.”

While most of the low-code, no-code development is done by vendors, Dunkin said she ensured federal employees had the right skillsets to manage those projects.

She said before she left Energy every part of the CIO’s team improved, from the operations team to the security team to the development team.

Aligning funding with security needs

Dunkin specifically called out the improvements around cybersecurity in securing more than just the headquarters infrastructure, but in managing security across the entire agency.

“Everybody had their own security activities, but our security operations center (SOC) was responsible for understanding where everybody was communicating with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, sharing out with the organization and making sure that not only was the strategy across the organization moving forward, but the day-to-day operations were going well,” she said. “One of the great things that we did in terms of collaboration was when we stood up the program management office (PMO), which I don’t want to give a lot of shout outs, but I’ll give this one to Amy Hamilton, who led that PMO, to really organize our work across DoE. One of the cool things they did was that we set it up so that we had a little bit of money, but we got money, like many agencies did after the SolarWinds incident, and managed to make that recurring funding for security improvements. Instead of keeping that in the office of the CIO in a given year, half to two-thirds of it went out to the rest of the organization. We’d say, here’s some money for your project, and then you have to write a paper, do a brown bag or do something to tell everybody exactly what you did so that they can go do that too. That was a great way to really leverage that funding, and we aligned it to critical needs across the organization each year.”

Now that she’s out of government, for a second time — Dunkin also served as the CIO at the Environmental Protection Agency during the Obama administration — she plans to work part-time Georgia Tech University as a distinguished professor of the practice and a distinguished external fellow across the School of Public Policy and the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy.

She also is serving on some advisory boards and doing some advising for people. Dunkin also plans to write a book.

The post Dunkin broke down longstanding barriers as Energy’s CIO first appeared on Federal News Network.

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GOP Senator John Thune Quietly BLOCKS Trump Recess Appointments with Sneaky Procedural Maneuver — Launches Series of Pro Forma Sessions to Keep Senate in Fake “Session” During August Recess

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9 hours ago

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August 3, 2025

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R‑SD) has unveiled a procedural scheme to block President Donald Trump from making any critical appointments during the August recess, effectively aiding the Democrats’ obstructionist agenda.

Under the U.S. Constitution, the president can make “recess appointments,” temporary appointments to federal positions, if the Senate is in recess and not conducting business. These appointments don’t require immediate Senate confirmation and can last until the end of the next session of Congress.

But there’s a loophole: if the Senate holds pro forma sessions, very short, symbolic meetings where no actual business is conducted, then technically, the Senate is still in session. That means the president cannot legally make recess appointments during that time.

John Thune has quietly secured unanimous‑consent for a paper‑thin Senate schedule through the Trump appointee confirmation deadline, ensuring only pro forma sessions on five key dates in early August.

Under the agreement, the chamber will adjourn after today’s business and reconvene without conducting any votes or business on:

  • Tue, Aug 5 – 1:00 p.m.
  • Fri, Aug 8 – 1:05 p.m.
  • Tue, Aug 12 – 8:00 a.m.
  • Fri, Aug 15 – 10:15 a.m.
  • Tue, Aug 19 – 10:00 a.m.
  • Fri, Aug 22 – 9:00 a.m.
  • Tue, Aug 26 – 12:00 p.m.
  • Fri, Aug 29 – 7:00 a.m.

WATCH:

Thune’s pro forma blueprint comes amid mounting pressure from Donald Trump, who has demanded the Senate remain open until all 150+ administration nominees are confirmed.

Under the Recess Appointments Clause, a president may only install nominees without Senate approval if both chambers are in formal recess for at least 10 days. By convening the Senate just long enough every few days, Thune blocks the possibility of Trump making unilateral appointees.

The Senate went into its August recess without confirming all of Trump’s pending judicial and district‑level appointments.

By the time lawmakers left town on Saturday evening, no deal had been reached to move dozens of Trump’s nominees, including U.S. district court picks, through final floor votes.

Only a small handful of nominees (such as Jeanine Pirro to be U.S. Attorney in D.C.) had advanced. Otherwise, nominees remained stalled in committees or waiting for cloture roll‑calls on the executive calendar.

Roughly 150–160 executive and judicial nominations, including over a dozen district court judges and U.S. attorney nominations, remained scheduled but unconfirmed.

The post GOP Senator John Thune Quietly BLOCKS Trump Recess Appointments with Sneaky Procedural Maneuver — Launches Series of Pro Forma Sessions to Keep Senate in Fake “Session” During August Recess appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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‘That’s What I Call Results!’: Trump Admin Saves Jobs, Kicks 1500 Non-English-Speaking Truckers Off the Road

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9 hours ago

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August 3, 2025

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed that there have been about 1,500 truck drivers who do not speak English taken off the roads as part of a push to ensure foreign truck drivers are not causing accidents.

Back in 2016, the Obama administration stopped enforcing English proficiency requirements for truckers, according to a report from The Daily Signal.

But in May, Duffy issued a guidance making clear that truck drivers who cannot demonstrate a proficiency in English cannot drive.

The 1,500 drivers were taken off the roads within the first 3o days of the rules once more being enforced, according to The Daily Signal.

“Since I took action to enforce language proficiency requirements for truckers, our state partners have put roughly 1,500 unqualified drivers out of service. That’s what I call results!” Duffy posted on X.

“If you can’t read or speak our national language — ENGLISH — we won’t let your truck endanger the driving public.”

He added, “America First = Safety First.”

Duffy’s concerns were far from unfounded.

In January, there was a truck driver involved in a fatal crash that had to use a language interpreter for the post-crash investigation, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Another incident from 2019 involved a truck driver who could not proficiently speak English speeding through signs that warned of steep grades and dangerous curves, all at more than 100 miles per hour.

Four people died in that crash, per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

President Donald Trump had likewise insisted with an April executive order that the move centered on public safety.

“They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers,” the order said of truck drivers.

They also “need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English,” a position the order called “common sense.”

“It is the policy of my Administration to support America’s truckers and safeguard our roadways by enforcing the commonsense English-language requirement for commercial motor vehicle drivers and removing needless regulatory burdens that undermine the working conditions of America’s truck drivers,” the notice added.

“This order will help ensure a safe, secure, and efficient motor carrier industry.”

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post ‘That’s What I Call Results!’: Trump Admin Saves Jobs, Kicks 1500 Non-English-Speaking Truckers Off the Road appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Slovenia Imposes Arms Embargo on Israel, Citing Gaza Conflict

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9 hours ago

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August 3, 2025

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via Wikimedia Commons

Slovenia has imposed an arms embargo on Israel, banning the export, import, and transit of weapons to and from the country.

This decision was announced by Prime Minister Robert Golob following a government session on July 31, 2025.

Slovenia claims to be the first European Union member to take such a step, citing the EU’s inability to act due to internal disagreements.

The government stated that no permits for military exports to Israel have been issued since October 2023, when the conflict in Gaza began.

Officials emphasized that the embargo is an independent measure to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Slovenia has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and increased aid deliveries to the region.

In early July 2025, Slovenia declared two Israeli ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, persona non grata, barring them from entry.

This action was based on their public statements regarding the conflict. Earlier, in June 2024, Slovenia recognized Palestinian statehood, joining countries like Ireland, Norway, and Spain in this move.

The conflict in Gaza started after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israeli territory, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the taking of hostages.

Israel responded with a military operation aimed at dismantling Hamas infrastructure. Reports from Gaza’s health ministry indicate significant casualties, with ongoing international efforts to negotiate truces and provide aid.

Several other nations have taken similar diplomatic steps, including France, Britain, and Canada announcing potential recognition of a Palestinian state. Australia has also indicated that recognizing Palestinian statehood is under consideration.

Israel has criticized these declarations, arguing they could reward Hamas for its actions.

Israeli officials dismissed Slovenia’s embargo as insignificant, noting that Israel does not procure any defense materials from Slovenia.

An unnamed official stated that the country buys nothing from Slovenia, not even minor items.

Within the EU, there is growing pressure for measures against Israel, with Sweden and the Netherlands advocating for suspending parts of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

The European Commission has proposed limiting Israel’s participation in the Horizon research program, though Germany opposes such steps.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed concerns about Israel’s potential diplomatic isolation during a visit to Jerusalem.

The United States remains a key ally to Israel, with President Donald Trump warning that recognizing Palestinian statehood might benefit Hamas.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance Gaza truce talks. These efforts aim to address the humanitarian crisis and secure a ceasefire.

The post Slovenia Imposes Arms Embargo on Israel, Citing Gaza Conflict appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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