Modernization

The Devil’s in the Details as GSA Seeks to Consolidate the Multiple Award Schedules

The agency is entering an important transitional year as it combines its many schedules into one.

Policy

The Federal Tech Bills that Moved as Funding Legislation Stalled

New laws call on Homeland Security to consolidate its data and force agencies to improve their websites.

Digital Government

Federal Contractors Need to Prepare for a Long Government Shutdown

A shutdown of government operations for any length of time will have a significant effect on the contractor community, especially small businesses.

Digital Government

Senate Passes Bill to Make Government Data More Accessible

The legislation would require agencies to publish all nonsensitive information in a machine-readable format.

Cybersecurity

Plan to Dumb-Down the Power Grid In Name of Cybersecurity Passes Senate

The bill would establish and fund a public-private partnership to look at retro, analog options for securing the nation’s electric grid from digital threats.

Digital Government

Lawmakers Want IG to Dig into Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Crowd

The trio of informal associates is reported to wield outsized influence over personnel and procurement decisions at the Veterans Affairs Department.

Digital Government

A Government Shutdown Doesn’t Mean All the IT Shuts Down

Both baseline infrastructure and critical IT systems have to stay on during a shutdown, which means some IT staff won’t be furloughed.

Digital Government

If Feds Go Home For a Shutdown, Do Their Phones Go With Them?

A handful of potentially impacted agencies have updated their guidance since the last shutdown.

Digital Government

Congress Races to the Finish Line Amid Shutdown Threat

The Senate passed lots of tech-centric bills and set the stage for next year’s privacy debate.

Modernization

Updated Trusted Internet Connection Draft Lays Framework For Flexible Policy

The draft policy puts it on the Homeland Security Department to develop use case examples for how agencies can ensure safe connections wherever and however feds are working.

Digital Government

USASpending.gov Needs Better Search and Better Data, Watchdog Says

The transparency site does not provide as much government spending data as it should, GAO said.

Modernization

Federal CIO Previews 2019 Priorities

OMB will roll out more reskilling programs, tweak FITARA scoring and is looking at standards for automated decision-making, Suzette Kent said.

Modernization

GAO Dismisses IBM’s JEDI Protest

With the U.S. Court of Federal Claims addressing a similar case, the Government Accountability Office dismissed IBM’s protest.

Modernization

Congress Votes For Better Government Websites, Digital Services

The Senate passed the 21st Century IDEA Act, giving agencies one year to improve citizens’ digital experiences.

Digital Government

Senate Bill Would Force Security Clearance Reforms

It also would require the director of National Intelligence to rethink the SF-86 form and process.

Digital Government

Agencies Increase FITARA Scores

Eleven agencies increased their grade and 13 remained the same.

Cybersecurity

CBP Officers Aren’t Deleting Data After Warrantless Device Searches, IG Says

An inspector general report found Border Patrol officers didn’t follow standard procedures during device searches, mostly because those procedures weren’t clearly laid out.