Seismic Shifts

Federal agencies know that modernizing Human Capital systems is critical. But many overlook where true transformation starts — with reliable, actionable data at the front end of the process. For most, that means rethinking position management. Position descriptions may seem administrative, but outdated processes and fragmented data leave agencies facing duplicated work, hiring delays, and…

Agentic AI and the Human Capital Frontier This week, Apple researchers released a paper that may force the AI industry to pause. Their findings challenge the idea that advanced AI systems are capable of genuine reasoning. In fact, when confronted with problems that go beyond pattern recognition, these systems fail. Apple’s team describes this as…

Why Data is the Starting Line for HCM Transformation On April 15, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14271, Ensuring Commercial, Cost-Effective Solutions in Federal Contracts. The directive reinforced what many agency leaders have long known: modernization is no longer optional—it’s a federal imperative. Agencies must prioritize commercially available, cost-effective solutions over custom-built platforms. And…

With Agentic AI, Audit is No Longer a Four-Letter Word The Department of Defense has a deadline: a clean audit by 2028. And while the goal is non-negotiable, the path has been anything but linear. The audit challenge isn’t just complexity, it’s capacity. Skilled financial professionals are stuck chasing journal entries, reconciling inconsistencies, and rerunning…

Defense Budgeting Needs a Co-Pilot Federal budgeting has always been rigorous, methodical—and deeply manual. Even as agencies adopt digital tools, most systems still wait for human input. But with mission needs changing in real time, static workflows don’t cut it anymore. Remember Clippy? “It looks like you’re writing a letter…” Now imagine: “It looks like…

Rethinking Federal Acquisition in the Age of Intelligent Systems Why the Acquisition Function Needs a New Kind of Intelligence  Federal acquisition is one of the most mission-critical operations in government yet remains one of the most complex. It demands precision, accountability, and coordination across a wide array of stakeholders: contracting officers, budget analysts, program managers,…

AI as a Mission Multiplier for Federal HR  In today’s rapidly evolving federal landscape, the pressure to modernize isn’t just about keeping pace with technology—it’s about reshaping how agencies deliver on their missions.  At Groundswell, we see the future of federal HR not just as digital, but intelligent. The next frontier is about unlocking the…

For over three decades, the Department of Defense (DOD) has grappled with the complexities of financial accountability, falling short of meeting the requirements of a clean audit under the CFO Act. The DOD has set an ambitious target: achieve a clean audit by 2028. To get there, it must tackle persistent challenges around documentation, reconciliation, data accuracy, and process consistency.