Emerging Tech

Air Force Awards $985M Hypersonic Cruise Missile Contract to Raytheon Technologies

The company and its partner Northrop Grumman were chosen over bids from Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Defense

The U.S. military is buying electric jet-ski robots

Tests will see whether battery-powered personal watercraft can help with search-and-rescue

Digital Government

State Department reverses course on communications tech exports to Iran to counter regime crackdown

The U.S. State Department expanded exports to grant Iranian citizens better access to secure communications.

Cybersecurity

CISA, NSA Guidance Tries to Reduce Alternatives for Securing Industrial Control Systems

Policymakers in Congress and the administration are grappling with how to set a performance bar for companies' mitigation of cyber threats against critical infrastructure they own, while allowing flexibility the companies say is needed to run their operations.

Digital Government

VA ‘Moving Toward Full Compliance’ With Geospatial Data Law, Watchdog Finds

The VA’s Office of Inspector General found said the agency is noncompliant with three of the law’s requirements but is currently in the process of addressing its deficiencies.

Emerging Tech

State Department Permitting Communications Technology Into Iran

The U.S. State Department expanded exports to grant Iranian citizens better access to secure communications.

Ideas

Innovation Calls for Upskilling: Preparing the Workforce for Ethical AI and ML

Realizing the full potential of new technologies requires the cultivation of new skills

Cybersecurity

Nuclear Weapon Development and Manufacturing Needs More Cybersecurity, Watchdog Says

The National Nuclear Security Administration, its contractors and subcontractors need to take cyber steps, according to a new report.

Digital Government

Over $45 billion in unemployment paid to fraudsters during pandemic, watchdog says

The Labor Department's Office of Inspector General says that the department needs to do more to obtain state-level unemployment insurance data to help with antifraud efforts.

Artificial Intelligence

The U.S. Military Is Buying Electric Jet-ski Robots

Tests will see whether battery-powered personal watercraft can help with search-and-rescue

Emerging Tech

Planned Next-Gen Satellites Can Help Address Extreme Weather Challenges, Officials Say

A Wednesday hearing explored the capabilities of the new GeoXO satellites to provide better data for weather forecasting and modeling.

Modernization

Collaborative Tools Are More Needed Than Performance Tech in Remote Work, Study Says

According to the study, current tools focus on productivity, but there needs to be a transition for the government to also focus on collaboration.

Modernization

Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Safeguard Open Source Software

The Securing Open Source Software Act would task the Office of Management and Budget with issuing guidance around the secure usage of open source software and give new oversight responsibilities to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

People

Your guide to pay and benefits during a shutdown

Although lawmakers are loath to let appropriations lapse ahead of an election, complications remain over permitting reform and other measures expected to be included in legislation to keep the government open.

Digital Government

Labor Department evolves efforts to assist states in UI delivery

A pilot project meant to give the federal government a more central role in unemployment insurance delivery, is raising questions inside the Department of Labor and in Congress about the role of identity verification and enforcement authority over states in the system.

Cybersecurity

DOD’s Digital Threats Are Increasingly Interconnecting, Watchdog Warns

GAO identified six areas that require more oversight, as Defense warfighting operations and national security increasingly hinge on data security.

Digital Government

Senate Confirms New White House Science and Tech Advisor in Historic Vote

Dr. Arati Prabhakar is the first woman, immigrant or person of color to serve as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Cybersecurity

Industry Objections Spur Changes to Cybersecurity Provisions in Defense Bill  

Key members of the House and Senate are altering proposals for identifying systemically important critical infrastructure and securing the software supply chain.

Policy

Bipartisan Senate bill aims to safeguard open source software

The Securing Open Source Software Act would task the Office of Management and Budget with issuing guidance around the secure usage of open source software and give new oversight responsibilities to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.