FCW Insider: Jan. 10

The Bureau of Land Management has already started its move out of Washington, D.C., to Grand Junction, Colo. Former BLM employees warned that the move could disrupt key relationships with Congress and the Office of Management and Budget, and set the stage for a dismantling of the agency. Lia Russell reports.

In a Committee on House Administration hearing, executives from the three major voting machine manufacturers said they were open to new reporting and regulatory requirements. Derek B. Johnson has more.

The Department of Defense announced a chairman to head up the certification program under which vendors will be certified as compliant with cybersecurity rules. Lauren C. Williams has the story.

After sidelining a financial management shared services arrangement, the Department of Veterans Affairs is planning to roll out a $2.5 billion integrated software-as-a-service financial management and acquisition capability across its components. VA is starting with its smallest component and working its way up, Mark Rockwell learned.

The Office of Personnel Management published a database of government's collective bargaining agreements with employee unions. The database was called for under an executive order. Lia takes a look.

Quick Hits

*** The Professional Services Council is asking the Departments of Defense and State to improve the way government communicates potential threats to contractor personnel. Get more on this story from Washington Technology.

*** The Federal Aviation Administration's seven Unmanned Aircraft Systems research test sites around the country could share more of the data on how to integrate the systems into U.S. airspace, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. The report recommended that the FAA develop a data analysis plan and share more information publicly about how test site research relates to the agency's drone integration plans. The FAA told the GAO that it’s cautious about sharing proprietary data from private commercial companies participating in the tests. GAO countered that participants in the test sites it interviewed said they would welcome more data sharing for their research efforts.

*** The House of Representatives passed three measures on the future of 5G networks on Jan. 8. The Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2019, which passed on a 413-3 vote, requires the White House and executive agencies to come up with a plan for secure mobile communications. The Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2019 directs the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to push U.S. companies to lead globally by participating in standards-setting bodies. That bill passed on a voice vote. And a House resolution, also passed on a voice vote, calls for the support and consideration of recommended security policies for 5G infrastructure developed at an international conference in May 2019 and known as "The Prague Proposals".