News in brief: US cyber agency appoints first chief AI officer, UK civil service workforce continues to grow
Global Government Forum’s weekly roundup of public service news
In this edition:
- US cyber agency appoints first chief AI officer
- UK civil service workforce continues to grow as government signals new approach
- Australian government extends green grid reforms into the Outback
- UK stands up five quantum computing research hubs
- This week on GGF
US cyber agency appoints first chief AI officer
The USA’s federal cybersecurity agency has appointed its first chief artificial intelligence officer, saying the move signals its “commitment to responsibly use AI to advance its cyber defence mission”.
The new role will, the agency said, “institutionalise our ongoing efforts to responsibly govern our own uses of AI and to ensure critical infrastructure partners develop and adopt AI in ways that are safe and secure”.
Lisa Einstein has previously served as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA’s) senior adviser, and as executive director of its Cybersecurity Advisory Committee. In these roles, she produced and implemented an AI Roadmap that promoted the use of AI in cybersecurity work, considered how to protect AI systems from cyber threats, and addressed the risks posed by hostile actors’ use of AI technologies.
“I am proud of how our team at CISA has come together in the last two years to understand and respond to rapid advancements in AI – many of which have significant implications for our core missions of cyber defence and critical infrastructure security,” said CISA director Jen Easterly. “Lisa Einstein has been central to that effort. Beyond her technical expertise, she’s an inspirational leader who has brought together colleagues across the agency around a clear and impactful vision.”
Einstein began her career as a professional dancer, before becoming Stanford University’s first dual Master’s degree recipient in computer science and international policy – focusing on AI, cyber and security issues. She also has a background in volunteering and charity work, and during the pandemic helped organise 2,000 volunteers to provide free classes in basic coding skills to 22,000 online students.
UK civil service workforce continues to grow as government signals new approach
The UK civil service grew by 22,460 to a total of 510,125 full-time equivalent (FTE) roles over the year to March 2024, representing a 4.6% increase, according to new government statistics. There were particularly sharp rises among overseas staff and those based in the West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber, whose numbers grew by 9.2%, 7.7% and 7.1% respectively.
The figures come after a sustained period of growth in the workforce, which has risen from 384,230 FTEs in June 2016. Brexit and the pandemic prompted rapid expansion in staff numbers, which in 2022 exceeded the previous peak of nearly 500,000 in 2009-10 – after which austerity policies saw the workforce shrink by more than 100,000.
In new chancellor Rachel Reeves’ public spending audit, published last week, the Treasury removed the civil service headcount caps introduced by the last government – arguing that the move was essential in order to reduce spending on consultants, saving £550m in 2024-25 and £680m in 2025-26. “The government will move away from capping civil service headcount to an approach that ensures departments consider overall value for money in resourcing decisions,” it said.
Nonetheless, the civil service’s continued expansion comes as the recent audit identified a projected shortfall of £22bn in spending plans inherited from the previous government. It pencilled in a 2% cut in administration budgets during 2024-25, saving £225m, and signalled cuts in communications budgets and a renewed push to sell off public sector assets.
The new civil service data has also showed continued churn in civil service roles: while the proportion of people leaving the civil service fell from 8.9% to 7.5% over the year, those moving departments rose from 3.0% to 5.2%. In a report published last week, thinktank the Institute for Government argued that permanent secretaries should be tasked with reducing staff turnover: “The head of the civil service should set individual permanent secretaries clear, public targets for reducing the levels of turnover in their departments,” it said.
Australian government extends green grid reforms into the Outback
The Australian government has signed another regional deal under prime minister Anthony Albanese’s A$20bn (US$13bn) Rewiring the Nation programme, which aims to make renewable energy more accessible and affordable for citizens.
Brokered by federal climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen and Eva Lawler, chief minister of the Northern Territory, the new agreement will see A$250m (US$165m) invested in grid improvements, transmission projects, and support for community-scale renewables across the region.
The deal is the fifth to be signed between Australia’s national government and its provincial administrations, with the goals of creating jobs in clean technologies, cutting energy costs and reducing carbon emissions.
In a press release, the Department for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water noted that “progress on critical transmission projects stalled under the former federal government”.
“The Albanese Labor Government is getting on with the job and working closely with states to deliver these vital projects on time and at lowest cost through Rewiring the Nation,” the statement said.
The programme is designed to rebuild Australia’s electricity grid around the needs of renewable technologies, shifting away from a reliance on coal-fired power stations to a much more distributed model based on renewables operating at both the utility and the neighbourhood scale.
UK stands up five quantum computing research hubs
The UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced a £106m (US$135m) investment in five new research hubs, charged with developing practical applications for quantum technologies in fields such as healthcare, communications and cybersecurity.
The hubs will bring businesses and researchers together to develop new products and services, strengthen the development and resilience of national infrastructure, and work on technologies that can improve public service delivery. Each will have a particular focus, with the Cambridge hub concentrating on healthcare; Birmingham on sensors and monitors; Edinburgh on cybersecurity and distributed computing; Oxford on IT manufacturing; and Glasgow on navigation and transport.
The emerging technology of quantum computing is expected to transform IT capabilities, presenting both huge economic opportunities and major new challenges in fields such as cryptography and cybersecurity.
“Technologies harnessing quantum properties will provide unparalleled power and capacity for analysis at a molecular level, with truly revolutionary possibilities across everything from healthcare to infrastructure and computing,” said Charlotte Deane, executive chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. “The five Quantum Technology Hubs announced today will harness the UK’s expertise to foster innovation, support growth and ensure that we capitalise on the profound opportunities of this transformative technology.”
DSIT was established in February 2023 by former prime minister Rishi Sunak, but its influence is growing quickly under new premier Keir Starmer. The department recently took charge of the digital government brief, with the Central Digital and Data Office and Government Digital Service moving to DSIT from the Cabinet Office.
This week on GGF
About Matt Ross
Matt is Global Government Forum's Contributing Editor, providing direction and support on topics, products and audience interests across GGF’s editorial, events and research operations. He has been a journalist and editor since 1995, beginning in motoring and travel journalism – and combining the two in a 30-month, 30-country 4x4 expedition funded by magazine photo-journalism. Between 2002 and 2008 he was Features Editor of Haymarket news magazine Regeneration & Renewal, covering urban regeneration, economic growth and community development; and from 2008 to 2014 he was the Editor of UK magazine and website Civil Service World, then Editorial Director for Public Sector – both at political publishing house Dods. He has also worked as Director of Communications at think tank the Institute for Government.
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