People

Pentagon tightens workplace restrictions as COVID cases spike

The increase of coronavirus cases in the Washington, D.C. region preceded the Pentagon’s decision to revert to stricter workplace protocols.

Ideas

Focus on Data Quality Now is Key to Reaping Future Benefits of CPIC Benchmarking

One of the most immediate benefits is the ability to identify what we call “shadow IT.”

People

OMB seeks to reclassify workforce under Schedule F

The agency is gearing up to make 88% of its positions subject to at-will employment.

Cybersecurity

State Department Facing 'Significant' Information Security Issues, OIG Says

Information security and management was one of seven major management and performance issues the State Department faced in fiscal year 2020.

Digital Government

Federal Employees Say They’re Willing to Download COVID-19 Apps But Few Agencies Have Them

The results of a Nextgov/Government Business Council survey offer insights into how federal employees feel about apps to trace coronavirus exposure and their agency’s efforts to track infections.

Cybersecurity

DHS veteran Mayorkas tapped to lead agency under Biden administration

The former USCIS director and DHS deputy secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will lead the Department of Homeland Security.

Digital Government

Tech Trade Group: IT Modernization Investment May Increase Under Biden

The group expects the Biden administration to expand IT modernization efforts, in part to respond to COVID-19.

Ideas

Mask Mandates Boost Spending with Saving Lives

While social distancing reduces consumer spending, mask mandates have the opposite effect.

Digital Government

Quick Hits

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Digital Government

FCW Insider: Nov. 23

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

Ideas

Why Face Masks Belong at Your Thanksgiving Gathering – 7 Things You Need to Know about Wearing Them

Just because you’re with people you know doesn’t mean you’re safe from the coronavirus.

Digital Government

Election Disinformation Fears Came True for State Officials

Some state and local Republican officials are refusing to concede elections and claiming voter fraud.

Ideas

How Edge Computing and Hybrid Cloud Are Shifting the IT Paradigm

With cloud at the center of a whole new operating model, organizations will have distributed DevOps teams spinning up new applications in real time.

Cybersecurity

Peters calls on White House to protect health care systems from cyber threats

Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) is asking the White House to take more aggressive actions to shield the country's health care systems from state-sponsored cyber threats.

Cybersecurity

Agency Cybersecurity Waivers Would Face New Time Limits, Oversight Under New Bill

The proposal would require approval from the Office of Management and Budget for skipping encryption and multifactor authentication.

People

VA union claims victory in termination case

In win for the National VA Council, the Federal Labor Relations Authority dismissed the VA's exceptions to an arbitrator's award that requires it to reinstate union employees fired without performance improvement plans.

Digital Government

DOD Needs IT Support for Security Clearance Background Investigations Program

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency took over management of the background investigations process but does not own all of the related IT systems—yet.

Acquisition

Tech experts call on feds to coordinate benefits solutions

With surges in unemployment insurance applications straining legacy IT systems at the state level, digital services specialists say that the federal government should take a more central role in fielding tech infrastructure.

Modernization

CIA Awards Secret Multibillion-Dollar Cloud Contract

The agency has awarded a contract to bring foundational cloud services from multiple cloud service providers into the intelligence community.