Policy

Senate Committee Clashes over Sweeping Election Reform Bill

Lawmakers failed to advance the For the People Act out of committee, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected to bring the bill to the floor anyhow.

Policy

Online, Mug Shots Are Forever. Some States Want to Change That.

People are innocent until proven guilty, but the public release of mug shots taken at the time of arrest can become a barrier to housing, employment and personal relationships.

Digital Government

Federal Tech-Focused Officials Are on the Move

Both new and familiar faces are taking on information technology-aligned positions.

Digital Government

A Year from the Start of the Women’s Recession, 2 Million Women Are Still Out of the Workforce

About 165,000 women left the workforce in April as the economic recovery sputters. Unemployment rates continue to be higher for women of color.

Modernization

Lawmakers Say It’s Past Time OMB Issued IDEA Act Guidance

After two years in limbo and a pandemic forcing more adoption of digital services, House lawmakers want to see real guidance issued in the next 45 days.

Digital Government

3 Companies Settle Over Millions of Fake Comments on FCC’s Net Neutrality Rollback

Broadband companies funded an effort responsible for 8.5 million fraudulent comments supporting the repeal, according to a New York attorney general report.

Emerging Tech

TSA Wants New Ideas to Speed Up Checkpoints

The agency is looking for established technologies that could eliminate physical pat-downs and shoe removals.

Digital Government

Coalition Urges Congress to Boost Funding for Census Modernization

A group of Census experts and data users are asking appropriators to provide $2 billion in funding to the Census Bureau in fiscal 2022.

Ideas

How Design Thinking Can Improve Public Sector IT

With its push to provide faster, more predictable and higher quality software, public sector IT organizations may have discounted the need for design.

Digital Government

Review Board Upholds Facebook’s Ban on Trump—For Now

The board left the decision on whether to ban Trump permanently up to the tech company.

Digital Government

Biden Promised the Most Diverse Administration Ever. Here’s How He’s Doing.

Seven figures that show the representation — and the gaps — in President Joe Biden's Cabinet and federal appointments.

Digital Government

Experts Examine Accountability, Transparency Improvements in Government

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing discussed recent proposals to strengthen the authority of inspectors general and place some limits on acting officials.

Modernization

OMB Prioritizes Cyber, COVID Tech For New TMF Payback Model

Officials urged agencies to pitch projects that focus on hack cleanup, COVID-19 response or economic recovery by June 2 for maximum repayment flexibility from the Technology Modernization Fund.

Digital Government

US Air Force, Navy Extend 50% Work-From-Home Indefinitely

New memos suggest office space occupancy may never return to 100 percent.

Emerging Tech

Senators Introduce Bill to Increase U.S. Influence on Tech Standards-Setting Processes

The bill would create an Office of Science and Technology task force to come up with a strategy for increasing participation in standards settings bodies and counter China’s sway.

Digital Government

Pentagon’s New Leadership Accelerating Data-Centric Efforts

Chief Data Officer David Spirk said the deputy secretary of defense is providing “direct support” as they work through data decrees and open standards.