Policy
How The Space Force Took Over Washington
Blame a potent mix of national security concerns, space spectacle, and pork-barrel spending.
Digital Government
Get Ready for a Massive Government Spending Spree
A combination of factors will see federal agencies trying to spend as much as 40 percent of their budgets in the final two months of the fiscal year.
Digital Government
Pending Executive Order to Move Entire Background Investigation Bureau to Pentagon
The president is preparing to sign an order to move the entire National Background Investigations Bureau—workload, people and all—under the Defense Department.
Digital Government
Watchdog: Agency CIOs Still Don’t Have Mandated Authorities
A Government Accountability Office report shows few agencies have policies giving chief information officers the authorities they need to be successful.
Policy
Pentagon Prohibits Personnel From Using GPS Services in All ‘Operational Areas’
The device-agnostic policy applies to smartphones, tablets, fitness trackers, smartwatches and all other applications with geolocation features.
Digital Government
Cyberattacks Haven’t Stopped but Neither Have Bills to Fight Them
Top national security and intelligence leaders pledged to defend the country from foreign influence campaigns.
Modernization
USDA Kicks Off Bidding for Second Round of IT Overhaul Contacts
The program will be a model for other agencies to surge outdated IT into the 21st century.
Modernization
Senators Say Modernization Fund Will Get Money When Congress Sees Data, Results
Conference negotiations between the House and Senate will be the last chance to add money to the Technology Modernization Fund without additional legislation.
Cybersecurity
DHS Stands Up New Cyber Risk Center to Protect High-Value Targets
The center will free up NCCIC to work on cyber threat sharing and incident response, officials say.
Emerging Tech
Senators Want to Double Funding for Putting Commercial Drones in the Air
A bipartisan amendment would double 2019 funding for FAA’s efforts to integrate drones into national airspace.
Cybersecurity
Supply Chain Cybersecurity a Major Legislative Priority for House Homeland
The committee wants to broaden DHS’ authority to kick questionable contractors off government networks.
Digital Government
Lawmakers Unveil Plans for Agency Telework and Cloud Security
Plus the annual defense authorization bill is poised to pass.
Modernization
Bill Would Force Agencies to Honor FedRAMP Authorizations
The FedRAMP Reform Act would codify the program, as well as the “authorize once, use many” mantra.
Cybersecurity
Here’s How to Really Make Cabinet Secretaries Responsible for Cybersecurity
The president and OMB director should pester Cabinet officials about cybersecurity regularly, a former official says.
Policy
White House Chides Senate For Not Funding Modernization Fund
The administration says the Senate version of the Financial Services and General Government spending bill is too high but doesn’t cover priorities.
Policy
NDAA Conference: Congress Spares DISA, Bans Chinese Firms and Orders JEDI Review
Congress packed a lot of tech and cyber changes in the NDAA.
Cybersecurity
Homeland Security Committee Forwards Bill to Prevent the Next Kaspersky
The committee also forwarded legislation to codify Homeland Security’s CDM program.
Modernization
White House Seeks Input on Reskilling Feds and Upgrading Agency Services
As part of its government reorganization, the administration wants advice on how to establish the tech-focused GEAR Center.
Digital Government
China Won and America Lost on ZTE, but Our Offensive Cyber is Super Awesome
Lawmakers also introduced bills to protect against drones and make sure you get texts about incoming missiles in this week’s bill watch.
Cybersecurity