Podcasts

Critical Update: GSA's Centers of Excellence Program Evolves

The Centers of Excellence program started out working with agencies one at a time. But in less than three years, the program has sped up, staffed up and spread out across government.

Modernization

Senate bill would extend full-time federal telework for duration of COVID emergency

The bill also would steer Technology Modernization Fund dollars to agency efforts to improve telework activities.

Modernization

Pentagon Requests More Time to Review JEDI Cloud Contract Bids

The Defense Department says it wants to further discuss Microsoft’s and Amazon Web Services’ pricing.

Emerging Tech

DOD Releases Prime Airwaves for Commercial 5G Networks

Amid criticism, officials said 100 megahertz of federal midband spectrum will be transferred to commercial users at an unprecedented pace.

Modernization

Agencies Off-Pace to Switch to New Telecom Contract Before Cutoff Date, GAO Says

The latest FITARA scorecard showed what percentage of operations have moved off old infrastructure contracts—and the numbers aren’t good. 

Modernization

VA Restarts Electronic Health Record Rollout

The initial deployment at a Spokane, Washington, medical center is now scheduled for October, while the new scheduling system will begin rolling out in August.

Modernization

DOD agrees to spectrum sharing deal

An expert panel convened by the Defense Department has offered 100 megahertz of mid-band spectrum to share with commercial networks looking to build up U.S. 5G capacity.

Modernization

How commercial tech supports government COVID response

Governments today must resist the temptation to simply "modernize" outdated or obsolete IT systems or, worse yet, develop custom government off the shelf solutions that rely on open source projects that provide 'zero cost' software, but also bring no guarantees of support.

Digital Government

Bill Calls for ‘Mile-by-Mile’ Assessment of Tech Needs at the Southern Border

Rep. Xochitl Small Torres on Wednesday introduced the Southwest Border Security Technology Improvement Act in the House, a bipartisan bill that’s already moving through the Senate.

Digital Government

U.S., International Lawmakers Push Facebook to Stop Online Hate Targeting Women

The social media giant must more aggressively enforce rules that it already has in place, they said.

Modernization

VA Needs a Cyber Audit of its Governmentwide Financial Services Center

The accounting shared services program—used by a range of federal agencies and programs—needs to ensure its systems are secure.

Artificial Intelligence

Report Recommends Doubling Federal Funding for AI Research

A new report from Reps. Will Hurd, R-Texas, and Robin Kelly, D-Ill., calls for increased funding and stronger federal leadership on artificial intelligence development.

Modernization

Court nixes challenge to proxy voting in Congress

The ruling could be appealed, but it could also lay the groundwork for more substantive reforms, including remote voting.

Ideas

Is COVID-19 a Threat or Opportunity for Electronic Government Records Capture, Access and Preservation?

The tsunami of data and the hard pivot to remote work and home school has stretched government information management capabilities to their limits.

Modernization

Speeding up the military's 'kill chain'

The military's need for quick technological development is hamstrung by politics, acquisition, and culture. FCW talks with former Senate staff director Christian Brose about his new book on the future of warfare.

Cybersecurity

CISA Finalized Directive on Vulnerability Disclosure Policies, Congressman Says 

The binding operational directive would create a legal path for ethical hackers to report website vulnerabilities to government agencies.

Modernization

Top secret telework 'is not a thing'

The National Security Agency is expanding its use of Microsoft Office 365 to support unclassified telework

Modernization

How CBP Plans to Spend—and Repay—Its $15M Modernization Fund Loan

Agency officials already completed the first phase of modernizing the nation’s second-largest revenue collection system but needed an infusion of cash to keep the momentum going.

Policy

Democratic Senators Join Industry Groups in Calls to Extend CARES Act Funding Authority for Contractors

Industry groups are asking for an extension for the authority to reimburse defense contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Modernization

Lawmakers seek red team testing of vulnerable grid networks

Senators want to craft authorities for federal agencies and private power infrastructure providers to allow more cybersecurity testing of energy grid network security.