Cybersecurity
NIST may not resolve vulnerability database backlog until early 2025, analysis shows
A new dashboard underscores the severity of the logjam that’s plagued the agency since February.
People
Gen Z is underrepresented in the federal workforce. Here’s how some experts would fix that
People younger than 30 represent 7% of the full-time civil service despite being 20% of the overall U.S. labor force.
Artificial Intelligence
Biden to receive AI national security memo outlining forbidden uses, opportunities for innovation
The memorandum expected to be delivered Friday to President Joe Biden will build upon existing artificial intelligence guidance while highlighting workforce needs and prohibited use scenarios.
Cybersecurity
Summer-only sessions helped blunt CrowdStrike outage impact on US schools
K-12 school districts across the country were impacted in last week’s CrowdStrike-based IT outage, a person familiar says. The effects would have been much worse if school was in session.
Artificial Intelligence
FCC proposes requiring advertisers to disclose AI in political ads on radio, TV
The proposal advanced over the opposition of its Republican commissioners, who warned that the measure risks interfering with the Federal Election Commission’s efforts to regulate AI-generated content in political ads.
Policy
HHS reorg seeks to streamline tech, cyber policy
A new assistant secretary post will consolidate management of technology, data, AI and health IT.
Acquisition
ServiceNow parts with president and public sector head after internal probe
The software vendor indicated it violated company policy in the hiring of former Army CIO Raj Iyer on the heels of a large contract award.
Cybersecurity
FBI, Mandiant designate advanced North Korean hackers stealing US defense secrets
The group — now known as APT45 — has targeted information stored in U.S. government nuclear facilities and research institutions, as well as missile systems, uranium processing and other R&D intel.
Modernization
Cost overruns, delays plague VA’s new integrated financial management system
The rollout of VA’s modernized financial management and acquisition system has been affected by delays in the department’s new electronic health record system, since “multiple deployments” depend on the EHR’s launch at medical facilities.
People
White House cyber czar office adds new deputy
Harry Wingo, a former national security professor and Navy SEAL officer, will take the position next week, the Office of the National Cyber Director said.
Cybersecurity
Crowdstrike IT outage linked to update using new threat detection system
A routine update intended to enhance clients’ security capabilities clashed with a new cyberthreat classification framework rolled out in February, causing affected systems to crash.
Digital Government
The White House thinks better tech could speed up permitting
The White House’s Council on Environmental Quality says in a new, congressionally mandated report that better tech could help the permitting process, but it's unclear whether new efforts are in the offing.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
House lawmaker demands answers from AT&T on recent data breach
Rep. Abigail Spanberger wants AT&T’s CEO to open up about the company’s incident response plans and a reported payment to hackers in exchange for deleting the stolen data.
Modernization
VA’s planned restart of EHR rollouts draws lawmaker concern
“I think we are far from ready to endorse further go-live activities,” Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., said about VA’s plan to resume deployments in fiscal year 2025.
Artificial Intelligence
Energy looks to balance AI electricity demands and clean energy goals
Leadership from the Department of Energy said that the demands of artificial intelligence systems of the U.S. power grid can help spur clean energy initiatives.
People
CISA executive director set to depart the agency
Brandon Wales, who temporarily led the agency after a Trump-era management shakeup, has overseen many of the recent CISA-led cyber reporting regulations, as well as coordination during major cyber incidents.
Defense
Pentagon’s new cyber rules are ‘stifling’ foreign suppliers, advisors say
The soon-to-be-mandatory cybersecurity certification—and a 2018 OSD reorganization—are slowing vital work, the Defense Innovation Board says.
People
Unpacking Kamala Harris' record on federal workforce issues
As vice president and a senator, Harris has fought discriminatory pay practices, helped create guidance for how the federal government uses artificial intelligence and championed public sector unions.
Policy
Biden looks to preserve tech, cyber legacy with veto threat
Experts see continuity in tech policy from the Biden administration to a possible Kamala Harris presidency, with possible divergence on some national security and antitrust issues.
Exclusive
Artificial Intelligence