Modernization

HUD Officially Moves to Next Phase of Centers of Excellence Program

After 20 months of analysis under Phase I, Housing and Urban Development announced the first two awards to begin improving the agency’s cloud adoption and customer experience.

Digital Government

Georgia's primary stumbles highlight anxiety over election readiness

Long lines, backlogs of absentee ballots and unfamiliarity with newly purchased voting and election technology have lawmakers worried about repeats in November.

Digital Government

HUD and GSA make cloud and CX awards

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is pushing ahead with modernization plans via the Centers of Excellence program housed at the General Services Administration.

Ideas

‘Gov Clouds’ During COVID-19: The End of the Digital Fortress Era 

Simply put, many U.S. government agencies are running on less reliable, less feature-rich, fortressed versions of commercial clouds.

People

Landmark Supreme Court ruling extends workplace protections to LGBT employees

The ruling gives state, local and private sector workers the same civil rights protections available for years to federal employees.

Digital Government

More than 60% of Recent Federal Employee Hires Left Within Two Years

Government should better track retention data to determine why employees, particularly disabled employees, leave at such a high rate, watchdog finds.

Digital Government

Connolly asks IGs to review agency reopening plans

The Government Ops chairman also wants the Pentagon's watchdog to probe a civilian federal worker's death from COVID-19.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: June 15

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

Digital Government

Face Masks ‘Significantly Reduce’ Spread of Covid-19, Study Finds

“The effect is greatest when 100% of the public wear face masks,” researchers wrote, suggesting that officials should encourage people to cover their faces in public.

Digital Government

Social policy takes center stage in 2021 NDAA

As the Defense Department's role in nationwide police brutality protests comes under scrutiny, expect social policy to be centered in the must-pass 2021 defense policy bill.

Emerging Tech

Justice Gets 15 Guilty Pleas for International Crime Ring that Laundered Money Through Cryptocurrency Exchanges

The case demonstrates law enforcement could be up to the challenge of tackling the anonymity tool, one expert says.

Digital Government

Pentagon Starts Bailing Out Companies that Have Lost Business Due to Coronavirus

The Defense Department is sending millions of dollars to keep companies afloat, and more deals are expected.

Artificial Intelligence

Who Should Lead AI Development: Data Scientists or Domain Experts?

Leaders in and around government debate whether technologists or subject matter experts are better suited to lead the ethical development of artificial intelligence.

Digital Government

House Dems want the Fed to open their digital banking services

Months after IRS began doling out stimulus checks, tens of millions of Americans have yet to receive their share. Experts are calling for better tech and expanded access to the banking system.

People

Federal appeals court denies union push for emergency coronavirus safety rules

The AFL-CIO had sought to force OSHA to issue an emergency temporary standard that would have addressed infectious disease in the workplace.

Ideas

Preparing for the Coming Quantum World (Pragmatically) 

Waiting around for quantum tech to mature could mean organizational change occurs too late.  

People

Pentagon starts reopening June 15

The Pentagon is moving to a restricted Phase One of its reopening plan June 15, the Defense Department announced, with essential personnel returning to headquarters.

Digital Government

Federal CX in the age of COVID-19

Government agencies have also had to shift in significant ways to operate in this unique environment and interact with citizens differently.