In early March, the White House released the National Cybersecurity Strategy, outlining a six-pillar framework designed to guide federal cyber policy, investment, and operational priorities over the coming years.

During this year’s Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo in Raleigh, NC, one topic garnered considerable attention: AI. Within many city governments, AI is past experimentation and has moved into production. In 2026, city IT leaders are prioritizing  safe, secure, and data-driven AI deployments that deliver measurable outcomes in mobility, public safety, infrastructure management, and climate resilience.

However, as cities move toward operational AI, challenges exist around data readiness, governance, and integration across departments.

This year’s Beyond the Beltway conference highlighted key strategic findings from IT leaders that signal where 2026 technology investments will be made and where to focus efforts for success. In 2026, state and local governments are at an inflection point: with rising expectations evolving alongside tightening budgets, staffing and timelines, success will depend on alignment of solutions to modernization requirements, workforce challenges and measurable ROI-driven outcomes.

The Golden Fleet, a US Navy initiative introduced by the administration in December of 2025, aims to revitalize the US shipbuilding industry, develop and sustain a new class of naval fleet and change how it does business to rapidly address maritime threats, particularly from China, in the Indo-Pacific region. The first frigate is planned for full operation in 2028.

In early February, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle unveiled the details of the US Navy’s 2026 Hedge Strategy. As the Navy is facing a great power competition, rapid technological change and strain on the defense industrial base, it is critical to adapt an innovative operational and strategic approach to maintain adversarial advantage. The strategy shifts away from dominance by mass towards a risk-balanced operational approach that has asymmetric, combat-ready capability. In other words, they are “hedging their bets” on more tailored capabilities and nimble operations.

This week, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) released it annual State CIO Top Ten Policy and Technology Priorities list for 2026, signaling where state technology leaders are focusing their efforts, and limited resources, in the new year. This year’s list is reflective of the current policy, priority, and funding shifts that have affected SLED agencies most, coupled with the apparent drive towards innovation and modernization.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is passed annually to define the Department of Defense’s priorities and guide how funds are allocated. While it doesn’t directly appropriate money, it shapes the direction of defense spending and sets the framework for future contracts. This makes it a key indicator of where IT investments and opportunities will emerge.

As the U.S. marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a critical pillar of the nation’s digital defense has expired. On September 30th, Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution, furloughing many federal cybersecurity staff and allowing the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 to lapse as cyber threats are reaching unprecedented levels. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which spearheaded much of the law’s implementation, has also furloughed nearly two-thirds of its workforce.

Over the last decade, technology has profoundly transformed U.S. state, local government, and higher education (SLED). As digital landscapes evolve, a skilled workforce is crucial. Pluralsight has proudly supported state and local governments for a decade by partnering with NASCIO through sponsorships and workforce development initiatives. Explore the top ten tech trends reshaping public service, and see how Pluralsight helps leaders build resilient, future-ready teams.

The United States is facing a significant cybersecurity workforce shortage, with NIST identifying over 500,000 open cyber positions and estimating there are 74 workers for every 100 cyber jobs. This shortage threatens both the nation’s private sector security profile and federal agencies struggling to compete for cybersecurity professionals. As such, the government is working to support cyber education in the United States. In the meantime, departments will also likely need to implement cyber solutions that can aid in accommodating for the workforce shortfall.