Digital Government

Defense Digital Service Director Used Signal App In Violation of Pentagon Policy, IG Says

The DOD Office of Inspector General found evidence that outgoing DDS Director Brett Goldstein also encouraged subordinates to use the encrypted messaging app.

Digital Government

Advocacy Group Asks Biden Administration to Consider 7 Reforms for Governmentwide Contracts

A group of federal contractors want to see the governmentwide acquisition contract, or GWAC, program process improved for innovative and non-traditional vendors.

Emerging Tech

U.S. Needs Tech Agency to Compete with China, Think Tank Says

The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act is just a first step when it comes to competition with China, according to the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

Digital Government

Most Federal Employees Will Receive Friday Off for Juneteenth

President Biden signed a bill Thursday afternoon making the anniversary of the end of slavery a federal holiday, and OPM confirmed that federal workers will have Friday off.

Modernization

HHS Puts Up $80M to Increase Number and Diversity of Health IT Workforce

The four-year effort will focus on improving data collection—especially around race and ethnicity—and training a more diverse health informatics and technology workforce.

Emerging Tech

Lawmakers Renew Effort to Ban Federal Agencies from Using Facial Recognition Tech

The reintroduced bill would prohibit agencies from using biometric tech and block federal funds for biometric surveillance systems.

Modernization

DOD's Commercial Virtual Remote Environment Officially Sunsets

The environment for collaboration that supported telework during the pandemic expired.

Cybersecurity

National Lab Recommends Energy Department Test Electric Utility Vendors for Cybersecurity

A broad spectrum of organizations are calling on regulators to improve suppliers instead of simply banning foreign companies.

Digital Government

White House Outlines ‘Made in America’ Executive Order Implementation

Agencies must designate a senior official to spearhead efforts to support domestic manufacturing.

Cybersecurity

White House Calls for Agencies and Tech Companies to Share Info to Combat Domestic Terrorism

A new strategy asks social media and communications companies to enforce their own policies to protect users from those who foment violence.

Ideas

Biden’s Proposed Budget Is a Step in the Right Direction for Emerging Tech

The administration must engage cutting-edge tech companies that will drive economic prosperity and keep the U.S. ahead of its adversaries. 

Cybersecurity

Key Senator Wants Biden to Raise SolarWinds in International Negotiations

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner said espionage campaigns like the SolarWinds hack merit discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Digital Government

OSHA Pandemic Safety Rules Only Cover Health Care Workers

OSHA also issued new guidance on COVID-19 measures for all employers, including paid time off for vaccinations, barriers and shields, and employer-provided face coverings.

Digital Government

NIH Aims to Boost Diversity and Inclusion Within Its Biomedical Workforce 

The agency said the changes, which are part of a larger plan to combat structural racism in biomedical research, are “long overdue.”

Emerging Tech

Baltimore Latest City to Consider Banning Facial Recognition Technology

The Maryland city joins several other localities that have banned or are assessing the controversial technology, or are limiting its scope and use.