FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC — Mayor Muriel Bowser today announced a new mandatory Responsible AI training requirement for all DC Government employees and contractors. Delivered in partnership with InnovateUS, the no-cost, self-paced training will equip the District’s workforce to use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools safely and effectively while reinforcing the District’s commitment to responsible innovation, oversight, and accountability.
"From day one, my Administration has prioritized putting AI to work for DC residents in ways that are safe, equitable, and accountable," said Mayor Muriel Bowser. "This training ensures that every DC Government employee understands how to use AI responsibly — keeping people at the center of our work and maintaining the public trust that residents place in their government."
The training provides practical guidance for everyday use of AI at work, helping employees and contractors to understand both the capabilities and limits of these tools and their ongoing responsibility for decisions made with AI support.
“AI is becoming part of everyday work, and public servants deserve practical guidance to use these tools responsibly,” said Stephen N. Miller, DC Chief Technology Officer and Director of the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO). “This training helps put DC’s AI values into practice across every agency—with clear accountability, strong privacy and cybersecurity protections, and a focus on delivering real benefits for residents.”
“Tackling today’s public challenges requires investing in the people who deliver public services,” said Beth Simone Noveck, Founder of InnovateUS and Director of the Governance Lab. “This training gives DC employees clear, practical guidance to use AI responsibly in their daily work serving residents. The focus is squarely on using AI to improve services while protecting public trust and accountability.”
Grounded in DC Government's Six AI Values
The announcement comes as DC is days away from its two-year anniversary of the Mayor's Order 2024-028, signed on February 8, 2024, which established the nation's first comprehensive framework for responsible AI use in city government. The Order sets clear expectations for how AI may be used across the DC Government, requiring agencies to demonstrate how AI tools requesting to be implemented will align with the six DC AI Values established by Mayor's Order 2024-028, which are:
-
Clear Benefit to Residents
-
Safety and Equity
-
Accountability
-
Transparency
-
Sustainability
-
Privacy and Cybersecurity
Workforce training is a core pillar of that framework. By ensuring employees and contractors share a baseline understanding of responsible AI use, the District is translating policy principles into day-to-day practice across agencies.
Implementation is supported by DC’s AI Taskforce, led by the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, and informed by public engagement through the AI Values Alignment Advisory Group (AIVA), which brings community and stakeholder perspectives into the District’s AI governance.
Keeping Humans in the Loop
DC’s approach emphasizes that employees and contractors remain accountable for appropriate AI use. The training reinforces our “humans in the loop” approach by clarifying when AI may support work—and when human judgment, oversight, and review are beneficial.
Supporting Safe Access to Approved AI Tools
Consistent with its governance framework, DC Government has approved enterprise AI tools that meet high standards for privacy, cybersecurity, and data protection. For example, Microsoft Copilot Chat is available under DC Government’s Microsoft 365 environment and is configured so that data remains within the District’s domain and is not used to train vendor models. Access to other AI tools is limited based on security and governance considerations.
How to Access the Training
All DC Government employees and contractors can complete the training at their own pace within 90 days of notification at s.dc.gov/aitraining using their @dc.gov or @k12.dc.gov Single Sign-On (SSO) credentials.
About InnovateUS
InnovateUS delivers free online learning for public service professionals, led by public service professionals, on data, digital, innovation, and AI skills, with an emphasis on evidence-based, participatory, and collaborative approaches. Governed by a coalition of public sector learning and innovation leaders, InnovateUS is a partner of the Governance Lab and the Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University.
Media Contact:
Laura-Celine Patrick, Public Information Officer, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Washington D.C.
laura-celine.patrick@dc.gov; 202-913-3525
