Digital Government

Finalists for Government ‘Oscars’ Highlight Outstanding Federal Employees

The Partnership for Public Service’s annual awards program kicks off National Public Service Week.

Cybersecurity

FedRAMP Board Extends Deadline For Cloud Providers to Pitch Line-Jumping Business Cases

Cloud service providers hoping to secure authorizations to operate at multiple agencies simultaneously got some more time to make a business case for their prioritization by the board.

Digital Government

Lawmakers look to strengthen whistleblower protections

The bill would extend whistleblower protections to non-career employees in the Senior Executive Service, Public Health Service employees, and the commissioned officer corps at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Modernization

Navy looks to update business systems to improve vessel maintenance

Thomas Harker, the acting Navy secretary, told lawmakers that improved business systems would help enhance performance and reduce costs.

Digital Government

Deputy Secretary of Defense Highlights Modernization, Innovation Activities as Budget Priorities

Kathleen Hicks also suggested DOD still needs the cloud capabilities JEDI is supposed to provide.

Emerging Tech

Intel Community Needs Next-Gen Microelectronics for Future of AI

IARPA wants “seedling” ideas that use a multidisciplinary approach that extends beyond traditional technological and scientific fields.

Acquisition

DOD seeks clean acquisition data for better policy oversight

Shelby Oakley, the director for contracting and national security acquisition for the Government Accountability Office, said the ability to conduct data-driven oversight was the Pentagon's acquisition office's biggest challenge.

Breaking News Artificial Intelligence

China Features Heavily in the Army’s Next Big Emerging Tech Experiment

The Army’s connect-everything experiment is about to get much bigger, and looks across the Pacific.

Ideas

Beeple, Meet CPARS

Forget art. What if agencies used non-fungible tokens for reporting contractor performance?

Emerging Tech

Senators Introduce Bill to Increase U.S. Influence on Tech Standards-Setting Processes

The bill would create an Office of Science and Technology task force to come up with a strategy for increasing participation in standards settings bodies and counter China’s sway.

Ideas

Exoskeleton Cloud One Day Boost Walking Speed of Older Adults

Being unable to walk quickly can be frustrating and problematic, but it is a common issue, especially as people age.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: May 3, 2021

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

Digital Government

Quick Hits

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Acquisition

This year's Sammies includes a special COVID response category

Partnership for Public Service announced the 29 finalists for its annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.

Ideas

Post-vaccination Inertia Is Real

Readjusting our ideas about what’s safe is going to take time.

Digital Government

Pentagon’s New Leadership Accelerating Data-Centric Efforts

Chief Data Officer David Spirk said the deputy secretary of defense is providing “direct support” as they work through data decrees and open standards. 

Cybersecurity

NSA to Defense Sector: Think Twice Before Connecting Operational Technology to the Internet

The agency recognized benefits such as enabling remote work but notes the inherent risks and costs of putting industrial control system components online.

Emerging Tech

VA Explores Potential Future Emerging Technology-Centered Acquisitions

The agency is looking for more information about applying immersive technologies, blockchain, edge computing and other innovations to clinical care, data products and training.

Digital Government

Administration Formally Launches Program Giving Feds Up to 15 Weeks Off for COVID-19 Related Illness, Child Care

Congress created a $570 million fund for the initiative, and once that runs out, workers will have to take personal leave or leave without pay.

Ideas

What Texas Power Outages Can Teach Us About Securing the Electric Grid

Cyber threats have the potential to impact the power grid in a similarly serious manner.