Emerging Tech

Trade groups press White House to digitize forms of identification

Stronger digital identity solutions would curb future cyber attacks driven by identity and make stolen personal data less valuable, a coalition of 10 trade groups writes in a new letter.

Cybersecurity

New bill would give CISA greater cyber outreach responsibilities

The Cybersecurity Awareness Act would direct the agency to launch a new public-private campaign promoting cyber best practices across small businesses and underserved communities. 

Cybersecurity

Lawmaker advocates 'all-of-the-above' approach to fix cyber worker shortage

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s cybersecurity panel said a greater focus on cyber education in K-12 schools could help fill the roughly 700,000 vacant cyber jobs across the country.

Policy

Government has a policy over people problem, civic tech leader argues

In a new book, Code for America founder Jennifer Pahlka argues that government implementers need more authority to avoid becoming risk-averse compliance agents.

Cybersecurity

House cyber panel’s NDAA draft prioritizes commercial tech, expert engagement

Tech- and cyber-focused legislative proposals for the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act would restructure the Pentagon’s internal leadership to emphasize greater engagement with the commercial tech sector.

Cybersecurity

Industry calls for clarity after White House extends software security form deadline

Software vendors praised a decision from the Office of Management and Budget to extend a deadline for agencies to collect self-attestation forms, though questions remain about what comes next.

Ideas

Reducing security debt

Federal agencies must take measures to minimize the introduction and accumulation of security flaws in their software

Modernization

VA to lean on automation, better IT to tackle wave of benefits claims

The component responsible for overseeing veterans’ benefits programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs believes that automation and modernized IT systems will enhance its processing of PACT Act-related claims.

Artificial Intelligence

White House efforts to get data equity-ready will also support AI, official says

Executive agencies are prioritizing new best practices to harmonize AI systems and public data to both mitigate bias and support equity.

Artificial Intelligence

Are government decisions being made by AI? Lawmakers want to mandate disclosure

New legislation would also require agencies to have an appeals process for adverse decisions made using automated systems in areas like healthcare or government benefits.

Emerging Tech

White House makes case for renewed Quantum Initiative Act

As funding under the National Quantum Initiative Act is set to expire, OSTP official Charles Tahan outlined several priority areas for the U.S. quantum sciences ecosystem.

Policy

Government buyers need training to go green, panel says

An advisory group based at the General Services Administration has ideas for putting government operations on a net-zero emissions basis.

Ideas

The long-time civil servant on the front lines of the default battle

Dave Lebryk is not widely known to the public but the Treasury official occupies a critical spot when it comes to measuring the daily cash position of the federal government.

Artificial Intelligence

New bill proposes warning labels to AI-generated material

The AI Disclosure Act seeks to combat potential disinformation created using the emerging technology.

Cybersecurity

Interior faces 'disturbing' cyber risks due to cracked passwords and vulnerable assets

Recent reports reveal the Department of Interior is not enforcing multifactor authentication for its high-value assets and has a range of other significant cybersecurity risks.

Digital Government

AWS unveils edge device for Defense customers in most extreme environments

The 80-pound AWS ‘Snowblade’ device provides cloud services to end users at all classification levels while meeting the military’s highest ruggedization standards.

Cybersecurity

White House cyber strategy can help mitigate AI dangers, official says

Acting National Cyber Director Kemba Walden noted that the underpinnings of the National Cyber Strategy can offer guardrails for emerging AI systems. 

Emerging Tech

Congress is ‘in learning mode’ about AI, lawmakers say

A bipartisan duo of lawmakers discussed artificial intelligence at Amazon Web Service’s government summit.

Modernization

VA CIO warns against sacrificing 'consistency' for more contractor diversification 

VA is engaging more with smaller vendors to fulfill some of its projects, but the department’s CIO warned that calls for the agency to break large contracts into smaller pieces would not ensure that “there's consistency across the key places.”