AGP Executive Report

STEM Around the Region: The Maryland STEM Festival is back through Nov. 15, with hands-on events across Maryland and D.C. This year’s focus: AI and maker spaces. Research & Health Tech: A Howard University student’s research spotlights gaps in records on missing Black women, while Children’s National is using AI to help reduce emergency-room wait times. District Science: New research maps D.C.’s urban green divide, bringing attention to unequal access to green space. Tech & City Policy: D.C. mayoral hopeful Janeese Lewis George is calling to halt Waymo’s legalization in the city, citing concerns about drivers’ jobs. Traffic Data: D.C. drivers faced $257.8 million in speed-camera fines, outpacing New York City.

Health Technology: Children’s National is using AI to help reduce emergency-room wait times, bringing a new tool to a pressing local care challenge. Howard Research: A Howard University student’s “Deadlining” research highlights gaps in records for missing Black women, showing how data systems can shape whose cases are seen. D.C. Mobility: Presumptive Mayor Janeese Lewis George is calling for a halt to Waymo legalization, citing concerns about drivers’ jobs. Urban Environment: New mapping of D.C.’s urban green divide spotlights how access to green space varies across the city.

Federal Research: The Transportation Department is using AI to screen research-grant applicants for possible ties to foreign adversaries, adding scrutiny as agencies try to protect sensitive technology. Air-Traffic AI: House Democrats want the GAO to review the FAA’s AI-supported air-traffic tools, citing reliability and safety concerns and limited input from frontline workers. D.C. Mobility: A fatal scooter crash involving a District official has renewed calls to examine rental-scooter safety as the city considers allowing higher speeds. Defense Technology: The Army announced in Washington that its drone-buying marketplace now includes 29 countries, aiming to speed allied access to approved drones and counter-drone systems.

Voter Data and Privacy: A lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., accuses DHS of illegally collecting voter files from at least 47 states and combining them with commercial data, raising privacy concerns for millions. AI in D.C. Airspace: House Democrats are urging the FAA to pause an AI air-traffic tool deployed over the capital and seek a watchdog review of the system. Science and Ethics: Washington-based Stand Up for Science has published an investigation into ethical and consent concerns surrounding a proposed CDC-funded newborn vaccine study in Guinea-Bissau. Marine Research: D.C. nonprofit Ocean Visions launched a public platform to help researchers, policymakers and funders navigate marine carbon removal projects. Scooter Safety: A fatal e-scooter crash involving a D.C. government official has renewed debate over rental scooter safety as the city considers allowing higher speeds.

AI and Airspace: House Democrats are asking the FAA to pause its AI air-traffic tool in Washington and seek a watchdog review, putting the safety of automated systems over D.C. at the center of debate. Urban Mobility: D.C. experts warn that e-scooters can cause deadly crashes and severe brain injuries, especially for children. Nearby, NASA and Virginia Tech are leading a $6 million effort to develop standards for future electric air taxis. Science and Wildlife: Five cheetah cubs were born at the Smithsonian’s conservation campus in Front Royal, a boost for the institution’s breeding program. Defense Technology: At the AUSA meeting in Washington, the Army designated Hanwha’s wheeled howitzer the XM1776, advancing its mobile artillery program.

Public Safety: D.C. experts warn that e-scooters can cause fatal crashes and severe brain injuries, especially among children. Defense Technology: At an Army conference in Washington, military leaders called open architecture mandatory for future equipment and discussed a major, still-uncertain funding push for autonomous systems. Federal Research: A judge blocked the Forest Service’s planned move from D.C. to Utah, putting a wider restructuring—including closures of research facilities—on hold for now. Power Grid: A temporary federal emergency order covered D.C. and 13 states as PJM faced tight electricity conditions; officials said it was a precaution, not a warning of rolling blackouts. Local Tech: D.C.-based City First Bank is rolling out digital account-opening tools to expand service beyond its traditional footprint. Chesapeake Bay: The Bay earned a C+ and its highest score in four decades of tracking, a sign of recovery after last year’s drought and extreme heat.

Military AI: At an Army conference in Washington, Cyber Command said it is expanding AI agents across network operations, with humans overseeing their work. The Army is also reorganizing research and modernization teams into a new Futures and Autonomous Systems Command, aiming to field more autonomous systems by 2028. Chesapeake Bay: The Bay and watershed earned their highest overall report-card score in 40 years, a C+, though conditions vary across the region. D.C. Mobility: A fatal e-scooter crash is renewing scrutiny of rental speeds as injuries rise. DMV Biotech: Germantown-based Precigen is developing treatments for rare diseases.

Howard Research: Howard junior Avery Bernard Johns has built a database of 186 missing and murdered Black women and girls in D.C., using data science to trace links between redlining, transit development and patterns of violence. Urban Mobility: A fatal D.C. scooter crash and rising injuries are renewing safety questions as the city weighs faster rental scooters; driverless vehicles could also reach D.C. by 2028. Chesapeake Health: The Bay earned a C+, its best score in 40 years, in a University of Maryland report covering the watershed that includes D.C. Environmental Rules: The D.C. Circuit upheld the EPA’s rule classifying PFOS and PFOA as hazardous substances, a key decision for monitoring and cleanup of these persistent chemicals.

Micromobility Safety: A deadly e-scooter crash involving a D.C. government official is intensifying scrutiny as injuries rise and the city weighs faster rental scooters. Autonomous Vehicles: Plans to bring robotaxis to D.C. by 2028 are drawing concern from workers over job losses and street safety. Aviation Safety: An Army report on last year’s fatal midair collision near Washington points to systemic failures and calls for fixes. Regional Engineering: A George Mason engineer won $1.43 million to develop barriers designed to stop vehicle bombs. Digital Life: D.C. Public Library is helping residents reduce reliance on Big Tech, bringing privacy and digital literacy into the community.

Defense Manufacturing: At AUSA in Washington, Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle said the Army plans an early-2027 “manufacturing rodeo” to stress-test suppliers and uncover production bottlenecks. Civic Tech: American Waypoints is crowdfunding a geolocation-based history experience in D.C., using landmarks and lesser-known sites for an interactive exploration app. AI Governance: A World Economic Forum panel at Washington’s May AI+Expo called for stronger accountability, safety and human oversight as AI agents take on tasks autonomously. Schools & Digital Life: The D.C. Council is reviewing AI use and screen time in schools, while the D.C. Public Library is helping residents reduce reliance on Big Tech. Autonomous Vehicles: Robotaxis could reach D.C. by 2028, as labor groups warn the rollout may threaten driving jobs.

Schools & AI: The D.C. Council is reviewing artificial intelligence use and screen time in schools, as educators weigh new tools against students’ well-being. Digital Privacy: D.C. Public Library is helping residents reduce reliance on Big Tech, bringing practical technology choices to the community. Southwest D.C.: E-trikes are hitting the streets, expanding local transportation options. AI & Government: The D.C. Circuit upheld the federal government’s designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk, a ruling that could shape how agencies assess AI vendors. Regional Engineering: A George Mason engineer won $1.43 million to develop barriers designed to stop vehicle bombs.

Student Tech: DHS proposed charging colleges $70,000 for each initial international-student work recommendation and $30,000 for later recommendations, including STEM extensions. The public-comment period closed Nov. 9. School Policy: The D.C. Council is reviewing AI use and screen time in schools. Autonomous Transit: A plan to bring robotaxis to D.C. streets is drawing pushback from workers concerned about ride-share jobs. Neighborhood Mobility: E-trikes are hitting the streets in Southwest D.C., adding another transportation option. Aviation Safety: The Army found systemic failures behind the deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport and called for safety fixes.

Schools & AI: The D.C. Council is reviewing AI use and screen time in schools, putting classroom technology and student well-being on the local agenda. Driverless Cars: A proposed D.C. bill to allow robotaxis drew protests from rideshare drivers and union members, who warn the technology could threaten jobs. Community Tech: D.C. Public Library is helping residents rethink their reliance on Big Tech, while e-trikes are expanding transportation options in Southwest. Federal Science: A proposed $6 billion science plan would target AI and missions to the Moon and Mars.

AI in Schools: The D.C. Council is reviewing how artificial intelligence and screen time are used in local schools, putting classroom technology and student well-being under scrutiny. Smithsonian Research: A new DNA analysis of a hair strand, conducted with Smithsonian researchers, strengthens the conclusion that Thomas Jefferson fathered children with Sally Hemings, whom he enslaved. Robotaxi Debate: D.C. Council members are weighing a bill to allow commercial driverless rides. Drivers and union supporters rallied against it, warning the service could cost people their jobs. Local Tech and Transit: D.C. Public Library is helping residents step back from Big Tech, while new e-trikes are expanding transportation options in Southwest.

Digital Privacy: D.C. Public Library is helping residents rethink their tech habits with a pilot program offering privacy guidance, practical resources and alternatives to mainstream apps. Robotaxis: Drivers, unions and religious leaders protested a D.C. proposal to allow commercial driverless rides, warning the technology could threaten local jobs as the Council considers the measure. Clean Mobility: E-trikes are hitting the streets in Southwest D.C., expanding transportation options. DCA Safety: A new Army report found systemic failures behind the deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport and called for safety fixes.

AI Policy: The Trump administration is promoting AI growth through a new task force and an industry accord, while favoring voluntary safeguards over federal rules as concerns mount over safety, jobs and data centers. Federal Tech: OPM has opened its AI chatbot for federal workforce data to public testing. The beta tool answers questions in plain English, and the agency is collecting feedback to improve it. Aviation Safety: A newly public Army report found systemic failures behind the deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport and backs requiring aircraft to share location data in crowded airspace, a key point in stalled safety-bill talks. DC Mobility: Driverless vehicles could reach Washington by 2028, but unions warn the shift could cost local drivers their jobs.