The Role of Red Teaming in Public Sector AI

Modev Staff Writers | September 9, 2025

7:28

AI in government is no longer an experiment but a necessity. From streamlining benefits processing to strengthening national security, artificial intelligence for public sector missions is now central to digital transformation. Agencies are experimenting with tools ranging from predictive analytics to generative AI in government, but each new system brings questions of safety, bias, and trust.

Red teaming offers one of the most effective answers. Red teaming simulates adversarial conditions and probes weaknesses, so AI red teaming enables governments to test systems under real-world pressure. This practice, adapted from defense and cybersecurity, is becoming a cornerstone of AI risk management in the public sector.

What Red Teaming Means for AI

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has emphasized that testing and evaluation are essential for building trustworthy AI systems (NIST, 2023). Red teaming is not about routine quality assurance. It is about challenging assumptions, uncovering blind spots, and preparing for the unexpected. For AI systems deployed in sensitive contexts, whether in AI for public safety or AI for cybersecurity, these stress tests can mean the difference between resilience and failure.

Unlike conventional validation, red teaming asks: how might this system break, and who might try to break it? In practice, that could mean exposing an AI-powered decision-making tool to adversarial data, evaluating whether AI for healthcare policy produces equitable results across demographics, or stress-testing AI for transportation infrastructure against unusual but catastrophic scenarios.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has underscored the importance of such testing, noting that agencies must implement rigorous safeguards as part of AI governance in the public sector (GAO, 2021). This aligns with the American AI Action Plan, which highlights testing and evaluation as a priority for federal adoption of trustworthy AI (White House OSTP, 2022).

Building Trust Through Red Teaming

Trust is a fragile but essential component of government innovation. Without confidence in the systems that shape services, citizens are less likely to embrace change. Red teaming reinforces commitments to responsible AI in government by identifying vulnerabilities before they cause harm.

It also supports ethical AI in government by ensuring systems do not perpetuate hidden bias or inequities. For example, a system used in AI for public services such as benefits eligibility must treat applicants fairly regardless of socioeconomic background. Red teaming helps uncover whether unintended discrimination is occurring, allowing agencies to make corrections before deployment.

Brookings Institution research has highlighted how accountability and transparency are key to sustaining public trust in AI (Brookings, 2023). Red teaming provides a structured way to achieve both, demonstrating that agencies are not only innovating but also safeguarding democratic values.

Red Teaming Across Use Cases

The versatility of red teaming makes it applicable across nearly every artificial intelligence government use case. In AI for government operations, it validates that back-office automation functions reliably during anomalies. In AI for smart cities, it helps ensure that traffic and energy systems remain safe even under stress. In AI for citizen engagement, red teaming evaluates whether virtual assistants provide accurate and secure responses.

The rise of generative AI in government adds new urgency. Large language models can generate impressive outputs, but they also pose risks of misinformation, hallucination, or data leakage. RAND Corporation has noted that adversarial testing is critical for these systems to ensure responsible deployment in sensitive environments (RAND, 2023). Red teaming provides the structured testing needed to separate hype from readiness.

Red Teaming and Policy Alignment

Red teaming is a technical practice, and it is a policy tool. The AI regulation and compliance landscape is expanding, and governments need mechanisms to demonstrate due diligence. By incorporating red teaming into procurement, testing, and oversight processes, agencies align with federal and international expectations for responsible AI adoption.

As more nations and states consider comprehensive frameworks for AI, including Europe’s AI Act and U.S. federal agency guidance, the ability to point to robust red teaming practices signals maturity. It shows that governments are prepared not only to deploy AI but also to govern it.

GovAI Summit: Where Practice Meets Policy

The GovAI Summit is one of the few gatherings designed specifically for this conversation. Unlike general government technology events, GovAI functions as a targeted government AI conference where federal, state, and local leaders meet with technologists and policymakers.

This public sector AI summit goes beyond showcasing tools. It is an AI policy event where red teaming strategies are discussed as part of broader implementation frameworks. Sessions highlight real-world experiences in applying red teaming to AI for defense and intelligence, AI for government operations, and citizen-facing systems.

Attending a digital government conference like GovAI allows agencies to not only see demonstrations but also to learn from peers who have applied these methods under mission conditions. It is where strategy, capability, and governance converge. The GovAI Agenda outlines sessions on red teaming, compliance, and risk management, and registration is open now.

As adoption accelerates, the role of red teaming will continue to grow. Artificial intelligence for public sector missions, from AI for defense and national security to AI for public services, requires proactive evaluation. Red teaming enables agencies to uncover hidden vulnerabilities, build citizen trust, and align with evolving governance frameworks.

The challenge for agencies is not simply whether they will use AI, but whether they will use it responsibly. By embedding red teaming into their processes, governments take a critical step toward deploying innovation that is not only powerful but also safe and equitable.

Take Action

If your agency is building or procuring AI systems, don’t leave resilience to chance. Join leaders at GovAI to see how red teaming and other evaluation strategies are shaping the future of government AI. Explore the GovAI Summit Agenda, register today, and continue the conversation through our past articles: