Modernization

The Scary New Contracting Model That Isn’t Scary or New

“Other Transaction Authorities” might seem like a risky new acquisition method, but it’s been around longer than the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

People

Navy axes CIO office in reorg

Navy Undersecretary Thomas Modly announced his new role as Navy CIO, collapsing the previous office that oversaw IT guidance for the Marine Corps and Navy.

Digital Government

DHS hires former EAC chairman to tackle election security

A month after being passed over for another term on the Election Assistance Commission, Matthew Masterson joins the Department of Homeland Security to tackle election security issues.

Modernization

FCC chief floats new supply chain rules for telecom

The plan would bar the use of funds in an $8.5 billion telecom subsidy from going to foreign equipment suppliers who are deemed a threat to national security.

Digital Government

Android Phone Users, Facebook Was Tracking Your Calls And Texts

Android users may have given Facebook access to this data unknowingly.

Digital Government

FTC Will Investigate Facebook's Data Privacy Scandal

The government agency is stepping in.

Modernization

Tech trade groups urge DOD to rethink cloud strategy

The Department of Defense reaped more than 1,000 comments on cloud procurement, including suggestions for technology trade groups to reshape its approach on a planned single-vendor cloud deal.

Emerging Tech

DHS Commercialized A Tool That Applies AI To Pharmaceutical Research

It comes as the seventh piece of tech the agency shepherded from lab to the marketplace this year.

Digital Government

Elon Musk Just Removed Tesla and SpaceX from Facebook

He's not joking.

Cybersecurity

10 tips for agencies looking to address cyber threats

Here's how federal IT teams can better prioritize cyber threats, shift their approach to spending and improve cyber defense.

Cybersecurity

The Big Message in the Iranian Cyber Indictments: Deterrence

The Justice Department wants to send a message to Congress and the public: We’re deterring cyberattacks.

Policy

After Threatening Veto, Trump Signs $1.3 Trillion Spending Bill to Avoid Shutdown

President says military funding boost convinced him to sign the omnibus measure.

Acquisition

USAF head praises OTAs, but warns on micromanagement

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told a Capitol Hill panel that she was pleased with new acquisition authorities, but said micromanagement is still slowing the pace of procurement.

Cybersecurity

U.S. indicts Iranian hackers

The Departments of Justice and Treasury announced indictments and sanctions for an Iranian company and 10 individuals for stealing billions of dollars in research and intellectual property from universities in the United States and around the world.

Cybersecurity

Education Department Knows It Needs Cyber Skills, But Doesn't Know Which Ones

The department issued a request for information on how best to train, retain and track its cyber workforce.

Digital Government

Ousted HHS Cyber Leaders Have Met With Inspector General About A Reprisal Complaint

The pair are seeking a meeting with HHS Secretary Alex Azar.

Modernization

Google Cloud Targets Federal Government

Google wants to compete with Amazon, Microsoft and other companies for a share of the government’s massive cloud computing market.