Policy
Bill to cut software costs advances in Senate
A Senate committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve a bill designed to help agencies get a handle on software licensing with an eye to cutting costs.
Policy
Survey: 45% of Gov Employees May Walk if Agencies Reduce Remote Work Flexibility
The survey suggests more than half of government employees prefer to work for an agency that offers hybrid and remote flexibility.
Policy
US Proposes Designating Portion of Radio Spectrum for 5G in the Americas
If approved, the proposal could enable countries in the Americas to use the band to deploy 5G mobile services.
Policy
Republicans unemployment fraud bill passes House, gets Senate version
The bill’s passage in the House fell one day after the indictment of one of its cosponsors – Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) – for unemployment fraud.
Policy
Feds Could Be Fired at Any Time for Any Reason, Under a Bill That Was Just Reintroduced
The bill also would abolish the Merit Systems Protection Board and threatens to reduce former federal employees’ retirement benefits if they file “frivolous” appeals of adverse personnel actions.
Policy
Tech subcommittee chairwoman plans MGT Act rewrite
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said at a hearing that the congressionally-mandated revolving fund for tech upgrades is "a tool that needs sharpening."
Policy
Biden will veto Republican-led clawback of unemployment funding, White House says
The Office of Management and Budget says that the president would veto a Republican proposal to rescind American Rescue Plan Act funding for unemployment if passed by Congress.
Policy
New bill would add disclosure requirements for AI in political ads
A new bill from Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) comes shortly after the Republican National Committee released a new ad using generative artificial intelligence.
Policy
DHS R&D arm to drive climate change response under new bill
The Science and Technology Directorate would take a leading role in climate change resilience research under a new bill.
Policy
VA's health record 'reset' has budget fallout
Secretary Denis McDonough told Senate appropriators on Wednesday that the "reset" of the massive electronic health record replacement project likely means tweaks to the agency's budget request.
Policy
Security a Top Priority in the Software Development Process, Report Finds
However, the government is lagging behind the private sector in using some of these tools.
Policy
House Democrats bring back customer experience bill targeting student loan, passport updates
A bill reintroduced Tuesday aims to codify parts of the White House’s 2021 executive order on making government services more user-friendly.
Policy
GOP Lawmakers Call for Congressional Ban on Members Using TikTok
A coalition of 17 House and Senate GOP lawmakers called for an amendment to both chambers’ rules to bar members of Congress from using TikTok for official purposes.
Policy
21-Year-Old Air Force IT Specialist Charged With Leaking Classified Security Documents
A team of Justice and FBI agents arrested 21-year-old Jack Teixeira in Massachusetts in connection with the widespread intel leak.
Policy
The Biden Administration Tells Agencies to Scale Back Telework
Federal employee unions and career agency HR leaders reportedly were left out of the development of a new Office of Management and Budget memo that instructs agencies to “substantially increase meaningful in-person work at federal offices.”
Digital Government
FDA Starts Work on New Data and Technology Strategic Plan
The agency intends to finalize the plan by the end of September.
Emerging Tech
Senator Calls for Cybersecurity Audit of Law Enforcement Wireless Network
FirstNet is a cellular network built for first responders around the country, but at least one federal official told the senator’s office they had “no confidence” in the network’s security.
Policy
Proposed HIPAA Rule Would Restrict Law Enforcement Access to Abortion, Reproductive Health Data Across State Lines
The HHS published a proposed modification to HIPAA’s privacy rule, giving new protections to personal health information related to reproductive care history in the wake of Dobbs and the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Emerging Tech
FCC Officially Launches Its Space Bureau
The agency launched the Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs after reorganizing its International Bureau.
Policy