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Next phase of digital transformation for SEC, PTO begins

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For the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the next steps in their digital transformation journeys are all about using cloud services to drive change. Both agencies are well past the “move to the cloud” phase of their IT modernization strategy.

Now, the SEC and USPTO are embarking on IT modernization initiatives that have a more direct impact on mission and further drives efficiencies.

The SEC is focusing on three broad areas to adopt new and better services.

Dave Bottom is the CIO of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“We’re at the point now where we’ve moved our enterprise data warehouse to an enterprise data platform on Amazon Web Services (AWS). We’ve moved into Microsoft O365 as a collaboration environment, and are leveraging the capabilities that are there,” said Dave Bottom, the chief information officers of the SEC, during a panel at the recent GITEC conference sponsored by ATARC, an excerpt of which played on Ask the CIO. “We’ve moved to adopt software-as-a-service as a first decision point that we would make rather than building something on-premise. From a procurement acquisition perspective, we have a digital services blanket purchase agreement (BPA), which is, I think, a first for the commission in terms of a focus on digital services, as opposed to infrastructure or application development.”

The SEC awarded a $250 million BPA contract to four firms in 2023.

At the same time, the move to the cloud has allowed the SEC to do more to modernize its underlying infrastructure. Bottom said the agency is less dependent on data centers than ever before.

“We are modernizing our networking on our site and in our security capabilities to account for the fact that we’re more cloud rather than less cloud,” Bottom said. “We’ve adopted the cloud smart methodology, and really, we’re at the point now where access to technology through software-as-a-service or a managed service is really not a problem.”

USPTO using AI to refactor old code

Like the SEC, the USPTO began its cloud journey more than five years ago.

Jamie Holcombe, the USPTO CIO, said his agency’s modernization journey opened the door to reducing latency, both from an infrastructure perspective and from a culture perspective.

On the infrastructure side, Holcombe said USPTO is supporting multiple artificial intelligence efforts.

“We are using generative AI and artificial intelligence for code assistance, refactoring our code and translating a lot of the old code in order for it to work most optimally in the cloud. We are in the beginning stages of it,” he said. “After a 90 day pilot, it’s almost going into production. What we’ve done is we’ve translated the old code and found 80% of its great and the other 20% need experts to figure out and optimize it, make it right.”

Holcombe said his team is doing 30-60-90 day pilots where they have to show progress in 30 days or stop doing the work. USPTO is taking the “fail fast” approach to code modernization.

“You actually can program the GenAI to anticipate that learning. That’s why it’s so fast and that’s why it’s so good,” he said. “We take and generate standard, repetitive code structures, and we actually put that refactoring in so that we’re looking for common things like memory leaks and so forth, such that we don’t use that. We take a lot of the old Oracle stored procedures and pump them into different Python and/or other scripting languages such that we can then move to the cloud and actually use those cloud native services, whether it be AWS, Google Cloud Platform or Azure.”

He added that the USPTO developers are using AI on small snippets of code first and then taking those lessons learned and applying them as they do more code refactoring.

“It is an iterative process of slow momentum and getting success because you really have to think about failing. You have to anticipate failure in order to adapt to it and overcome it,” Holcombe said.

Changing the culture of risk

USPTO is also starting to test agentic AI. Holcombe said his team is applying it to customer service.

“What you’re going to do is apply generative AI to the tier-zero, and you’re going to mature it into tier one, where you don’t need that answering desk because most of the issues and problems can be solved through your learning modules, and you can actually give personalized and customized service over the wire,” he said.

As for the latency in regard to culture, Holcombe said he’s tried to institute a “culture of acceptance,” whether it’s risk or failing or learning.

“The difference between moving fast and moving slow is all dependent upon the culture. So in determining your latency and the ability to accept risk, you have to understand that we’re changing the dynamic within the federal government right now. There’s a sea change among us, and I think it’s a great opportunity to push that latency and not accept the idea that we can  do that next week,” he said. “There’s a cost for waiting, and that cost has been normally born by bureaucracy. No more bureaucracy. Get it done now. So I think latency, the length of time it takes to do anything is a key component of the new administration and moving out and getting things done better, cheaper and faster. The government has forgotten cheaper and faster, and now it’s being reminded of it so stark, cheaper and faster is two big components. It’s not just better, it’s cheaper and faster.”

Bottom said the SEC is just dipping its toe into AI capabilities. One major challenge for the agency is managing and labeling its data to ensure it’s authoritative.

“As we move to adopt some of these AI tools that are coming out very rapidly, we’re moving past the point where a user is actually making the determination themselves as they’re going through and doing their daily work,” Bottom said. “What’s  authoritative? We’re actually make moving that decision to the tool. So how do we make sure we have the right labeling construct, in terms of competence in the goodness of the data in order to people to make decisions. How do we make sure we’re labeling data in that way?”

The post Next phase of digital transformation for SEC, PTO begins first appeared on Federal News Network.

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Judge Subramanian DENIES Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Bail for the Fifth Time – Disgraced Rapper Will Remain in Prison Pending His October 3rd Sentencing

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14 hours ago

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August 5, 2025

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Judge Subramanian: no “exceptional reasons” to release Diddy before sentencing.

Recent Judge Subramanian’s decisions may indicate hard times for Diddy come sentencing.

We have been following the pre-sentencing motions in the high-profile criminal trial of rap mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

The defense: ‘Sean Diddy’s Combs’ Conviction Is Racist and Sexist’, Say Disgraced Rapper’s Lawyers on Yet Another Legal Filing Trying to Release Him on Bail Pending Sentencing

The Prosecution: Prosecutors Oppose Sean Diddy Combs’ 50M Bail Package, Ask for ‘Substantially Higher’ Sentence Than Before

Look who appeared: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial: Ex-girlfirend Who Disappeared and Did Not Testify Against Rapper as ‘Victim 3’ Now Writes Letter to Judge to Grant Him Pre-sentencing Bail

Diddy has had his request for bail denied for the 5th time.

Today, we learn that federal judge Subramanian has yet again declined to grant Sean “Diddy” Combs bail, saying he found no ‘exceptional reasons’ to release him pending his October sentencing.

ABC News reported:

“Combs was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution, which the judge said mandates incarceration. His sentencing is set for Oct. 3.

Judge Arun Subramanian said Combs remains a risk of flight and a danger to the community, pointing to the violence exhibited on 2016 hotel surveillance footage that shows him kicking and dragging Cassie Ventura.”

Combs remains a risk of flight and a danger to the community: Judge.

The judge ruled that the ‘swinger lifestyle’ argument does not fly in a case that includes ‘evidence of violence, coercion or subjugation in connection with the prostitution’. And the record, he wrote, contains evidence of all three.

Subramanian: “’While Combs may contend at sentencing that this evidence should be discounted and that what happened was nothing more than a case of willing ‘swingers’ utilizing the voluntary services of escorts for their mutual pleasure, the Government takes the opposite view: that Cassie Ventura and Jane were beaten, coerced, threatened, lied to, and victimized by Combs as part of their participation in these’.”

Read more:

As He Awaits Sentencing in Prison, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Joins ‘Self-Improvement’ Program To Curb Drug Use and Violence Against Women

The post Judge Subramanian DENIES Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Bail for the Fifth Time – Disgraced Rapper Will Remain in Prison Pending His October 3rd Sentencing appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Nearly 78,000 New Applicants Flood ICE Recruitment to Help Crack Down on Illegal Immigration (VIDEO)

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14 hours ago

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August 5, 2025

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In a scorching new development under the Trump-backed ICE reign, Acting Director Todd Lyons confidently announced that “we have almost 78,000 applicants since we opened up,” referring to the agency’s massive recruitment surge launched just one week prior.

This seismic surge in interest aligns with ICE’s newly launched “Defend the Homeland” recruitment blitz, unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security on July 29, 2025.

ICE is budgeting for 10,000 new agents, dangling $50,000 signing bonuses, student‑loan forgiveness, enhanced overtime pay, and upgraded retirement plans to attract recruits.

According to the press release:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today launched a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) campaign to recruit brave and heroic Americans to join ICE as federal law enforcement agents and remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from America’s streets.

“Your country is calling you to serve at ICE. In the wake of the Biden administration’s failed immigration policies, your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “This is a defining moment in our nation’s history. Your skills, your experience, and your courage have never been more essential. Together, we must defend the homeland.”

To support this effort, ICE is offering a robust package of federal law enforcement incentives, including: 

  • A maximum $50,000 signing bonus
  • Student loan repayment and forgiveness options
  • 25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) for HSI Special Agents
  • Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUI) for Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Deportation Officers
  • Enhanced retirement benefits

Backed by significant new funding through the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE is rolling out patriotic recruitment posters and benefits to attract the next generation of law enforcement professionals to find, arrest, and remove criminal illegal aliens.

During the Fox interview, Todd Lyons delivered the incredible news.

“We have almost 78,000 applicants since we opened up. We’re going through and finding those people who really want to serve the country and truly be in law enforcement. I think it’s a great way to recruit now.

We’re taking back our re-hired annuitants — people who left the job early because they weren’t allowed to do the law enforcement mission.

But we have so many people who are now interested in working with ICE because, under Secretary Nome’s leadership, they’re seeing that we have a viable law enforcement partner in the community. You’re actually out making a difference. We’re really ecstatic about seeing the increase in new recruits who are applying.”

WATCH:

The post Nearly 78,000 New Applicants Flood ICE Recruitment to Help Crack Down on Illegal Immigration (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Calls on Trump to Commute George Santos’ Excessive 7-Year-Sentence: ‘Some Members of Congress Who’ve Done Far Worse Still Walk Free’

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14 hours ago

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August 5, 2025

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R‑GA) has formally thrown down the gauntlet.

On Monday, she submitted a letter to the Office of the Pardon Attorney pleading for President Trump to commute the 87-month federal sentence of ex‑Congressman George Santos (NY‑03)—a punishment she calls “a grave injustice” and emblematic of a justice system fractured by politically selective persecution.

Greene wrote on X:

“BREAKING: I just sent a letter to the Office of the Pardon Attorney urging President Trump to commute the sentence of former Congressman @MrSantosNY.

A 7‑year prison sentence for campaign‑related charges is excessive, especially when Members of Congress who’ve done far worse still walk free.

George Santos has taken responsibility. He’s shown remorse. It’s time to correct this injustice. We must demand equal justice under the law!”

Greene signed her letter Aug. 4 to Pardon Attorney Edward Martin Jr. at the Justice Department, demanding Trump use his executive power to undo what she calls a “grave injustice.”

Drawing on inside knowledge, she described Santos as “without a prior criminal record,” “sincerely remorseful,” and portrayed his case as campaign-related maleficence, nothing warranting “one of the most extreme sentences in recent history.”

Green also reminded officials of the roster of current or former lawmakers who actually broke laws or ethics rules yet never lost a day.

The letter reads:

“I am writing to request that your office urge the President to commute the sentence of former Congressman George Santos. In April 2025, Mr. Santos was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. I wholeheartedly believe in justice and the rule of the law, and I understand the gravity of such actions. However, I believe a seven-year sentence for such campaign-related matters for an individual with no prior criminal record extends far beyond what is warranted.

As a Member of Congress, I worked with Mr. Santos on many issues and can attest to his willingness and dedication to serve the people of New York who elected him to office. He committed himself to serving his constituents and did whatever it took to represent their interests in Washington, D.C. He is sincerely remorseful and has accepted full responsibility for his actions. Furthermore, my office has spoken with a pastor of his who discussed the regret and remorse of Mr. Santos, agreeing that the sentence imposed is a grave injustice.

While his crimes warrant punishment, many of my colleagues who I serve with have committed far worse offenses than Mr. Santos yet have faced zero criminal charges. I strongly believe in accountability for one’s actions, but I believe the sentencing of Mr. Santos is an abusive overreach by the judicial system.

Commuting his sentence would acknowledge the severity of his actions and simultaneously provide a path forward in allowing him to make amends for his crimes and strive to better serve the people in his community.

I respectfully request you to urge the President to commute the sentence of Mr. George Santos.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

According to the Advocate, Trump can pardon Santos, but has not been asked about it.

The Advocate reported:

“He lied like hell, and I didn’t know him,” Trump told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty during an interview at the White House. “But he was 100 percent for Trump. I might’ve met him. Maybe, maybe not, but he was a congressman and his vote was solid.”

[…]

In the Newsmax interview, Trump seemed to question the severity of Santos’s sentence. “It sounds like a lot,” he said. “Is it seven years he just went away? It’s a long time.”

Trump went on to say that while he hadn’t been approached about pardoning Santos, the door remained open. “Nobody’s talked to me about it,” he said. “They really haven’t talked to me about [Santos]. They have talked to me about Sean [Combs], but they haven’t talked to me about [George]. But again, with him, I have the right to do it. Nobody’s asked me, but it’s interesting.”

In April, U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced Santos to 87 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after a guilty plea in August 2024.

Those charges stemmed from fabricating donor names, laundering campaign funds, misusing donor money, and claiming unemployment while campaigning.

Santos took to social media earlier this year to criticize the ruling and pleaded with President Trump for leniency.

He wrote:

This is the hardest statement I have ever written. I write this humbled, chastened, and fully accountable for choices that shattered the faith so many placed in me.

I betrayed the confidence entrusted to me by many. For that, I offer my deepest apology.

When I pled guilty, I did so without reservation. I said then, and I repeat now, that my conduct betrayed my supporters and diminished the institution I was privileged to serve. Those words have weighed on me every day since.

I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead. I asked the Court for a sentence that balances accountability with the chance to prove through sustained, measurable action that I can still contribute positively to the community I wronged.

I believe that 7 years is an over the top politically influenced sentence and I implore that President Trump gives me a chance to prove I’m more than the mistakes I’ve made.

Before the sentencing, Santos had slammed federal prosecutors for going easy on violent criminals while trying to make an example out of him.

“I will however remind everyone that they want me to go to prison for 87 months while they let sex traffickers walk freely, they give drug lords slaps on the wrist and most importantly refuse to prosecute the cabal of pedophiles running around in every power structure in the world including the US Government,” he wrote on X.

The post Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Calls on Trump to Commute George Santos’ Excessive 7-Year-Sentence: ‘Some Members of Congress Who’ve Done Far Worse Still Walk Free’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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