Modernization

The Pentagon’s Software Buying Has Been Outdated Since 1987

The Defense Department needs to rethink how it buys and develops software, according to Defense Innovation Board report.

Modernization

Watchdog: OPM CIO Isn’t Exercising Enough Authority Over IT Budgets

Department IT leadership was given significant budgetary authority under FITARA, but the government’s human resources department hasn’t been applying them properly, according to the inspector general.

Policy

Instagram and Facebook Ban Far-Right Extremists

Alex Jones, Infowars, Milo Yiannopoulos, Paul Joseph Watson, Laura Loomer, Paul Nehlen, and Louis Farrakhan have all been removed from the platforms.

Policy

Shifting the Pentagon’s Employee Training to OPM Could Save Millions

The move also establishes the Defense Department as a petri dish for OPM to obtain more data on how employees learn and where more training is needed.

Policy

Senate Reintroduces Federal Agency Customer Experience Act

The bill, which cleared the Senate in 2017 and the House in 2018, again has House sponsors.

Ideas

The End of Cyberspace

Internet theorists and companies once declared themselves free of nations and governance, but that’s all over now.

Modernization

GSA Unveils Key Tenets of Governmentwide E-Commerce Pilot

The implementation plan outlines three major policies that will inform their initial version of the portal, which is scheduled to launch in late 2019.

Cybersecurity

Trump Signs Executive Order to Boost Federal Cyber Workforce

Initiatives include cyber aptitude assessments for agency insiders and a President’s Cup cybersecurity competition.

Policy

As Feds Expand Guest Worker Visas, Many Companies Say More Still Needed

Competition is stiff for businesses seeking H-2B visas. And the worker shortages have been felt all over the country, in a range of industries.

Digital Government

Lawmakers Voice Bipartisan Concern Over 'Chaos' at Homeland Security

Top watchdogs also say turnover is hurting the department.

Cybersecurity

CISA Cuts Deadline For Patching Critical Weaknesses In Half

A new binding operational directive requires agencies to patch critical vulnerabilities in just over two weeks.

Cybersecurity

Senate Passes Bill to Allow Cyber Talent to Rotate Through Agencies

The bipartisan legislation would allow certain cybersecurity-related personnel to rotate across various federal agencies.

Artificial Intelligence

White House Kicks Off Effort to Develop Artificial Intelligence Standards

The administration wants public feedback to help shape the National Institute of Standards and Technology-led effort.

Ideas

The Government Wants To Teach Drones Some New Tricks

Recent Army contracts focus on the skies while DARPA is focused on underground efforts.

Digital Government

How Sending Security Clearance Checks to Defense Will Affect the Workforce

Personnel transfers will begin by June 24, but the details aren't all hammered out yet.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers Worry DHS’ 2020 Budget ‘Shortchanges the Future’

The department's Science and Technology Directorate would be forced to close multiple research facilities to accommodate the 30% budget cut.

Emerging Tech

Tech Experts Call for More Federal Funding and Nurturing for Blockchain

Congress needs to issue guidance for the budding technology.

Modernization

How to Speed Up FITARA Adoption

The Government Accountability Office outlined a dozen measures that help agencies improve their IT ecosystems.

Modernization

What Agencies Get From Taking Leadership Roles In New Shared Services Regime

The administration is asking select departments to take the lead on governmentwide services. But don’t think it’s charity on the part of the agencies.

Policy

Just Don’t Call Them UFOs

The U.S. military wants pilots to report strange sightings in the sky, but doesn’t want any of the stigma that comes with it.