Good morning, CIOs. Federal IT has never experienced the level of turbulence as it has over the last few months, from job cuts and canceled contracts to the threats against legacy vendors and the takeover of computer systems that run the government.

History shows that it's times like these when others see their chance. The WSJ's Belle Lin reports on how some smaller government IT contractors see the cost-cutting agenda of the Trump administration as an opportunity to generate more business—provided they, too, don’t end up on the chopping block.

“Some firms find this terrifying, and some like Appian find it a great opportunity and a relief,” Chief Executive Matt Calkins said in an interview. Appian’s platform helps customers automate repetitive digital processes. The company is now working directly with the Department of Government Efficiency in several federal agencies, he added.

“In most areas of technology, government lags,” Calkins said. “This could be a major shift for the government to turn around and say, ‘Now we actually want to be pioneers.’” Read the story.

Jony Ive, a chief architect of the iPhone, and his design firm LoveFrom are taking over creative and design control at OpenAI. WSJ reports that the former Apple employee’s work at OpenAI will extend across all the company’s ventures.

LoveFrom and OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman have been collaborating for two years on a new device that will move consumers beyond screens, according to people familiar with the matter.

The product will be capable of being fully aware of a user’s surroundings and life, will be unobtrusive, able to rest in one’s pocket or on one’s desk, and will be a third core device a person would put on a desk after a MacBook Pro and an iPhone.

As part of the move, OpenAI will also acquire Ive’s io, a company founded last year to design and develop a new family of AI-powered products. OpenAI acquired a 23% stake in the company late last year.

Walmart plans to cut around 1,500 jobs in a restructuring aimed at trimming its expenses and speeding up decision-making, WSJ reports. The company told employees Wednesday that it will reshape some of its teams in global technology operations, e-commerce fulfillment managers that support U.S. stores, and Walmart Connect, its advertising business.

Super Micro Computer CEO Charles Liang, said the company will consider expanding production in states such as Mississippi and Texas, especially if President Trump continues to push for localization, WSJ reports. In February, Super Micro, which sells servers used for generative AI, unveiled plans to build its third campus in San Jose.

AT&T will buy Lumen’s mass markets fiber business for $5.75 billion, WSJ reports. AT&T said the acquisition will create jobs in metro areas across 11 states and improve critical connectivity infrastructure. 

Snowflake reported its first-ever $1 billion revenue quarter, with sales up 26% from the prior year, Barron's reports. 

Strava, the popular running and exercise app, has completed a fresh round of fundraising valuing the business at $2.2 billion including debt, WSJ reports.

A man who shouted “Free Palestine!” fatally shot two Israeli Embassy staff members late Wednesday near a Jewish museum in downtown Washington, law-enforcement officials said. (WSJ)

The Republican-led House passed President Trump’s sprawling tax-and-spending bill early Thursday, after party leaders made a series of last-minute changes that united their warring wings. (WSJ)

The Pentagon said Wednesday that it had formally accepted a donated $400 million luxury airliner from Qatar that President Trump has said will serve as Air Force One. (WSJ)

On a call Monday, President Trump told European leaders that Russian President Vladimir Putin isn’t ready to end the Ukraine war because he thinks he is winning, according to three people familiar with the conversation. (WSJ)

The WSJ CIO Journal Team is Steven Rosenbush, Isabelle Bousquette and Belle Lin.

The deputy bureau chief, Tom Loftus, can be reached at thomas.loftus@wsj.com.