FCW Insider: Nov. 12

Senate nixes pay hike for feds in funding bill

Congress is looking to pass a full slate of appropriations bills for fiscal year 2021 instead of a stopgap continuing resolution by Dec. 11, when the current temporary funding bill expires. 11

Cyber and AI investments could trend up in defense spending

Investments in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence efforts may increase even with flat defense budgets, but a worsening pandemic could dampen those projections.

VA reports smooth go-live from $16B electronic health record system

The performance of infrastructure, end-user devices exceeded agency expectations on the VA's first go-live on its new electronic health record system.

Chicago launches a challenge to extend outdoor dining into winter

As COVID-19 continues to upend local economies, the Windy City is getting creative to support the restaurant sector.

Quick Hits

*** The incoming Biden-Harris administration announced a slate of agency review teams to manage the transition at the agency level. The list is a who's-who of former federal officials, state officials, academics and policy experts and activists.

On the workforce, IT and contracting fronts there are some familiar faces: Katy Kale, former chief of staff at the General Services Administration under the Obama administration is leading the transition at her former agency. Ann Dunkin, the former Environmental Protection Agency CIO is on the team handling EPA transition. Kiran Ahuja, a former chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management will oversee the OPM transition. Martha Coven, a senior official at the Office of Management and Budget is serving as the team lead for the OMB transition. Matt Bailey, who worked in the federal CIO shop is returning to lead the U.S. Digital Service transition.

*** Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has an ambitious day one agenda for president-elect Joe Biden that includes raising the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 per hour. Warren is also calling on Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to issue "the strongest ethics and anti-corruption standards for executive branch personnel ever."

*** Nominations for the 2021 Fed 100 are now being accepted. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 31.