Emerging Tech

Why Electric Scooters Companies Are Getting Serious About Safety

Lime has joined rival Bird in establishing a safety advisory board tasked with helping the e-scooter industry shape local regulations—and shake its risky reputation.

Digital Government

Trump Nominates Acting CMO To Be Third In Line at Pentagon

Lisa Hershman has been nominated to officially take over the role after more than seven months as acting chief management officer.

Policy

Bipartisan Legislation Targets Chinese Firm Huawei

Congress wants to up its authority on emerging tech threats from China.

Digital Government

House Passes Defense Policy Bill with Provision to Block OPM-GSA Merger

The must-pass legislation also includes amendments granting paid family leave and protecting feds’ health insurance during shutdowns.

Modernization

Court Rules in Favor of Pentagon in JEDI Lawsuit

The ruling against Oracle clears the way for the government to award the contract in August to Microsoft or Amazon Web Services.

Policy

Trump Executive Order Directs ‘All Agencies’ to Share Citizenship Data with Commerce Department

The executive order followed President Trump’s Rose Garden remarks Thursday but doesn’t provide many specifics regarding how to move the records.

Policy

Figuring Out How to Go After International Robocallers

The FCC will vote on a proposed rule next month that would ban malicious caller ID spoofing for text messages and robocalls that originate outside the United States. State attorneys general have long requested federal assistance with complaints about robocallers from out of the country.

Digital Government

Lawmaker Calls for Outside Investigation of Secret Border Patrol Facebook Group

The Homeland Security Department has condemned derogatory comments posted within the group and promised a review of its own.

Digital Government

Experts Say Federal Data Strategy Needs Leaders and Funding to Succeed

Stakeholders are pleased the government is poised to take action on the federal data strategy but had some management advice for the Office of Management and Budget.

Digital Government

Improving Transit Through Lyft and Uber? More Agencies Are Paying for Ride-Hailing Rides

Experts and transit leaders say that there could be real benefits to working with ride-hailing companies. But data is needed to assess how successful these programs really are.

Digital Government

President Trump Signs Taxpayer First Act

The law will force the IRS to improve its customer experience while providing tools to move faster in hiring.

Artificial Intelligence

Congress Wants DHS to Study Disruptive Deepfake Videos

Bills introduced in the House and Senate aim to combat the forged media through comprehensive research and technological assessments. 

Digital Government

Justice Department Launches API for Foreign Lobbyist Data

The new online portal offers the public easier access to documents filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, the law that put Paul Manafort in jail.

Digital Government

CBP Approving ‘Potentially High-Risk’ People for Trusted Traveler Program 

The Homeland Security Department Inspector General found officers aren’t properly vetting applicants for the Global Entry program or checking their status at ports of entry.

Digital Government

OPM Still Lacks Legal Analysis of Proposed Merger with GSA

Lawmakers in both parties expressed outrage at the lack of documents provided to support the Trump administration’s proposal.

Policy

Supreme Court Rejects ‘Contrived’ Defense of Citizenship Question on 2020 Census

The high court’s ruling called into question the Trump administration's justification for including the citizenship question but does not preclude the administration from asking residents whether or not they are citizens.

Policy

Congress Passes Bill That Forces IRS to Revamp Taxpayer Experience

The bill passed the House and Senate earlier this month and would usher in major changes to the way IRS engages with millions of customers.