Digital Government
FCW Insider - ALERT
Congress voted to pass a bill to complete government funding for fiscal 2019. If President Trump signs the bill, as he has said he would, it averts a government shutdown Friday Feb. 15 at midnight.
Cybersecurity
DHS ‘Doubling Down’ on Election Security Heading Into 2020
Under Congress’ budget deal, the Homeland Security Department will receive $33 million to combat foreign influence campaigns and defend election security in fiscal 2019.
Emerging Tech
FAA Wants to Protect First Responders from Drone Bombs
Under a new ruling, law enforcement officers would be able to identify drones from afar.
Modernization
Online Health Applications Increased 50 Percent After VA.gov Relaunch
The newly redesigned homepage makes it easier for vets to use self-service tools, which will save the government money, according to the agency’s digital services chief.
Cybersecurity
Cyber Command looks to expand
U.S. Cyber Commander Gen. Paul Nakasone said that with the current state of threats, he expects the cyber mission force to expand beyond 133 teams.
Cybersecurity
CISA says it's ramping up election security efforts for 2020
DHS' cyber chief pushed back on media reports that it was drawing down personnel and resources from efforts to combat foreign interference with U.S. elections.
Digital Government
Latest Spending Deal Includes Almost $20 Billion for IT Programs
The spending bills include multimillion-dollar agency projects and governmentwide funding sources for IT modernization and cybersecurity.
Modernization
Get Ready for the Pentagon’s Big Cloud Buy
For the first time ever, the Defense Department is primed to spend over $2 billion on cloud computing in fiscal 2019.
Policy
Trump Administration Releases Rural Broadband Strategy
Officials estimate that 24 million people in the United States can't get broadband internet service. Eighty percent of those people live in rural areas.
Modernization
Lawmakers probe TSA's pipeline cyber role
A top grid regulator wants to work with the Transportation Security Administration and industry on pipeline cybersecurity, while some in Congress want the Energy Department to take the reins.
Artificial Intelligence
There’s a Big Obstacle to the Pentagon’s New Strategy to Speed AI to Troops
Defense officials want to accelerate the delivery of artificial-intelligence tools from the lab to the field. But it's hard to obtain the massive data streams that make AI work.
Ideas
The Problem With a ‘Smart’ Border Wall
To resolve Trump’s impasse, many lawmakers have proposed boosting surveillance technology to create a virtual border wall. Is that more humane and effective?
Digital Government
FCW Insider: Feb. 14
The latest news, analysis and other updates from FCW's reporters and editors.
Policy
GAO Urges Congress to Start Moving on a Privacy Law
Researchers recommended lawmakers give regulators more power to write rules and punish the companies that break them.
Policy
Defense Acquisition Guidance Overhaul Will Focus Squarely on Software
The Defense Department shouldn’t be buying software the same way it buys weapons, and the next version of its acquisition guidance should reflect that.
People
Pay raise for feds likely included in funding bill
A long-sought 1.9 percent pay raise appears to be packaged in appropriations bills to keep the government fully open for the rest of the fiscal year. Back pay for contractors, however, was dropped from the compromise package.
People
Trump taps Education adviser to lead OFPP
Michael Wooten, a senior advisor on acquisitions at the Federal Student Aid office, was nominated to lead the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.
Digital Government
NextGen may miss deadlines because of shutdown
According to union leaders and stakeholders, the 35-day shutdown made the U.S. airspace less safe and froze needed modernization and policy development.
Emerging Tech