People

Senate confirms Esper as new Defense secretary

With conflict increasing between the U.S. and Iran, Mark Esper's confirmation brings some order to a seven-month round of musical chairs among the Defense Department's top leadership.

Modernization

USDA set to release EIS task order

The Agriculture Department is close to issuing its solicitation for modernized telecommunications infrastructure.

Digital Government

OPM Cuts Security Clearance Backlog in Half, But Processing Delays Spell Trouble for Pentagon

The National Background Investigations Bureau is barreling through the backlog of clearance applications as the Defense Department prepares to take over the function in October.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: July 23

News, analysis and other updates from FCW's reporters and editors.

Digital Government

Quick Hits

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Ideas

FaceApp Is Everyone’s Problem

It feels good to call out people for being duped by the Russian app, but the individualist framing of privacy is the bigger culprit.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers Propose Bills to Secure Connected Planes, Trains and Automobiles

The legislation would set “reasonable” security measures for the numerous IT systems that power our increasingly connected vehicles.

Cybersecurity

Equifax Will Fork Up to $700 Million to Compensate for 2017 Data Breach

Those impacted by the breach may be eligible to receive up to $20,000 in cash payments.

Ideas

How You Can Help Your Agency Put AI to Work Today

AI technology will significantly revolutionize how work is done in the federal workspace and allow us to “scale” human action to critical thinking tasks.

Artificial Intelligence

Air Force Wants Simulated Wargames to Plan For Lasers, Electro-Magnetic Weapons

The wargames are meant to teach airmen about these new weapons and help the Air Force develop new tactics and procedures.

Cybersecurity

Equifax announces $671 million settlement for 2017 hack

The deal would make money available to affected consumers, but some lawmakers want to go further.

Modernization

For the military, is 5G all it's hyped to be?

The potential of 5G telecommunications technology has garnered new attention and focus from the Defense Department, but it may not be that big of a deal for military tech.

Digital Government

Budget agreement means a busier September

The coming budget deal could forestall a shutdown, but it also won’t put agencies’ IT efforts any further ahead, according to some experts.

Cybersecurity

Protecting Election Systems Will Take Much More Federal Money, Report Says

The threat of foreign interference in U.S. elections remains, so the federal government must help state and local officials shore up defenses, according to a new report from the Brennan Center for Justice.

Cybersecurity

CISA supply chain assessment hits the home stretch

Better data is essential to managing agencies' risk, officials say.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: July 22

News, analysis and other updates from FCW's reporters and editors.

Digital Government

Quick Hits: July 22

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Digital Government

Quick Hits: July 22

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Digital Government

Everyone Dreads Shutdowns, So Why Do They Keep Happening?

The Antideficiency Act is supposed to clarify what happens when Congress fails to pass a budget. But it hasn’t worked out that way.