Digital Government

Trump’s Intelligence-Chief Nominee Vows to ‘Speak Truth to Power’

GOP lawmakers are seeking to fasttrack Rep. John Ratcliffe’s nomination, but his careful answers did not appear to satisfy skeptics.

Cybersecurity

Defense Contractor Certification Body Says Maintenance of Companies’ Cybersecurity Posture is Within its Role

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Board plans to provide more than certification and training.

Artificial Intelligence

Sammie Finalists Highlight Outstanding Accomplishments of Federal Employees

Dr. Anthony Fauci is one of 27 career civil servants recognized in the Partnership for Public Service’s prestigious annual awards program.

Digital Government

What Feds Teleworking During the Pandemic Need to Know About Complying With the Hatch Act

Special counsel releases guidance on what counts as “on duty” while working from home, and what not to do during video conferences.

Artificial Intelligence

Senator Wants Details on Clearview AI’s Contact Tracing Pitches

Sen. Ed Markey wrote a letter to the controversial startup asking about its plans to use facial recognition technology to track patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Policy

Will COVID-19 Disrupt Election Day 2020?

"We have held elections during the Civil War and during World War I despite extreme conditions, so there isn’t any precedent for this," a professor of political science said.

Ideas

To Safely Reopen, Make the Workweek Shorter. Then Keep It Shorter.

This crisis is the ideal time to make radical changes to how we work in America.

Digital Government

More Than 10,000 Federal Employees Have Contracted COVID-19

The number of positive cases in the federal workforce has more than quadrupled since early April.

Digital Government

Former FEMA Administrator Weighs in on Coronavirus Response

Craig Fugate told lawmakers that transparency from the nation’s disaster response agency will be important as hurricane season approaches.

Cybersecurity

Citing Cyber Threats, Trump Orders Ban on Buying Energy Sector Equipment from Foreign Adversaries

Some stakeholders say Commerce Department rules to implement a similar order about telecommunications equipment from last May are “impossible” to comply with.   

Digital Government

House Lawmakers Press HHS Secretary for Details on Contact Tracing Programs

States are turning to smartphone apps and other digital tools that could compromise privacy, the lawmakers wrote. 

Policy

Lawmakers Want the Next COVID-19 Relief Package to Support Suicide Prevention

Dozens of officials want the government to establish “9-8-8” as the new “9-1-1” for mental health crises.

Digital Government

Federal Employee Union Proposes Preconditions to Returning to Government Work Sites

The American Federation of Government Employees last week called the Trump administration’s recently unveiled plans for “reopening” the federal government “premature and imprudent.”

Emerging Tech

Republican Lawmakers Propose Bill to Support Government COVID-19 Research Effort

The COVID Research Act includes several authorizations, including $50 million to the Energy Department.

Digital Government

One Year In, Administration Names First Lead Office In New Shared Services Regime

The Homeland Security Department is the first to designate a Quality Service Management Office to lead its shared services marketplace.

Artificial Intelligence

The Amazon Lockdown: How an Unforgiving Algorithm Drives Suppliers to Favor the E-Commerce Giant Over Other Retailers

At a time when much of the retail sector is collapsing, Amazon is strengthening its competitive position in ways that could outlast the pandemic — and raise antitrust concerns.

Digital Government

House Approves Creation of a Select Panel to Oversee Pandemic-Related Spending and Response

Critics have said the committee will be duplicative, but one transparency expert said that "overlapping oversight jurisdictions can be a good thing if managed correctly."