Beyond the buzz: A practical approach to accelerating federal AI impact
Federal mission leaders are at a turning point. The promise of AI is real—but realizing that promise isn’t about clearing a single hurdle. It’s about navigating a complex maze of people, data, ethics, operations, and strategy—all of which must be addressed together to achieve scalable results.
Recent moves like the White House’s AI Action Plan and new OMB guidance signal strong support for responsible AI innovation in government. But when it comes to the real work of transforming programs and operations, where do agencies actually stand?
To answer this question, ICF partnered with Wakefield Research to survey federal leaders on their AI adoption efforts. The findings paint a nuanced picture—one that underscores the urgency for a unified, focused approach to AI integration.
It’s not just tech—it’s people, process, and trust.
According to the survey, 70% of federal leaders said they’ll need to upskill staff or hire new talent to implement AI effectively. In other words, AI is as much an organizational challenge as a technical one.
And that challenge goes deeper than training. Nearly a third of respondents (31%) cited the need for a clear AI vision and roadmap, while another third (31%) pointed to cost concerns and uncertain ROI. Without strategic alignment, securing funding and building momentum becomes difficult—even when the interest is there.
Meanwhile, data remains a foundational hurdle. 32% of leaders called out poor data quality and inconsistency as their biggest blockers. AI models are only as good as the data they’re fed, and messy, inaccessible data can derail progress before it starts.
Leaders are also keenly aware of the ethical and governance responsibilities that come with AI. Responses around privacy protections, ethical use, and the establishment of robust AI governance frameworks reveal a strong awareness of the risks involved. Public trust, transparency, and accountability are non-negotiable. And as policies like OMB M-25-21, M-25-22, and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework evolve, agencies need AI systems that can evolve with them.
Despite these challenges, one message came through loud and clear: waiting is not an option.
In the fast-moving world of federal AI, the smartest move is simple: start now.
The way through the maze of AI adoption isn’t to wait until every piece is in place—it’s to begin with intention. The most effective federal leaders are choosing early use cases where the stakes are manageable, but the mission value is real. That momentum builds confidence, buy-in, and capability.
Here’s how to start strong:
- Focus on impact, not perfection. Identify pain points where AI can deliver measurable improvements—like accelerating routine reviews, reducing manual errors, or surfacing insights faster. Early wins matter.
- Invest in your people. Upskill teams and build trust in the tools. Equip them to understand AI outputs, improve data quality, and manage AI workflows effectively. This creates the flywheel that promotes AI adoption and scaling over time.
- Lean into GenAI’s flexibility. Generative models don’t require massive, perfectly structured datasets to start producing value. They’re well-suited to augment knowledge work with the data you already have.
- Build for transparency. Prioritize explainable AI—models and systems where your teams can answer questions like: “Where did this come from?” and “How was this calculated?”
- Balance agility with accountability. Strong governance is essential—but it should evolve with your capabilities, not stall them. Keep compliance embedded but adaptive.
- Create a clear vision. Don’t get caught in pilot purgatory. Know what success looks like, align stakeholders, and build toward measurable, mission-aligned outcomes.
By addressing these areas concurrently, public sector leaders can quickly move beyond isolated solutions to build truly resilient and impactful AI capabilities, ultimately better serving their missions and the public.
From talk to action: ICF Fathom
To help federal agencies unlock the value of AI, we developed ICF Fathom. ICF Fathom is a suite of intelligent, mission-ready AI solutions and services that help agencies move from exploration to execution. Whether you're testing your first use case or scaling production-grade AI, Fathom brings together:
- Customizable AI agents
- Prebuilt accelerators
- Deep federal domain expertise
Together, these help you identify the right problems to solve, deploy solutions quickly, and deliver measurable results—without overcommitting or overengineering from the start. Because success with AI isn’t just about doing everything, it’s about proving value early and then scaling what works.
Download the full report to explore what’s top of mind for federal leaders—and how to move from exploration to impact.
