Acquisition

GSA aims for greener IT contracts by adding sustainability criteria

The General Service Administration’s new contracting language is one tool for the agency to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.  

Digital Government

IRS’ ‘Where’s My Return’ Tools Needs Updates Amid Lack Of Agency Plans, Watchdog Says

The Government Accountability Office regards modernizing taxpayer digital resources as a high priority item despite a reported lack of funding.

Ideas

Your digital footprints are more than a privacy risk – they could help hackers infiltrate computer networks

Hackers with open source intelligence gathering tools can mine a target’s audio and video to extract personal information they then use in phishing messages that appear to come from a trusted source.

People

Air Force cyber lead selected to serve as Joint Staff CIO

President Joe Biden nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Mary F. O’Brien for the Senate-confirmed position.

Modernization

IRS aims to clear backlogged tax returns by end of year

As of March 18, the backlog of unprocessed paper tax returns was at nearly 15 million but IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig told lawmakers that he wants to get that to a “healthy” level. 

Digital Government

Hicks: Today’s Russia Problem Mustn’t Distract from Tomorrow’s China Problem

An increasingly complex security environment is complicating the Pentagon’s efforts to ease tech firms’ frustrations.

Digital Government

Warren Presses Defense Secretary on Wasteful Contractor Spending

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said adding to the Pentagon's topline for 2023 to account for inflation would just invite "defense contractors to pick taxpayers' pockets."

Defense

Solarium co-chairs urge White House to maintain Trump-era cyber authorities

Lawmakers expressed concern that rolling back the authorities from a 2018 presidential memorandum would jeopardize national security efforts.

Acquisition

What federal acquisition personnel can do right now to support sustainability

Federal officials and government purchasing experts showed off tools and resources to help make federal procurement and acquisitions more sustainable and energy efficient.

Cybersecurity

GAO Promotes Need for Public-Private ‘Partnerships’ in Cybersecurity Policy

A Government Accountability Office official says the watchdog agency consulted with private sector entities in producing a report of 12 areas it’s planning to focus on in the next decade.

Digital Government

Senate Confirms Laurie Locascio to Lead Tech Standards Agency

The bioengineering professor and NIST alum was nominated by President Biden back in 2021.

Digital Government

How a Social Worker Became the Defense Logistics Agency's First Chief Data and Analytics Officer

Under her leadership the agency is ‘just starting’ to really understand what it means to apply data as a strategic asset.

Acquisition

Federal contractors could soon have to disentangle themselves completely from Russia 

A top House oversight Democrat says her bill limiting contracts with companies operating in Russia during the Ukraine war would supplement existing sanctions. 

Acquisition

GSA to slow down process for Polaris IT vehicle

The agency will spend the time reviewing feedback on how joint ventures can bid.

Policy

Warren presses defense secretary on wasteful contractor spending

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said adding to the Pentagon's topline for 2023 to account for inflation would just invite "defense contractors to pick taxpayers' pockets."