Emerging Tech
Military vehicle electrification continues to roll forward, but may face bumps in the road
The U.S. military operates more than 174,000 non-tactical vehicles, the second highest number in the federal government.
Digital Government
Senate passes debt deal, agency spending freeze bill headed to Biden's desk
Bipartisan leaders pledge to pass fiscal 2024 funding bills to avoid a sequestration next year.
Cybersecurity
Federal vision to streamline cyber incident reporting expected this summer
The Cyber Incident Reporting Council will issue a report to Congress "in the next month or two" with recommendations on ways to achieve harmony across a complex network of federal cyber mandates.
Policy
New bill proposes 'made in China' tags for mobile apps
The legislation would require large online app stores — including Apple’s App Store and Google Play — to disclose the countries where their apps were developed and are currently owned.
Digital Government
FTC charges Ring over 'disregard' for customer data security
The Federal Trade Commission has proposed stronger security protocols for home video surveillance company Ring after years of mounting concern over data privacy.
Digital Government
BSA taps former chief acquisition officer as new procurement lead
The Software Alliance, also known as BSA, is taking on a new focus on procurement with Jessica Salmoiraghi, formerly of the General Services Administration.
Emerging Tech
Satellite data could boost border security, disaster response
Homeland Security relies on satellite imagery for its missions—and it wants more.
Ideas
How can Congress regulate AI? Erect guardrails, ensure accountability and address monopolistic power
Is a new federal agency necessary to regulate AI? Maybe.
Modernization
DHS faces slow disaster response burdened by legacy systems, officials warn
Officials told a Senate committee on Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security had severely outdated information technology systems across various components.
Policy
US deploys tech diplomacy to cultivate leadership in emerging fields
The Biden administration’s latest foreign policy pillar prioritizes uniform standards on critical technologies within ally nations.
Modernization
Debt ceiling politics could derail plans for modernizing unemployment benefits delivery
The department has a plan to build on modular modernization advances piloted in New Jersey, but provisions in the debt ceiling compromise legislation could claw back funding pledged in the American Rescue Plan Act.
Digital Government
NASA team’s plan to decode UFO sightings hinges on better data
The space agency is convening an independent panel to publish a report later this summer featuring best practices for data collection on unidentified anomalous phenomena.
Artificial Intelligence
AI and China are ‘defining challenges of our time,’ CISA director says
Artificial intelligence’s potential as an “extinction event” for humanity prompted CISA Director Jen Easterly to advise companies to “think about self-regulation” for product security and safety.
Cybersecurity
Unmonitored networks put US nuclear arsenal at risk, GAO finds
A Government Accountability Office report found that the Energy Department cannot effectively monitor potential insider threats to U.S. nuclear security because department staff “have not identified the total number of DOE’s stand-alone classified networks.”
Emerging Tech
Clean energy advancements hinge on steady funding, Energy official says
Accelerating critical technologies to support a robust clean energy economic sector is a top priority for the agency’s 2024 budget request.
Policy
Agencies launch initiative to better identify minority-owned contractors
The joint effort between the Small Business Administration and the General Services Administration aims to make it easier for federal procurement officials to connect with small, disadvantaged businesses across sectors.
Digital Government
Debt limit deal would save feds' paychecks, but freeze agency spending
The agreement also reduces shutdown threats, plus other takeaways for federal employees.
Modernization
Budget and tech challenges loom over IRS's direct file pilot
The news of the forthcoming pilot was followed this week by a compromise debt ceiling bill that includes reallocating $20 billion of the funding the IRS got as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Cybersecurity
GAO identifies new infosec deficiencies in IRS system controls
The watchdog's annual audit of the agency turned up new recommendations on system access controls and security configurations, alongside a limited release report and previous recommendations.
Cybersecurity