Cybersecurity

Cummings nixes theory that contractor discovered OPM breach

More than a year after the massive hack, a senior lawmaker has determined that the OPM breach was not, in fact, detected by a small business doing a product demonstration.

Digital Government

IG: OPM still lacking in planning for IT overhaul

The report is the latest in a series of scathing assessments of the Office of Personnel Management's IT practices from the agency's inspector general.

Cybersecurity

Is Social Security concealing IT risk?

The agency charged with maintaining some of the nation's most sensitive information is vulnerable because of its antiquated IT, and lawmakers say its leaders are downplaying the danger and sidestepping their inspector general.

Digital Government

Senate Committee Advances Measure Letting Agencies Crack Down on Personal Email

The bill allows agency heads to bypass federal rules requiring them to consult with unions about workplace matters in order to block access to certain websites.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers: After OPM Hack, Social Security Administration Could Be Next Target

SSA’s networks show some of the same vulnerabilities as OPM’s.

People

HR chiefs: President Trump won't cause government exodus

Federal chief human capital officers are keeping their noses to the grindstone -- and trying to keep their employees doing the same -- in preparation for the impending presidential transition.

Cybersecurity

Obama's cyber 'state of emergency' yields no quick sanctions

Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew wrote to Congress in the fall that no adversaries had been targeted under new cyber sanctioning powers.

Cybersecurity

State plans departmentwide phishing trip

The State Department has selected a vendor to provide a "phishing as a service" solution to improve employee cyber hygiene worldwide.

Acquisition

Feds seek contractor emissions data

A proposed new Federal Acquisitions Regulation rule would require federal suppliers to supply yearly greenhouse gas emissions data.

Modernization

Hardware first up in NGEN re-compete

Navy officials are interested in carving out a separate contract for hardware-as-a-service in the re-compete of the Next Generation Enterprise Network.

Cybersecurity

This Is the Real Threat Posed By Hacked Medical Devices at VA

Most medical device manufacturers do not have the know-how or tools to patch vulnerabilities in devices quickly.

Digital Government

Federal CIO on IT Upgrade Fund: ‘The Bigger Risk is Not Doing Anything’

There is bipartisan dismay at the age of some critical IT systems that house everything from taxpayer data to benefits claims.

Emerging Tech

Video: This Mermaid Robot Can Swim Better Than You

It helps that this robot doesn't need a snorkel.

Emerging Tech

Border Agency Has Rolled Out Lots of New Tech. But Is It Working?

New technology could help border patrol keep intruders out, but DHS’ acquisition process is too slow, lawmakers say.

Digital Government

Here Are 10 of the Oldest IT Systems in the Federal Government

The application programming languages undergirding some federal IT systems were new when "The Andy Griffith Show" premiered.

Digital Government

A Look At the Military’s New Stealth Bikes

These motorcycles of the future are turning heads at special operations conference in Florida.

Cybersecurity

Even US Postal Service Wants to Start Using Blockchain Tech

The technology is a decentralized digital ledger accessible to millions of users and cryptographically secured, making it tamper-proof.

Cybersecurity

Senators ask what OPM hack means for global cyber relations

The State Department is pushing a regime of global cyber norms, and lawmakers want to know how high-profile hacks affect the effort.

Digital Government

American Schools Are Teaching Our Kids How to Code All Wrong

No more teaching watered down content and using simple coding apps.

Cybersecurity

House panel weighs the risks of legacy IT

As experts warned of the "dire" threats posed by outdated federal technology, lawmakers grilled top feds, debated workforce issues and inched closer to backing a $3.1 billion fix-it fund.