Cybersecurity
DOJ Says Foreign Actors Trying to Fuel Violence at Protests Through Misinformation
The nation’s chief law enforcement official said adversaries are using digital means to increase unrest in the United States.
Policy
Effort to Develop Open Standards for 5G Moves in Intelligence Authorization Act
The bill cleared committee with one conspicuous hold out over an unsustainable proliferation of government secrets.
Emerging Tech
Energy Curates New Tools, Unveils Funding to Assist Research Efforts Against COVID-19
Through its COVID-19 Technical Assistance Program, the department will provide roughly $500,000 to support research against the pandemic.
Cybersecurity
Sen. Hassan digs into agency IT plans
The push comes, the New Hampshire Democrat explained, because of technology weaknesses exposed in the federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Modernization
Lawmaker Wants Hard Details on Agencies’ Plans to Upgrade Legacy IT
Sen. Maggie Hassan gave 10 agencies until August 3 to answer six questions about their modernization plans—or lack thereof.
Digital Government
Ransomware attack hits federal IT contractor
Files containing sensitive data from DMI's work with NASA were leaked on the web, and the agency said it is following up with law enforcement. Other key customers for the firm include DOD, HHS and the State Department.
People
AFGE urges Congress to back labor priorities in defense bill
Priorities include preserving collective bargaining rights, granting paid family leave
Ideas
COVID-19 Has Exposed the Need to Invest in Digital Infrastructure
Even before the increased demand caused by COVID-19, much of our digital infrastructure was so poorly designed as to be hostile to users.
Acquisition
GAO probes influence of 'Mar-a-Lago crowd' on VA
A former VA official told the Government Accountability Office that three friends of President Trump established a "shadow reporting structure" in which "they were stakeholders without a formal role."
Policy
Bill Would Prevent the President from Nuking Hurricanes
It came on the first day of hurricane season, in response to a recommendation Trump reportedly made in the past.
Ideas
Smart Cities Can Help Us Manage Post-COVID Life, but They'll Need Trust as Well as Tech
But as we prepare to move beyond this crisis, cities need to design systems that are prepared to handle the next pandemic.
Digital Government
FCW Insider: June 4
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
People
Military leaders try to walk a fine line amid protests against police violence
Defense Secretary Mark Esper and other senior officials signaled opposition to the use of active duty troops to police nationwide protests, but are running up against a commander-in-chief who appears to welcome conflict.
Digital Government
Poll: Nearly Three-Fourths of Americans Would Get Coronavirus Vaccine
Seventy-one percent of Americans would get a coronavirus vaccine if it were free and widely available, a large increase from just a week ago, according to a poll released Tuesday.
Modernization
Tennessee Valley Authority lays off IT staff in favor of outsourcing
The government-owned utility was "lagging" in its shift to managed services, the CIO said, and opted to go to a fully outsourced IT services plan.
Cybersecurity
Cyber Commission: Expand Connected Device Security Bill Beyond Federal Procurement Realm
The new recommendation comes in an annex the Cyberspace Solarium Commission released in light of the pandemic.
Modernization
VA’s Digital Transformation Efforts Helped It Quickly Pivot to Increased Remote Work
Deputy CIO Dominic Cussatt detailed how the agency heightened its capabilities for pandemic-induced telework.
Modernization
Pentagon names 7 new military sites for 5G testing
The Defense Department has selected seven new military installations to conduct 5G testing and experimentation in several areas including augmented reality, wireless connectivity, and spectrum sharing.
Digital Government