Modernization
Management, Not Money, Will Make or Break VA Modernization, Lawmakers Say
“We are no longer on the cusp of transformation, we are in the middle of it,” Secretary Robert Wilkie told senators.
Policy
Contractors and Advocacy Groups Push Back on State Efforts to Mandate Surveillance Software
State legislation pushed by one company to require contractors to install the software would compromise data privacy and carry steep costs for companies and governments, the groups argue.
Digital Government
OMB is Dropping the Ball on DATA Act Management, Watchdog Says
The office lacks a formal process for revising data standards, and it doesn’t clearly tell agencies when changes are made, the Government Accountability Office found.
Ideas
Heartland Cities Are Stuck. Washington Can Help Them.
In an unprecedented era of winner-take-all urbanism, left-behind cities need federal help.
Digital Government
White House Issues New Guidance on Category Management
Obama-era move toward pooled agency purchasing is updated to reduce duplication.
Digital Government
OPM Looks to Expand Pilot Programs That Teach Federal Employees New Skills
New pay study will be "additive," not replace existing compensation comparison efforts, acting director says.
Digital Government
Senators Question DOJ’s Surveillance of Americans’ Cell Phone Location Records
Lawmakers want the attorney general to explain how the collection of cellular location data has changed following a recent SCOTUS decision.
Digital Government
White House to Nominate Michael Kratsios as U.S. CTO
Kratsios, who currently serves as the country’s deputy chief technology officer, will be the first person to hold the title since the Obama administration.
Cybersecurity
How the Energy Department is Prioritizing Secure Infrastructure
The budding Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response aims to deflect cyber, manmade and natural security hazards.
Modernization
Destroyed Notes and a Nondisclosure Agreement Gum Up an EPA Cloud Security Assessment
A routine EPA Office of Inspector General security audit has taken a weird turn.
Policy
Facebook Does Have to Respect Civil-Rights Legislation, After All
Activists just won a landmark case against the social network.
Artificial Intelligence
NSF Director Approaching Uncertain Tech Landscape with Confidence
France Córdova sat down with Nextgov to discuss the national AI strategy, the federal research ecosystem and the “very exciting” future of quantum computing.
Digital Government
Space Force’s Projected Size Drifts Upward, Drawing Concern on Capitol Hill
Despite “lean” pledges, aides are skeptical about the size of the proposed branch and the number of generals who will lead it.
Digital Government
Should Government Agencies Move Out of Capital Cities?
North Carolina may relocate its Division of Motor Vehicles from Raleigh to boost lagging Rocky Mount. Can this be a national model for decentralizing power?
Digital Government
Lawmaker Wants VA to Explain a Software Tool USDS Flagged as Flawed
A ProPublica report exposed serious issues in a Veterans Affairs Department software tool.
Emerging Tech
Automation Will Be a Requirement of a Shrinking Workforce, Not Its Cause, Officials Say
While the budget focuses on reducing headcount, officials said that isn’t the goal of pushing more automation.
Emerging Tech
Tech Giants Will Brief Lawmakers on the Spread of Terrorist Content Online
Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Microsoft will be asked about how the New Zealand shooter’s video spread so quickly.
Digital Government
Inside GAO’s Plan to Make Congress More Tech-Savvy
The new Science and Technology Assessment and Analytics group aims to prep lawmakers for big decisions on artificial intelligence, privacy and 5G.
Modernization
GSA Releases Technology Business Management Playbook
After several months of development, the General Services Administration and the Education Department share what they learned by implementing TBM.
Artificial Intelligence