Modernization
Esper Recuses Himself from JEDI Cloud Contract Review
The Pentagon’s acquisition team will continue its review of bids submitted by Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, as the department’s deputy secretary of defense takes over the process.
Digital Government
Now’s The Time To Share Your Bold Ideas and Stories
A chance to tell your colleagues across government about innovative approaches you’re implementing.
Modernization
OMB Focused on Trust and Agility in Tech Improvements
Increased agility will help tech officials maximize their IT modernization efforts—and perhaps build more trust in government among the public.
Emerging Tech
Marines Try Using Drones to Bring Blood to Battle
The light unmanned aircraft made hundreds of supply drops during recent Australian live-fire wargames.
Cybersecurity
Russian Hackers Co-Opt Iranian Cyber Tools to Attack 35 Countries, NSA Warns
In a joint advisory, U.S. and British authorities said the Turla group is piggy-backing off the work of Iranian rivals to advance its own agenda.
Emerging Tech
Justice to Require DNA Sampling of Nearly All Detained Migrants
Once collected, the samples will be moved into the FBI’s massive DNA database.
Modernization
Federal CIO Outlines the Administration's 2020 Tech Priorities
Suzette Kent flagged priority data sets and a focus on supply chain security.
Emerging Tech
House Committee Votes to Increase Funding for Energy’s DARPA by $2.9B
The House Science, Space and Technology Committee moved a bill to reauthorize ARPA-E with additional funding, as well as new restrictions and oversight.
Emerging Tech
More Wrong Answers Get Quantum Computers to Find the Right One
In quantum computers, generating more errors in a given operation may help reveal the right answer, according to new research.
Emerging Tech
Lawmaker: TSA Should Halt Facial Recognition Programs Absent Formal Policies
The agency said it is working on those policies while the technology is tested through pilot programs.
Emerging Tech
Agriculture Wants Innovation Centers to Boost Rural America
The agency is accepting applications through grants.gov.
Cybersecurity
DISA Wants a Pentagon-Wide Identity Management System
The Enterprise Identity Service would let Pentagon officials oversee the access credentials and online activity of every user who touches its networks.
Emerging Tech
Weapons Makers Unveil A Herd of Robotanks—As the Army Worries about Battlefield Bandwidth
The U.S. Army is determined to field a mid-sized combat robot vehicle, but the prototypes are outstripping the datalinks that would connect them.
Emerging Tech
Border Patrol Agents Might Get Body Cameras to Record Interactions With the Public
The agency is also interested in learning how body cameras could be integrated with its facial recognition program.
Ideas
Robots Learn about Feelings and Maybe Plot Their Takeover
So how far away are we from a machine uprising?
Emerging Tech
The Postal Service is Exploring Big Ideas for Small Drones
Unmanned aircraft could transport packages across tough terrains and inform future initiatives to introduce autonomous vehicles.
Ideas
Putting IP Fears to Rest
The government does not need to own the intellectual property for every acquisition.
Emerging Tech
The Endless Aerial Surveillance of the Border
New reports suggest that drone activity at the southern border is spreading to nearby cities, erasing the line between police procedures and immigration enforcement.
Modernization
VA to Launch Adaptive Game Therapy Program
The agency also announced it will introduce adaptive esports into its national game competition during a visit with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Cybersecurity