Digital Government
Public Health Data Still Facing Challenges Despite Previous Recommendations, Watchdog Says
The Government Accountability Office highlighted deficiencies in common data standards, interoperability and public health IT infrastructure.
Cybersecurity
Watchdog Identifies Multiple Security Deficiencies at VA Medical Center in Louisiana
The VA’s Office of Inspector General found “critical and high-risk vulnerabilities on 37% of the devices” at the Louisiana-based medical center.
People
Archivist confirmation hearing turns to politics behind Mar-a-Lago search
Republicans seized on a traditionally "sleepy" confirmation process to draw attention to the National Archives and Records Administration's involvement in the FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
Emerging Tech
DOE Grants $400,000 to Professor’s Quantum Computing Research
The Biden administration has developed new partnerships in academia to advance such research.
Cybersecurity
Watchdog dings IRS for vendor security lapses
Outdated antivirus software and missing security logs created risks for a key IRS communications platform, according to an inspector general report.
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