Cybersecurity
New bill looks to ramp up penalties for ransomware crooks
Three senators are aiming to pass new legislation that expands DOJ's power to go after botnets and stiffen penalties for cyberattacks on critical infrastructure by adding it to the upcoming infrastructure bill.
Modernization
HHS Puts Up $80M to Increase Number and Diversity of Health IT Workforce
The four-year effort will focus on improving data collection—especially around race and ethnicity—and training a more diverse health informatics and technology workforce.
Ideas
Agencies Embrace the Year of Multicloud
By choice or chance, many agencies are already using multiple cloud technologies but that doesn't mean they have a strategy.
People
Feds to get Juneteenth off as a federal holiday, starting Friday
The signing of a new law to commemorate Juneteenth as a federal holiday will give many federal employees the day off on Friday June 18.
Digital Government
FCW Insider: June 17, 2021
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
Cybersecurity
Officials: Federal Shift to IPv6 Brings New Cybersecurity Options and Risks
Agencies should be planning now to meet new IPv6 requirements by 2025.
Cybersecurity
Bipartisan Bill Bolsters FCC Motion to Ban Suspect Chinese Telecom Equipment
The Federal Communications Commission is already set to vote on a notice of proposed rulemaking on its equipment authorization program.
People
Interior plans year-round federal firefighter workforce
The permanent federal firefighting force should help combat a longer fire season, the department says.
Artificial Intelligence
Survey: Government Faces Increasing Threat from Stolen Accounts
But agencies may not be taking the right steps to mitigate the account takeovers.
Acquisition
Army modernization under scrutiny amid planned budget cuts
Lawmakers worry the Army's modernization efforts could be undermined by a flat budget proposal for fiscal 2022.
Emerging Tech
Lawmakers Renew Effort to Ban Federal Agencies from Using Facial Recognition Tech
The reintroduced bill would prohibit agencies from using biometric tech and block federal funds for biometric surveillance systems.
Ideas
Chip Shortage Threatens Modernization—and Everything Else
Initially, the chip shortage mostly affected car manufacturers.
Modernization
DOD's Commercial Virtual Remote Environment Officially Sunsets
The environment for collaboration that supported telework during the pandemic expired.
Digital Government
FCW Insider: June 16, 2021
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
Cybersecurity
National Lab Recommends Energy Department Test Electric Utility Vendors for Cybersecurity
A broad spectrum of organizations are calling on regulators to improve suppliers instead of simply banning foreign companies.
Cybersecurity
Granholm refocuses Energy's cyber shop
The Energy Department is seeking 30% increase in funding for the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response, and plans new roles and new authority for the organization.
Digital Government
ICE Is Consolidating IT Systems to a Single Vendor Platform
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is looking for a vendor to help with app development and shifting existing tools to the ServiceNow platform.
Cybersecurity