People

Biden puts his stamp on FLRA, Thrift Board

Biden's nominee to the general counsel at the FLRA could help clear a backlog of unfair labor practice charges from federal unions.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: Aug. 5, 2021

The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.

Digital Government

Quick Hits

None

Digital Government

Contracting Association Calls for Extension of COVID-19 Leave Provision 

This will help the government prepare for the next emergency, says the Professional Services Council. 

Digital Government

National Labs Move to Support Researchers Seeking Name Changes on Past Work

As part of broader inclusivity campaigns, the labs aim to relieve some burdens faced by transgender authors or others whose names have changed over their professions.

Cybersecurity

Senate Homeland Security Committee Advances Workforce, Supply Chain Bills

Lawmakers look to grow an already lengthy to-do list at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. 

Cybersecurity

Labor Department moves toward zero trust

Labor Department CISO Paul Blahusch detailed how his agency ramped up its implementation efforts around zero trust in recent months, from establishing an entirely new team to proposing a project for the Technology Modernization Fund.

Digital Government

Moms Spent the Equivalent of a Full-Time Job on Child Care Last Year — While Working at the Same Time

Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on how Americans split their time last year shows moms of young kids spent about eight hours a day on child care while spending six hours on average working.

Emerging Tech

State Wants Better Bots and Processes For Its Help Desk

The Consolidated Customer Support office already manages eight bots, but an ongoing project requires more user-centric automation.

People

Kiran Ahuja's to-do list at OPM

Kiran Ahuja, the recently installed director of the Office of Personnel Management, has a host of long-standing agency issues to deal with, along with helping implement governmentwide workforce policy to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Digital Government

Agencies Struggle to Implement Mass Testing for Unvaccinated Feds

The Biden administration is requiring at least weekly COVID-19 testing for the unvaccinated, but the White House has offered few details about how that will happen.

Ideas

How the Energy Department Can Improve Cybersecurity in the Energy Industry

The Energy Department has an obligation to protect both public and private energy interests on critical infrastructure.

Acquisition

How VA can succeed with its EHR mega-program

The former CIO of the Department of Veterans Affairs offers some ideas for course correction in the agency's flagging $20 billion–plus Electronic Health Records Modernization program.

Modernization

Text Messages Get Young People to Avoid Sunburn

The researchers set out to establish the optimal text messaging intervention to achieve behavior change in young adults at risk of skin cancer.

Modernization

Coast Guard updates cyber strategy with focus on 'mission platform'

The updated document aims to provide a clearer map for the Coast Guard's cyber priorities, including mitigating vulnerabilities in the maritime supply chain.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: Aug. 4, 2021

The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.

Digital Government

Quick Hits

None

Emerging Tech

What One City Hopes to Learn by Pausing Use of Facial Recognition Technology

A ban in Baltimore would restrict the city from purchasing facial recognition technology and temporarily restrict use by city agencies, residents and businesses (but not the police).

Cybersecurity

Advisory Details How to Defend Container Tech from Crypto Miners

Old fashioned data theft is still the main reason adversaries are targeting a popular open-source application management system.