Cybersecurity

White House Is Developing a Plan to Secure Industrial Control Systems

An upcoming executive order in response to the hacking campaign that involved SolarWinds will include standards to improve software transparency.

Digital Government

Bill Aims to Counter China with International Technology Partnership

The bill aims to imbue democratic values in technologies like artificial intelligence and 5G.

Ideas

It’s Time for a Cybersecurity Quid Pro Quo

Require companies to disclose breaches to the government in exchange for legal liability limitations. 

Cybersecurity

Biden’s Pick For Defense Policy Chief Outlines Cyber Deterrence Position

In a contentious nomination hearing, Colin Kahl called for a whole-of-government approach to technology.

Digital Government

DHS Launching Voluntary COVID-19 Contact Tracing Program

Employees will be able to self-report a positive diagnosis through the ServiceNow help desk and official contact tracers will follow up with anyone who might have been exposed.

Digital Government

Thousands of Federal Employees Are Deploying to Support Vaccination Efforts

Workers at several agencies are assisting in the initiative.

Emerging Tech

DARPA, In-Q-Tel to Help 150 Research Teams Take Tech from Labs to Production Over the Next Five Years

The expansion of the Embedded Entrepreneurship Initiative also marks its transition to a formalized program. 

Modernization

CIOs’ Wishlist for New Congress and Administration IT Leadership

Three department IT leaders share their top asks from the new Congress and yet-to-be-appointed federal CIO.

Cybersecurity

Lawmaker SolarWinds Concerns Spill Over in Week of Defense Hearings

In multiple hearings, lawmakers sought solutions to pressing technology-based security issues.

Ideas

COVID-19 Revealed How Sick the U.S. Health Care Delivery System Really Is

In reality, the U.S. health care sector is not a system at all.

Policy

Lawmaker to Reintroduce Net Neutrality Legislation Within Weeks

Supporters say giving the Federal Communications Commission greater authority over internet service providers is more important in the wake of the pandemic. 

Modernization

Remote Work and Hack Mitigation Show Need for IT Modernization Funding, Lawmaker Says

Rep. Ro Khanna detailed efforts to ensure agencies have resources for legally mandated updates.

Cybersecurity

FBI Director Says Extremists Flocking to Encrypted Apps Poses New Challenges

Christopher Wray told lawmakers tech companies are the ones making policies about encryption.

Digital Government

Cybersecurity and IT Remain Top Concerns on GAO’s High-Risk List

Agencies showed some slight progress on IT issues, though cybersecurity took a step backward in the latest report.

Emerging Tech

Police Departments Experiment With 70-Pound Robot Dog

Departments have deployed the cyber K-9s in hostage situations and as part of the covid response. Proponents say the robots can help keep officers out of harm's way, while critics worry how they could be used without clear policy guidelines in place.

Ideas

Huge Number of COVID Infections Are from People with No Symptoms

Researchers also found that non-symptomatic cases substantially contribute to community transmission.

Artificial Intelligence

U.S. Unprepared for AI Competition with China, Commission Finds

Retaining any edge will take White House leadership and a substantial investment, according to the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.

Modernization

Draft Senate COVID Relief Bill Includes $1B for Technology Modernization Fund

The fund gets a second chance at a boost after a $9 billion proposal didn’t make it to the House-passed bill.