Digital Government

House Bill Would Limit President’s Ability to Remove Inspectors General

The legislation comes after President Trump removed two inspectors general and verbally attacked others.

Emerging Tech

Pentagon Supercomputers Puzzle Out How to Safely Airlift COVID-19 Patients

The Defense Department turned its supercomputing resources toward solving problems presented by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Digital Government

Pentagon Mandates Homemade Masks for Some Workers

N95 respirators and surgical masks will be reserved for health care workers and patients, the Defense Department said in a series of memos this week.

Digital Government

Congress Hears Options—And Concerns—for Using Smartphone Data to Fight COVID-19

Other countries have been using various forms of location and proximity tracing to slow the spread of the disease, with widely varying levels of privacy protections.

Digital Government

House Dems push improved protections for agency watchdogs

Congress wants CIGIE’s input on new legislation to safeguard Inspectors General from political interference.

Cybersecurity

Navy CIO: Don't worry about shakeups at the top

The Navy CIO updated the workforce on telework practices, COVID-19 disclosures and what the change in service leadership means for the tech mission.

Ideas

3 Keys to Full Spectrum Data Management

Full-spectrum data management means having a grasp on data across complex systems composed of private and public clouds, edge devices, and legacy applications and infrastructure.

Digital Government

140 Million Tweets Capture COVID-19's Spread

And it’s publicly available as a resource for the global research community.

Modernization

ICE CIO gives Zoom the cold shoulder

The top tech official at Immigration and Customs Enforcement is instructing employees to avoid installing Zoom for video conferencing and use instead Skype, MS Teams and WebEx.

Digital Government

Quick Hits

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Digital Government

FCW Insider: April 10

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

Modernization

NIST Invites Comment on Guidance for Who Gets to Access What in the Cloud 

Cloud services facilitate resource and data sharing but that introduces security vulnerabilities.

Digital Government

ODNI Directs Agencies to Be Flexible with National Security Contractors

The guidance recommends immediate contract modifications to allow some industry personnel to remain at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Emerging Tech

Wi-Fi Peeks into Buildings to Check Social Distancing

Mapping the Wi-Fi strength of mobile devices can reveal how people move and gather.

Digital Government

GSA Creates Buying Guide for COVID-19 Screenings at Federal Buildings

As the government’s buyer and landlord, the General Services Administration created a central contract vehicle for screening services to prevent infected people from entering federal buildings.

People

OPM loosens purse strings on recruitment, retention and relocation

New policy allows agencies to ask for waiver of 25% incentive and retention caps in COVID-19 response.

Digital Government

NOAA Teams with Record-Breaking Explorer to Map the Unknowns of Earth’s Deepest Ocean Points

The agency will work with Victor Vescovo’s Caladan Oceanic to share assets, facilities and data that they hope will strategically power new discoveries.

Digital Government

Pelosi continues to resist calls for remote voting

While the Speaker of the House said there are constitutional and security concerns with letting members vote virtually, she has moved to loosen other rules around in-person legislating.

Acquisition

FAA asks employees to round up N95 masks, other PPE

The Federal Aviation Administration put out an email blast to employees at field offices and airport facilities on April 8 looking for medical supplies to share out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services.