Mayor Muriel Bowser: Making responsible AI use a workforce requirement in Washington, DC

Washington, D.C., has announced a requirement for government employees to complete responsible AI training, making it one of the first major U.S. cities to formalize AI literacy across its public workforce. The goal is to ensure that employees understand both the opportunities and risks of using AI tools in day-to-day government operations.

The initiative is being led by the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO), which is framing the program around practical usage. Training will cover how AI systems work, where they can be applied inside government workflows, and what guardrails are required when handling public data. This includes areas such as bias, privacy, transparency, and accountability, which are becoming central concerns as agencies begin experimenting with generative AI tools.

Rather than leaving adoption to individual departments, the city is standardizing a minimum level of understanding across agencies. This reduces the risk of fragmented usage, where some teams move quickly with AI while others lag or misuse tools. By creating a shared baseline, Washington, D.C. is trying to ensure that experimentation happens within a consistent framework.

The program is also designed to evolve. As AI tools change, the training modules can be updated, allowing the city to keep pace with new capabilities and risks. This approach treats AI as an ongoing operational shift that requires continuous education and adjustment.

Officials have emphasized that the requirement is about enabling informed usage. Employees who understand the limits of AI systems are less likely to rely on them blindly and more likely to question outputs, which is critical in a public-sector context where decisions can have wide-ranging impact.

Instead of focusing only on procurement or pilot projects, agencies are beginning to invest in workforce readiness as a prerequisite for AI adoption. If successful, this model could influence how other cities and states approach AI, particularly in building internal capacity before scaling deployment.

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The government landscape is shifting quickly, systems are adapting, and public servants are navigating what that means for how we build and deliver services. These conversations are happening at Code for America Summit, where technologists, public servants, and innovators from across the country are talking all things civic tech.

This year’s Summit, May 7–8 in Chicago, focuses on The Future We Build—with two days of sessions, ideas, and collaboration on making government work for everyone.

The event brings together state and local government leaders to look at how technology can improve public services. It focuses on real challenges and opportunities in areas like cybersecurity, AI, data management, digital service delivery, workforce skills, and resident experience. Sessions are designed to encourage collaboration and provide practical guidance, and the event is free for public sector participants. Details →

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