Digital Government
Feds move to make gov websites more accessible to people with disabilities
It’s the first time the federal government has ever issued rules clarifying how the more than 30-year-old Americans with Disabilities Act applies online. But the new rules come with a hefty price tag for state and local governments.
100,000 have used IRS Direct File to submit their tax returns
The agency has not yet determined whether the pilot program for the tool will be extended into a permanent offering.
Lawmakers to include VET-TEC renewal under broader veteran bill, per committee spokesperson
VA’s five-year tech training pilot expired April 1 after Congress failed to pass legislation to renew the program.
GSA to pilot face matching technology this summer for Login
The agency is also rolling out a new pricing model for agencies that want to use in-house single sign-on.
White House, Senate Democrats tout new $1.4B anti-fraud proposal
Among the efforts that would see funding under the sweeping proposal are a new “early warning system” for fraud in government benefits.
The Labor Department wants Congress to help to fix unemployment insurance tech, delivery
Among the asks: fund the program adequately, the Labor Department says.
Lawmakers propose extending pandemic analytics center beyond 2025 sunset
Oversight officials say that the Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence needs to survive past the looming sunset date, unlike a similar analytics center used to oversee stimulus spending that shuttered in 2015.
Help wanted: Regulators worldwide need tech expertise
As economies continue to digitize, governments say they need more technological expertise to evaluate companies and technology, as well as detect problems.
SSA needs funding to address its ‘customer service crisis,’ commissioner says
Applicants have to wait eight months on average for an initial disability decision.
NASA releases first official scientifically focused tabletop roleplaying adventure
The module’s creator wanted to build a role-playing adventure that blended traditional gaming elements with the kinds of science and education that NASA projects are well-known for having.
TMF, USDS hit with cuts in 2024 funding bill
The Technology Modernization Fund alone is slated for a $100 million clawback of American Rescue Plan Act funding under the appropriations package released Thursday.
Export control agency lacks funding and tech to manage its workload, official says
The head of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security gave lawmakers “an emphatic no” when asked if his office has the IT resources it needs to carry out its mission.
House Democrats say they’re still concerned with CBP One
The app is part of the administration’s push to encourage migrants to use legal pathways to enter the U.S.
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Biden seeks more than $500M for CX in 2025 budget
New digital service teams and a focus on the "voice of the customer" are among the customer experience funding requests in the FY2025 budget request.
Supreme Court clarifies when public officials can block citizens on social media
The Supreme Court unanimously found in a pair of cases that whether a government official can block a constituent on their personal social media account hinges on if a post is a state action or is private conduct.
Tech questions at the border
Critics say the Customs and Border Protection app CBP One is glitchy and unfair to migrants.
IRS touts launch of Direct File pilot
The pilot, which allows eligible taxpayers to file directly with the IRS for free, marks a new free option from the IRS, which has for decades relied on private companies to field free options for Americans.
US, EU recommend protections for human rights defenders online
The U.S. State Department and the European Union released an approach for protecting human rights defenders from online attacks.
New bill aims to bring SNAP card security up to credit card standards
Security standards for SNAP cards have not kept pace with industry advancements, lawmakers say.
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