Emerging Tech

NASA to Debut New-and-Improved Space Toilet

Astronauts informed the unit's creation and have high hopes that it’ll bring more comfort to all who use it.

Digital Government

Lawmakers: Did DHS Surveil Portland Protesters’ Phones?

Lawmakers want to know if federal agencies intercepted messages or collected cellphone data—including through commercial sources—during Portland protests.

Digital Government

Army experiment highlights need for coders at the edge

After a big experiment using more than 30 different developing technologies at Yuma Proving Ground, the Army is certain it will need two things: more software workers and smaller tactical operating units.

Cybersecurity

Foreign Hacker Sentenced in $1M Scam Targeting Federal Employees and Contractors

The criminal ring used phishing emails and fake websites to get almost $1 million worth of printer toner to sell on black markets.

Emerging Tech

U.S., Greece Formally Agree to Collaborate on Science and Technology

The nations hope to promote research and development activities across their collective agencies, universities, institutions, and private sector businesses.

Ideas

How Nontraditional Hires Can Fill the Tech Talent Gap

Individuals with a high emotional intelligence, creativity and problem-solving skills can be well-suited to IT roles.

People

White House offers details on diversity training crackdown

Diversity training that teaches federal employees about "unconscious bias" or "systemic racism" or "intersectionality" are being banned under a new White House policy.

People

Federal court ruling sidelines acting head of Bureau of Land Management

A federal district court ruled Sept. 25 that Pendley's appointment as acting director of BLM was unlawful under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.

Cybersecurity

How to shift CMMC for the future

While the goal of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification is to establish a unified standard for cybersecurity practices across the DOD, it does not directly address specific control expectations or risks associated with organization-specific threat actors.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: Sept. 28

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

Digital Government

Quick Hits

None

Cybersecurity

CMMC clears key regulatory hurdle

The White House approved an interim rule to mandate defense contractors prove they adhere to existing cybersecurity standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Cybersecurity

Hackers Take Data for Further Reconnaissance in Breach of Federal Agency

Initial access to the agency’s system was possibly due to failure to fix a known VPN vulnerability, a patch for which was released in April 2019.

Emerging Tech

Lawmakers Propose $1M to Examine How Mis- And Disinformation Impacted COVID-19 Response

In particular, they’d like to know more about foreign and domestic sources propagating false information.

Emerging Tech

Oak Ridge Considers Supplementing In-House Cybersecurity Operations, CISO Says

Oak Ridge National Lab's top information security official told Nextgov he’s looking at moving to managed threat detection and response services.

Digital Government

HHS to Start Testing Your Poop for COVID-19

Testing will cover approximately 10% of Americans within the next eight weeks, with an option to expand that to 30% within another nine weeks.

Cybersecurity

DHS watchdog weighs in on 2019 biometrics leak

Customs and Border Protection didn't adequately safeguard data that eventually leaked by subcontractor, a recent Inspector General report states.

Ideas

Addressing Insider Threats with Event Triggers 

An insider threat program that incorporates financial triggers can help identify at-risk individuals.

Modernization

Bipartisan bill looks to claw back executive power over telecom

World War II-era legislation, meant to counter radio transmissions to the enemy in wartime, now gives the president 'kill-switch' authority over the internet and telecommunications.