Cybersecurity
FCC proposes updates to wiretap security standards following Chinese telecom hacks
Several lawmakers have called for the agency to reform wiretap standards governed by the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, or CALEA.
Emerging Tech
DHS surveillance tools lack bias and privacy protections, GAO says
DHS law enforcement agencies are currently developing policies to reduce bias in the use of AI-enabled tech but have no plans to do so for other monitoring tools.
Digital Government
Trump signals new direction for IRS as he announces atypical plan to replace its leadership
The agency is mid-transformation thanks to an unprecedented cash infusion, but those efforts are now in doubt.
Artificial Intelligence
Forthcoming House AI report will call for incremental regulation
Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., said he hopes the House AI Task Force’s report will debut sometime in the coming week.
Digital Government
Cloud and AI are ‘fundamentally changing’ ability to forecast weather, NOAA chief says
Half of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s environmental data now runs on AWS.
Cybersecurity
At least 8 US carriers hit in Chinese telecom hacks, senior official says
The hacks carried out by the Salt Typhoon group impacted a couple dozen countries and may have been ongoing for one to two years, the official said.
Acquisition
House passes agency software licensing bill
Saving on software licensing appears to also be on the radar of the new DOGE caucus.
Cybersecurity
Senators call for investigation of DOD’s comms following Chinese telecom breach
“DOD’s failure to secure its unclassified voice, video and text communications with end-to-end encryption technology has left it needlessly vulnerable to foreign espionage,” Sens. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., wrote to the Pentagon’s inspector general.
People
Trump opts for conventional DOJ screenings of nominees and transition team members
The president-elect delayed the process but now says it is a key step for deploying his team into federal agencies.
Emerging Tech
Senators introduce quantum reauthorization bill with little time left in this Congress
The bill would provide resources across multiple federal agencies to continue advancing quantum information sciences research following the original 2018 program launch.
Cybersecurity
NIST issues updated cyber guides focused on assessments and communication
Two new volumes were released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology that aim to broaden the publication’s applicability to organizations outside federal agencies.
Artificial Intelligence
AI has high energy demands but could also speed up energy production, officials say
Artificial intelligence can help speed up the permitting process for new clean energy infrastructure to meet the energy needs of emerging technologies.
Modernization
Experts recommend using TMF to focus on product — not project — delivery
The memo is one of several “Day One” ideas for the incoming Trump administration from the Federation of American Scientists.
Ideas
Musk is onto something: Protecting and improving the government’s massive grant and loan portfolios
COMMENTARY | The reliance on antiquated technology to manage massive financial portfolios and critical government services is increasingly untenable.
Cybersecurity
Chinese telecom espionage began with ‘much broader’ aims, officials say
The U.S. has been investigating the Salt Typhoon hackers since late spring and early summer this year, a senior FBI official said.
Acquisition
IBM wins $930M federal employee travel system contract
The General Services Administration expects 124 civilian agencies to transition to the new system by June 2027.
Cybersecurity
US proposes rule to prevent the sale of financial data to foreign adversaries
Data brokers would have to comply under terms set by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, in an effort that aims to stop exploitation of Americans’ data overseas.
Digital Government
Agencies see record reduction in improper payments in fiscal 2024
The improper payment rate for fiscal year 2024 was 3.97%. The last time that number dipped below 4% was in 2013.
Defense
Army aims to move its pay system to the cloud by 2027
Oracle will soon host the service’s HR systems, under the Pentagon’s biggest cloud contracting vehicle.
Ideas