Artificial Intelligence

National Science Foundation Facilitates US-India Tech Research Collaboration

The National Science Foundation added $2.8 million in supplemental awards to support these projects.

Emerging Tech

White House-cited Standard Would Bolster National Electronics Security

Protecting the supply chain is about more than ensuring semiconductor inventories, some argue.

Cybersecurity

Finance Sector Deals Latest Blow to Cyber Solarium Construct Teetering in NDAA

Congress will return from the August recess faced once again with the challenge of building cybersecurity policy for private providers of critical infrastructure faster than industry can tear it down.

Modernization

Over 20,000 Veterans Received VHA iPads but Never Used Them for Virtual Care

An inspector general review found that the agency was also slow to get devices back so they could be redistributed.

Cybersecurity

How the Cyber Ambassador In Waiting Plans to Control $1.5 Billion for Open Networks

The recently passed “CHIPS and Science Act” funds a grants program that the new State Department official will have a key role in steering, including to telecom networking firms.

Digital Government

Government Authority to Counter Drones Gets Expansion Under New Legislation 

The Senate bill  would extend the DHS and DOJ’s drone-countering abilities that are set to expire in October, while also implementing some of the Biden administration’s recommendations for mitigating risks posed by potentially malicious drones.

Policy

Bill Aims To Reclassify Broadband As Essential To Promote Net Neutrality

Two Democratic senators unveiled a new bill to codify broadband as an essential service and prevent discriminatory practices.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Could Help Congress Schedule and Find Unexpected Consensus, Expert Says

Members of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress discussed how artificial intelligence and machine learning could help improve policy outcomes.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers Question DOJ’s National Security Division on Cybersecurity, Surveillance

The House Judiciary Committee raised concerns over  three hostile foreign actors that breached court systems in early 2020, in addition to questions about the surveillance of Americans.

Modernization

Top Republican to 'Seriously Consider Pulling the Plug' on VA's New EHR System

The ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee plans to introduce legislation before the end of the year to address deficiencies in the rollout of the new Oracle-Cerner electronic health record system.

Cybersecurity

Human Rights Advocate to Congress: Stop Federal Procurement of Commercial Spyware

The Intelligence Authorization Act, which recently cleared committee in the House, empowers—but does not require—the director of national intelligence to bar such acquisitions.

Modernization

CBP Built and Deployed an In-House Electronic Health Record System in Under 2 Years

Medical service contractors working for the Customs and Border Protection are using an agency app to record migrants’ medical information instead of just writing it down.

Modernization

Internal VA Email Calls Postponement of EHR Rollout to Boise ‘Part of the Process’ 

The message to staff said that "more could be done" to streamline planned deployment of new health record software at Boise VA Medical Center.

Cybersecurity

Diabetes Patients Flood FDA with Comments on Cybersecurity for Medical Devices

As the agency finalizes guidance for approving the sale of devices such as those used to monitor and control glucose levels, the comments highlight competition and consumer protection issues associated with a grassroots movement for the “right-to-repair.”

Cybersecurity

North Korea Behind Manually Executed Ransomware Attacks, Federal Agencies Say

Officials are connecting the “Maui” ransomware to attacks on the public health sector over the past year. 

Cybersecurity

CISA Recommends Immediate Action for Microsoft Exchange Online Users

The recommendation is in line with Executive Order 14028, which requires federal agencies to implement multi factor authentication.

Cybersecurity

Federal Government Gets Serious About Post-Quantum Encryption Protection

A Phase III PQE contractor talks about getting federal quantum protection deployed quickly. 

Modernization

VA Electronic Record System ‘Not Yet Stable Enough’ for Planned Rollouts

The Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center now plans to deploy the Cerner Millennium system a month later than originally planned, with the year’s remaining rollouts pushed to 2023.

Cybersecurity

CISA Plans to Hire Chief People Officer to Boost Cyber Workforce

Agency advisors are set to vote on a host of draft recommendations which include reviewing the security clearance process for inefficiency.

Digital Government

President Biden Nominates OSTP Director

If confirmed, Dr. Arati Prabhakar would serve as the president’s chief science advisor.