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Rebecca Heilweil

Rebecca Heilweil is an investigative reporter for FedScoop. She writes about the intersection of government, tech policy, and emerging technologies.

Previously she was a reporter at Vox’s tech site, Recode. She’s also written for Slate, Wired, the Wall Street Journal, and other publications.

You can reach her at rebecca.heilweil@fedscoop.com. Message her if you’d like to chat on Signal.

Articles by Author

Elon Musk, Tesla and SpaceX CEO and Senior Advisor to the President, attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House on April 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump convened a Cabinet meeting a day after announcing a 90-day pause on ‘reciprocal’ tariffs, with the exception of China. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Dozens of lawmakers question DOGE’s use of AI

AI

The U.S. Department of Labor building is seen behind a sign marking the location of the agency’s headquarters on March 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by J. David Ake/Getty Images)

New DOGE CIO looks to reduce Labor IT office by 30%, agency source says

Exclusive

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 85 commercial and government spacecraft and 3 Starlink satellites launches from Cape Canaveral on June 30, 2021. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dakota Raub)

FBI and Drug Enforcement Agency are interested in Elon Musk’s Starlink

Tech

Close-up of phone screen displaying icon for Anthropic Claude app, a Large Language Model (LLM) powered generative artificial intelligence chatbot. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Palantir, Anthropic, Google deepen ties on government AI use with Claude partnership

AI

A passenger jet takes off over the runway threshold lights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Aug. 12, 2024, in Arlington, Va. (Photo by J. David Ake/Getty Images)

Democrats raise questions about Secret Service’s anti-drone work at DC airport

Tech

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection patch on the uniform of Rodolfo Karisch, Rio Grande Valley sector chief patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)

Customs and Border Protection says it’s reviewing missing servers

Tech

The seal of the Department of Homeland Security is seen on a podium on Feb. 23, 2015, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

DOGE reduction-in-force efforts reach Homeland Security

Transition

(Photo by YE AUNG THU/AFP via Getty Images)

For US government, use of unapproved communications tools during foreign travel isn’t a new issue

Tech

USAID blankets being distributed by Mercy Corps wait to be loaded onto trucks at Chaklala airport October 31,2005 in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

USAID edges closer to shutdown, allows remote work for those still overseas

Transition