Artificial Intelligence
Proposed Law Would Create Responsible Emerging Tech Leaders at Agencies
The bill would require a senior official at each relevant agency to oversee technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum and biotechnology to ensure responsible usage.
Ideas
Is federal financial management stuck in the 20th century?
More than three decades after legislation codifying the role of the chief financial officer was passed into law, functions like budget authority, cost and performance data and many other CFO-related functions are often spread out among different agency officials.
Artificial Intelligence
FDA Seeks Insight into How AI can Help and Hurt Drug-Making
The Food and Drug Administration is seeking public feedback amid its efforts to balance the advantages and risks of deploying artificial intelligence and machine learning into drug creation and approval processes.
Policy
Feds Could Be Fired at Any Time for Any Reason, Under a Bill That Was Just Reintroduced
The bill also would abolish the Merit Systems Protection Board and threatens to reduce former federal employees’ retirement benefits if they file “frivolous” appeals of adverse personnel actions.
Emerging Tech
Interior Wants a Fleet of Drones ‘On Call’ to Help With Wildfires, Other Emergencies
The department is awarding multiple spots on a $7.2 million contract for unmanned aerial systems-as-a-service.
Defense
DOD plans free software tools to support cyber compliance by small biz
The Department of Defense wants to bolster the number of small contractors it does business with, so it's planning to debut a series of free software tools to make it easier to work with industry.
Cybersecurity
Voting Machines Must Be Test Hacked for Certification, Under Proposed Bill
The new law would require cybersecurity penetration testing as part of voting systems’ approval process.
Digital Government
Head of NASA's Space Tech Mission Directorate to Retire
James Reuter will retire after nearly 40 years at the space agency.
Digital Government
A Classified Cloud Is Headed to the Indo-Pacific
It’s part of DISA’s effort to bring continental-U.S.-level computing resources to U.S. military forces around the world.
Cybersecurity
CISA is growing up, CIO says
CISA's Bob Costello talks top priorities, challenges and growing pains and progress for a CIO office in a relatively young federal agency.
Modernization
2 Agencies Still Behind on Years-Old Legacy IT Recommendations, Watchdog Finds
Despite some agencies making significant progress, the Transportation Department and the Office of Personnel Management have not fully implemented the watchdog’s prior recommendations.
Digital Government
The IRS Answered 2.4M More Taxpayer Phone Calls During 2023 Filing Season
Inflation Reduction Act funding paid dividends for the IRS during the 2023 tax filing season.
Cybersecurity
NIST Debuts New Cyber Guidance for Contractors Handling Sensitive Data
The National Institute of Standards and Technology is accepting comments on the revised document through July 14.
Acquisition
What's going on with DHS' enterprise cloud plan?
The Department of Homeland Security teased its plan for a 10-year enterprise cloud contract in the fall and then went relatively quiet. Based on previous cloud procurements, that could be a good thing.
People
Senate confirms Biden's pick to lead NARA
Colleen Shogan will now lead the National Archives and Records Administration.
Digital Government
Bipartisan Group Looks to Fix ‘Hopelessly Obsolete’ Classification System
Legislation is aimed at reducing over-classification and improving the handling of secrets.
Modernization
House Lawmakers Lambast EHR Rollout Over Pharmacy Problems
Both witnesses and lawmakers agreed that the Oracle Cerner EHR system at its current state is not satisfactory—but disagreed over how to fix it.
Artificial Intelligence
Setting Emerging Tech’s Standards Dominates NIST’s 2024 Goals
NIST Director Laurie Locascio discussed her agency’s plans before a House hearing, revealing major focuses on critical and emerging technologies.
Modernization