Modernization
Congress agrees on $425 million in election grants to states
The funding deal ditches stronger mandates from the House version in favor of broader language that gives states wide latitude on how to spend the funds.
Digital Government
Agencies Can Start Prepping Systems for DUNS Transition
The government will need to prepare for next year’s transition or risk the federal contracting version of Y2K.
Modernization
Army Applications Laboratory: How problems get solved
Porter Orr, director of the capabilities accelerator team with Lab, explains how the Army connects with nontraditional problem solvers to close capability gaps and speed modernization.
Modernization
Refresh market research to find top tech
In a rapidly changing environment, expecting overworked acquisition staff to become experts in every emerging technology is unrealistic.
Modernization
TMF Program Office Won’t Recoup Current Costs Until 2025, Watchdog Says
Officials pushed back strongly against the report.
Modernization
More agencies are using FedRAMP, but some are still going rogue
While hundreds of additional government cloud projects are being vetted for cybersecurity every year, a GAO audit makes clear that many agencies are still standing up programs without going through FedRAMP.
Modernization
GAO frets about TMF payback, fees
The Technology Modernization Fund – the $125 million pool of no-year money appropriated to fast-track technology upgrades – has some potential operational problems, according to an oversight report.
Modernization
Audit: Cloud Use Up But Agencies Skirting FedRAMP
More than 60% of federal agencies audited by the Government Accountability Office did not always use FedRAMP to authorize their cloud solutions.
Ideas
How the Loss of the Landline Is Changing Family Life
The shared phone was a space of spontaneous connection for the entire household.
Modernization
FCC Launches Plan to Make Suicide Hotline Accessible Through a 3-Digit Dial Code
988 could soon be the 911 for suicide prevention.
Emerging Tech
18F Launches New Portfolio to Target Defense and Intelligence Agencies
The government’s digital consultancy shop has gained some experience in defense and national security issues and has built a new service line to focus on those agencies.
Modernization
FITARA scores trend up, but concerns on data centers, CIO authorities remain
At the ninth House hearing on implementation of the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act, many agencies showed improvement, but lawmakers cited familiar problems.
Modernization
Federal CIO: It’s Time for Those Digital Transformations to Scale Up
In 2020, agencies will likely expand some of their new pilots and projects into enterprisewide solutions.
Cybersecurity
What the Defense Department’s Cyber Certification Will Mean for Small Businesses
The Pentagon lead for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program argued the move will be good for small contractors. And for those that don’t want to comply: Good riddance.
Modernization
Agencies Turn In ‘Best FITARA Scorecard Ever’
Collectively, the federal government improved its oversight grades in IT modernization.
Modernization
Democratic Senators Urge Social Security to Restore Telework
Lawmakers ask the agency to reconsider its decision to end a 6-year-old pilot program, citing concerns about the burden it places on employees and productivity.
Policy
House Passes Bill to Boost STEM Access for Minority Students
The bill calls for increased federal investments and outreach to support the institutions and diversify the STEM domain.
Modernization
Defense Digital Service Seeks Platform that Could Automate Hiring Process
Officials are looking for technical solutions that boost automation and reduce unconscious bias.
Modernization
Microsoft and Pentagon to Kick Off JEDI Cloud Prep
Microsoft and Defense Department officials will meet for three days to discuss the cloud project despite Amazon lawsuit.
Emerging Tech