FCW Insider: Sept. 30

DOD releases interim cybersecurity rule

The rule is designed to ensure DOD contractors are adhering to a uniform standard for protecting controlled unclassified information is protected. But while trade groups representing government and defense contractors have lauded the framework but criticized the implementation and rulemaking process.

SBA taps cloud for loan forgiveness platform

The Small Business Administration is using a commercial off the shelf software as a services platform to process applications for its loan forgiveness relief program.

New federal CIO, CISO on tap

The White House is planning to name two officials to senior tech posts with a possible change of administration looming.

Quick Hits

*** With a midnight shutdown looming on Wednesday, the U.S. Senate voted 82-6 on Sept. 29 to invoke cloture and move to a final vote on the continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 11. The Senate convenes at noon on Sept. 30 to vote. President Trump's signature is required on the bill to prevent a government shutdown on Oct. 1, the start of fiscal year 2021.

*** The Office of Personnel Management is seeking comment from agencies about plans to revamp the credentials needed for hundreds of federal occupational categories. The Trump administration, under an executive order, wants to include "competency-based assessments" to stand in for college degrees and other formal credentials in federal hiring.

"Developing competency-based assessments will benefit the Federal workforce by generating larger pools of highly skilled job candidates from which agencies may choose their employees, thereby enabling highly skilled workers with non-traditional educational paths to serve the American public," Acting OPM Director Michael Rigas wrote in a Sept. 25 memo to federal agency heads.