Modernization

How CBP Plans to Spend—and Repay—Its $15M Modernization Fund Loan

Agency officials already completed the first phase of modernizing the nation’s second-largest revenue collection system but needed an infusion of cash to keep the momentum going.

People

Federal court dismisses union complaint about workplace 'resistance' talk

The American Federation of Government Employees had complained an Office of Special Counsel advisory was chilling federal employees' speech.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: Aug. 6

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

Digital Government

Quick Hits

None

Digital Government

'Unprecedented' challenges to safe, secure 2020 vote

Our election infrastructure is bending under the stress of multiple crises. Administrators say they are doing all they can to ensure it doesn't break.

Cybersecurity

CISA Director Identifies Main Targets of Russian Adversaries in Election Security Efforts

Appeals made to the information security community apply just as much to the average voter—the last line of defense is a patient voter.

Policy

Democratic Senators Join Industry Groups in Calls to Extend CARES Act Funding Authority for Contractors

Industry groups are asking for an extension for the authority to reimburse defense contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

People

SecDef: 'Murder of George Floyd was a wakeup call'

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he's heard similar stories from service members across the branches, which spurred DOD to stand up three initiatives to improve diversity and inclusion.

Modernization

Lawmakers seek red team testing of vulnerable grid networks

Senators want to craft authorities for federal agencies and private power infrastructure providers to allow more cybersecurity testing of energy grid network security.

Digital Government

Annual Government Spending Approaches Historic Territory

Driven heavily by the Defense Department, contract spending across government will exceed $600 billion in fiscal 2020.

Ideas

How to Update Agency Security Operations Centers

Evolving IT environments require officials to plan for the next-generation SOCs.

People

Maloney holds on to seat

The chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee appears to have won her primary after six weeks of vote counting that was complicated by a proliferation of contested absentee ballots.

Ideas

Deciding How and Whether to Reopen Schools Is Complex—Here's How Rocket Scientists Would Develop a Plan

Sending astronauts to the moon can be instructive today, even though a pandemic is a very different challenge.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: Aug. 5

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

Digital Government

Quick Hits

None

Modernization

5 Ways the FITARA Scorecard May Evolve 

Ten scorecards later, lawmakers and experts are looking for new ways to update the metrics on which agencies are graded.

Cybersecurity

More Federal Funds Could Help Small Jurisdictions With Technical Tools to Secure Elections, Expert Says

The potential for disinformation to disrupt the process casts a shadow on significant improvements made since 2016.

Digital Government

Lawmakers look to expand FITARA oversight

As agencies improve IT operations, lawmakers want to modernize FITARA scorecard categories.