Artificial Intelligence

White House Science Chief: U.S. is Still Beating China In AI, Quantum Research

But that doesn’t mean the country should rest on its laurels, according to OSTP Director Kelvin Droegemeier.

Emerging Tech

Ready or Not, Blockchain-Based Mobile Voting Is Getting Closer

Some voters in Provo and other Utah County cities will be able to cast ballots on a blockchain-powered mobile app in a pilot program for the August election.

Artificial Intelligence

Government Should Address Potential Bias in Artificial Intelligence, Lawmakers Say

A pair of congressmen outlined their plans to ensure that systems don’t discriminate—even unintentionally.

Cybersecurity

NSA Launches Cybersecurity Directorate

The group is charged with defending the country’s national security infrastructure and defense contractors against digital threats.

Cybersecurity

Barr Calls For An End to ‘Warrant-Proof’ Encryption

The attorney general railed against the tech during a speech in New York City, reinvigorating a debate that’s long rankled law enforcement officials and the tech community.

Digital Government

Small Agencies Need Shared Services Providers to Step Up DATA Act Support

Large departments are assisting smaller agencies in meeting their DATA Act requirements through shared services providers. But that help isn’t always so helpful.

Digital Government

OPM Cuts Security Clearance Backlog in Half, But Processing Delays Spell Trouble for Pentagon

The National Background Investigations Bureau is barreling through the backlog of clearance applications as the Defense Department prepares to take over the function in October.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers Propose Bills to Secure Connected Planes, Trains and Automobiles

The legislation would set “reasonable” security measures for the numerous IT systems that power our increasingly connected vehicles.

Cybersecurity

Protecting Election Systems Will Take Much More Federal Money, Report Says

The threat of foreign interference in U.S. elections remains, so the federal government must help state and local officials shore up defenses, according to a new report from the Brennan Center for Justice.

Emerging Tech

We Were Promised Moon Cities

It’s been 50 years since Apollo 11 put humans on the surface of the moon. Why didn’t we stay and build a more permanent lunar base? Lots of reasons.

Cybersecurity

CISA Explains Why Enterprise Approach To Security is Gamechanging

The agency’s assistant director for cybersecurity highlighted multiple aims and accomplishments.

Modernization

House Republicans to Trump: Stay Out of Pentagon Cloud Acquisition

Four members of the House Armed Services Committee asked Trump to let the Pentagon award its Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract without delay.

Digital Government

Survey: Five in Six HHS Employees May Consider Leaving if Telework is Restricted

Department has stripped telework provisions from its union contract, and is expected to require employees to commute at least four days per week.

Modernization

Pentagon Will Default To Trusting Other Agencies’ Cloud Security Assessments

The department has had success reusing other agencies’ authorizations and will make reciprocity the rule rather than the exception.

Policy

Trump’s Tax Law Threatened TurboTax’s Profits. So the Company Started Charging the Disabled, the Unemployed and Students.

The move by TurboTax maker Intuit to charge more lower-income customers has helped boost revenue.

Cybersecurity

Census Chief Assures Lawmakers IT and Cyber Risks are Under Control

But with less than a year until the 2020 count kicks off, the bureau still has little room for error, the Government Accountability Office warns.

Digital Government

High-Level Vacancies Are Weakening Agency Management and Oversight, Lawmaker Says

Rep. Gerry Connolly’s comments marked the release of a bipartisan report recommending ways agencies can deliver better on their missions.

Artificial Intelligence

The Pentagon Releases Its 5-Year Digital Modernization Strategy 

Officials outlined plans to drive innovation, streamline IT acquisitions and build a more agile and resilient cyber posture.