People

AI task force aims to expand federal research opportunities beyond big tech

The National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource is planning to put out a roadmap in December which outlines how the federal government can recruit more diverse talent for AI research and development opportunities.

Cybersecurity

CISA Announces DC Event for Public Input on Incident Reporting Regulations

The effort aims to give officials a greater understanding of cyber threats and the ability to defend U.S. critical infrastructure against cascading impacts when attacks occur.

Modernization

NOAA Looks to Transition Ground-Based Radio Processing to the Cloud

The agency plans to offer industry and academia the chance to demonstrate how cloud solutions could enable their radio processing objectives.

Emerging Tech

National Archives Plans CX Research

The National Archives and Records Administration says that a new research agenda will help it understand what people who use the archives need, want and expect – and how the agency can meet those demands.

Digital Government

The Interior Department Has Released its Body-Camera Policy for Law Enforcement Officers

This is part of the department’s actions to implement an executive order from the president to increase police accountability.

Modernization

State Department issues $3.5B in EIS task orders

Verizon and BT Federal secure awards worth more than $1 billion each for work in overseas locations.

Ideas

Improving federal CX requires a shift toward automation

Automation must be at the forefront of IT modernization efforts if the federal government is to succeed in improving public service delivery, customer service and employee onboarding.

Digital Government

National Archives plans CX research

The National Archives and Records Administration says that a new research agenda will help it understand what people who use the archives need, want and expect – and how the agency can meet those demands.

Cybersecurity

CISA and FBI Say Malicious Cyber Activity is Unlikely to Compromise Election Infrastructure

The joint public service announcement said “extensive safeguards in place” make it difficult for bad actors to interfere in upcoming midterm elections.

Digital Government

NASA Still Falls Short of Geospatial Data Act Compliance, Watchdog Says

The agency’s inspector general found that while NASA is making progress towards compliance, six out of 13 key elements are incomplete.

Emerging Tech

NIST Wants Input on Government Involvement in Stablecoins

As the federal government is aiming to regulate the digital asset space, the National Institute of Standards and Technology examines the technical components preceding regulation.

Cybersecurity

GAO: Communication Breakdowns Hurt Otherwise Positive View of Federal Ransomware Support

State, local, tribal and territorial governments have “generally positive views” of agencies’ ransomware assistance, but cited “inconsistent communication” from the FBI as a challenge.

Modernization

State Department Awards Verizon $1.58B IT Modernization Contract

The contract tasks Verizon with modernizing communications infrastructure and providing IT services to the agency’s embassies and other important locations.

Digital Government

White House Seeks Advice on Cyber Workforce Development

The Office of the National Cyber Director is looking for input in a new request for information and will eventually quiz respondents about their ideas.

Cybersecurity

New Report Shows Significant Improvement in Consumer Cyber Hygiene

Senior administration officials and cybersecurity leaders marking Cybersecurity Awareness Month weighed in on a consumer survey examining how behaviors have changed over the last three years.

Digital Government

Commerce Department Appoints Inaugural Members to Industrial Advisory Committee

The 24 members will give guidance to support the CHIPS for America program, including on issues such as research and development.

Digital Government

FTC Announces New Chief Technology Officer and Public Affairs Director

The agency’s acting CTO was appointed to the permanent position, after a year of working in an acting capacity.

Artificial Intelligence

Federal Agencies Pledge Support For Biden’s AI Framework

Absent enforceability, public agencies and leadership plan on developing similar AI guidance and protocols to ensure accountable usage and design.

Defense

DISA’s sweeping new plan takes aim at data silos, mistagged info

The Pentagon’s IT agency has policy and culture ideas to encourage freer, more secure info-sharing.

Acquisition

White House raises contract spending goals for small disadvantaged businesses

The Office of Management and Budget is directing agencies to award at least 12% of all federal contracting dollars to small disadvantaged businesses in fiscal year 2023.