Cybersecurity
What the Defense Department’s Cyber Certification Will Mean for Small Businesses
The Pentagon lead for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program argued the move will be good for small contractors. And for those that don’t want to comply: Good riddance.
People
House passes 2020 NDAA
The Democratic-led House successfully passed the final version of the 2020 defense policy bill, which includes a three-year intelligence authorization bill and several tech investments.
Cybersecurity
Report: aviation industry playing catch up on cybersecurity
A new report from the Atlantic Council argues that aircrafts have become highly complex, "flying data centers," but the industry and government are behind on protecting them from cyber threats and sabotage.
Policy
Defense Policy Bill Establishes a Defense Civilian Training Corps
The corps will address “critical skills gaps” in the department’s workforce.
Acquisition
NDAA redesigns oversight of $20B in health record modernization
A provision in the National Defense Authorization Act reconfigures the existing DOD-VA Interagency Program Office to serve as a hub for interoperability and management issues as the two agencies progress in separate but linked implementations of commercial health records systems.
People
Lawmakers address federal pay inequities
The Locality Pay Equity Act would get rid of discrepancies in policies between General Schedule and Federal Wage System workers
Modernization
Agencies Turn In ‘Best FITARA Scorecard Ever’
Collectively, the federal government improved its oversight grades in IT modernization.
Digital Government
Congress Moves to Block OPM-GSA Merger
A provision in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act would first require an independent study of the challenges facing the Office of Personnel Management.
Cybersecurity
Advisory group looks to redesign federal cyber response
The National Infrastructure Advisory Council wants new agencies to tackle "existential" cyber threats.
Digital Government
18F gets into defense and intel
The innovation squad turns its talents to technology and acquisition challenges facing defense and intelligence agencies.
Ideas
Work Is a Fundamental Part of Being Human. Robots Won't Stop Us Doing It.
Works plays a central role in human development.
Digital Government
FCW Insider: Dec. 11
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
Modernization
Democratic Senators Urge Social Security to Restore Telework
Lawmakers ask the agency to reconsider its decision to end a 6-year-old pilot program, citing concerns about the burden it places on employees and productivity.
Policy
House Passes Bill to Boost STEM Access for Minority Students
The bill calls for increased federal investments and outreach to support the institutions and diversify the STEM domain.
Cybersecurity
Survey: Ransomware Will Continue to Threaten Public Sector Organizations in 2020
About one-third of the state and federal IT officials who responded said they faced a ransomware attack in the last three years.
People
NDAA blocks OPM-GSA merger
The Trump administration's plan to merge the Office of Personnel Management with the General Services Administration is going to have to wait another year, if a provision included in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act is passed into law.
People
Family leave for feds would take effect in Oct. 2020
A provision in the defense bill would give feds with one year on the job the benefit of 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a new child.
Modernization