Digital Government

GAO tags unemployment insurance as 'high risk'

The government watchdog says more than $78 billion in improper unemployment insurance payments were made in fiscal year 2021, and cited fraud, poor customer service, inequitable access, legacy tech and staffing shortages as key drivers of failure.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers grill VA tech officials over stalled progress on cybersecurity

Top cyber officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs told Congress they are opposed to a bipartisan bill seeking to strengthen the agency’s cybersecurity standards—despite its ongoing failures to meet oversight recommendations.

Defense

Lawmakers want to know how much bad software costs DOD

When the House Armed Services Committee begins its markup process of the annual defense authorization bill on June 8, look out for a provision asking the Pentagon to account for wasted money and lost productivity caused by poorly performing software.

Cybersecurity

Trackers Say Sanctions Against Crypto Exchanges Are Working in Ransomware Fight

One witness testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee called for greater international enforcement against money laundering.

Cybersecurity

CISA is Seeking Cybersecurity Innovation Fellows

The Homeland Security Department’s cyber arm is looking for private sector talent to join the agency for up to four months.

Cybersecurity

U.S. National Guard’s Cyber Training Emphasizes Social Media, Supply Chain Protection

Ahead of the annual Cyber Shield exercise, military leaders will train National Guard and other military members to fight disinformation and protect critical infrastructure.

Digital Government

Why Are so Many Big Tech Whistleblowers Women? Here Is What the Research Shows

Frances Haugen, Timnit Gebru and Janneke Parrish are at the forefront of a group of high-profile women calling out big tech. Is there a connection between their gender and their role as whistleblowers?

Podcasts

Critical Update: To Bridge Quantum’s Valley of Death, Labs Need Funding and Workforce

Oak Ridge National Lab’s Travis Humble discussed the state of quantum technology development and what it demands for future development. 

Policy

Bipartisan bill proposes new federal data privacy standards

The American Data Privacy and Protection Act stands to improve American users’ data privacy and offers federal regulatory power.

Cybersecurity

New report points to cyber risks in TVA control systems

A federal utility operating in seven southeastern states failed to implement proper cybersecurity standards for a control system assisting with flood and river management, according to a recent oversight report.

Cybersecurity

DOD Recommends NIST Align Frameworks for Cybersecurity Risk Management

An effort to update the framework for securing critical infrastructure from cyberattack is coming face to face with issues that have plagued the Commerce agency from the beginning.

Digital Government

Bipartisan Bill Establishes All-Encompassing Federal Data Privacy Standards

The American Data Privacy and Protection Act stands to improve American users’ data privacy and offers federal regulatory power.

Digital Government

Tech Trade Group Seeks Bumps to TMF, Agency-Based IT Funds

FedRAMP funding and budget to support zero trust initiatives at civilian agencies are also on the appropriations wish-list of the Alliance for Digital Innovation.

Digital Government

EEOC will keep online mediation around post-Covid

The EEOC had to offer mediation sessions online because of the pandemic and the agency wants to keep the virtual option for the future.

Emerging Tech

President Biden Invokes Defense Production Act to Boost Clean Energy Manufacturing

Defense officials said invoking the act would reduce reliance on foreign powers for energy resources.

Ideas

A hopeful update on the President's Management Agenda

Steve Kelman says there's a lot to like in the Biden administration's approaches to improving citizen satisfaction, employee engagement and acquisition reform

Digital Government

Data Gap Poses Risks for Launch Site of VA’s New Health Record

The commercial electronic health record system being introduced by the Department of Veterans Affairs is proving difficult and expensive to adapt to the agency’s data reporting requirements.

Digital Government

The Federal Response to Monkeypox: Empathy, Equity, Science and Transparency

Mitigating the virus comes down to “testing, tracing and timely vaccines and treatments,” a senior health official says.