Ideas

Airlines Got Travelers Comfortable about Flying Again Once Before – but 9/11 and a Virus Are a Lot Different

Today, fares are at rock bottom, but Americans’ fear of flying may be the highest it’s ever been.

Digital Government

House Appropriations keeps moving on FY21 funding billls

Appropriation for the Departments of Education, Labor and Health and Human Services clears committee, includes emergency funding for state unemployment programs.

Digital Government

Key Lawmaker Alarmed at Increase in COVID-19 Among DHS Employees

The Secret Service alone has seen a 1,000% increase in positive COVID-19 cases, according to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Digital Government

Customs to Expand License Plate Reading Program Nationwide

Customs will have access to commercial datasets including license plate images and data from parking garages, toll booth cameras and financial institutions, as well as local governments and law enforcement.

Modernization

One-Third of U.S. Workers Want Permanent Remote Work

A new Morning Consult survey finds many workers would like to continue working from home after the coronavirus pandemic recedes and some would likely move to a new city or state if remote work becomes permanent.

Cybersecurity

Deadline looms for contractors to ditch banned Chinese equipment

A broad federal prohibition on contractors that use gear from a host of Chinese tech makers goes into effect in mid-August.

People

House members push 3% pay raise for civilian federal workers

Citing pay parity and COVID-19 resiliency, lawmakers urge Appropriations Committee to rethink planned 1% increase.

Modernization

WH CTO to take over DOD's top research role

Defense Secretary Mark Esper names U.S. CTO Michael Kratsios to be acting undersecretary of defense for research and engineering after Michael Griffin's resignation from that post took effect July 10.

Cybersecurity

The Defense Bill Could Rewrite How the US Does Cyber Defense

A proposed new office would help private entities and the government respond together to major hacks.

Acquisition

DIU issues $13 million in drone contracts to fight COVID

The Defense Department's innovation arm has fast-tracked $13.4 million in small-drone contracts under the Defense Production Act.

People

What our COVID response says about public management

Testing is all well and good, Steve Kelman notes, but true follow-through is the hard part.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: July 13

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

Digital Government

Quick Hits; July 13

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Digital Government

Departed GSA Executive Returns to Run Technology Service on Temporary Detail

The former executive director of the Centers of Excellence program is returning to GSA less than a month after leaving for another agency.

Cybersecurity

Energy IG Finds Science Offices Skirt Security Rules for Peripheral Devices

Officials tell internal watchdogs securing devices like printers and flash drives is just hard, expensive and inhibits collaboration.

Policy

Governments Need Clear Plans to Respond to Disinformation, Experts Say

One of the tricky parts of responding is addressing the conspiracy theories that domestic social media users create but then get amplified by foreign actors, experts said.