Digital Government
Will Electric Co-ops Close the Digital Divide?
The Federal Communications Commission seems to think they’re part of the solution.
Modernization
Next Agency to Host GSA Centers of Excellence Will Be Announced by October, Departing TTS Director Says
Outgoing Technology Transformation Service Director Joanne Collins Smee shares the strengths of her organization, what’s next for Agriculture’s Centers of Excellence and when the effort will jump to a new agency.
Digital Government
USDA Wants One Hub to Connect Agency Leaders to Every Employee
The agency wants to pull disparate intranets together and allow two-way communications with employees.
Modernization
GSA: Phase II Centers of Excellence Bids Will Begin in July
Officials from the General Services Administration and Agriculture Department met with industry about the next phase of IT modernization efforts.
Emerging Tech
The U.S. FDA Says It’s Taking the Lead on the Regulation of Cell-Cultured Meat
A different kind of meat could get a different kind of regulation.
Modernization
First Modernization Fund Winners Offer Cheat Sheet for Future Pitches
The first three awardees of the Technology Modernization Fund offer a window into the kinds of projects and pitches the board is looking for.
Policy
Lawmaker Threatens USDA Officials with 'Legislative Metrics' to Preserve Telework
Rep. Gerry Connolly calls Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s recent rollback of telework at the agency “retrograde.”
Cybersecurity
Planned Food Stamp Recipients Database Sparks Hacking Fears
Critics say the database is unnecessarily expansive and would be a major draw for hackers.
Digital Government
Survey: Nearly 30 Percent of Feds Report Greater Resistance to Telework
Nearly half of employees who underwent a change in telework policy said the new rules don’t fit their needs.
Modernization
Centers of Excellence Are A 'Cultural Intervention' For USDA, Says CIO
The department shows a renewed energy and shift in strategic thinking even in the first phase of the program, Agriculture CIO Gary Washington said.
Digital Government
USDA to Block Social Media Following IG Report Showing an Uptick in Porn Watching
Employees will be barred from visiting 400 websites "not related to official department communications or business," starting Wednesday.
Modernization
Here’s How Agriculture Plans to Overhaul Its Tech
The department will cut data centers down from 39 to two—and that’s just the start, according to CIO Gary Washington.
Emerging Tech
Farmers to Congress: We Need Broadband, Too
Agriculture and energy companies in rural areas want to find efficiencies with internet of things devices, but lack of high-speed access is a problem
Modernization
USDA Mobile App 'Reaffirms' Trump Ethics Standards
The app gives employees easy access to federal ethics guidelines.
Modernization
A Farmer-Focused Agency Wants to Ditch Data Centers Completely
"Farmers don’t care that I run a data center," an Agriculture Department chief information officer said.
Digital Government
Some Agencies Spend More Than 90% of IT Budgets on Legacy Systems, Report Finds
Some agencies are spending even more on legacy IT than you think.
Emerging Tech
Q&A: The Nanotech Future of the American Farm
USDA's nanotech team thinks small sensors could help farmers grow more with less.
Emerging Tech
USDA Teams Up with Microsoft on Food Data Challenge
The newly launched Innovation Challenge aims to inspire the public to create tech tools for analyzing food supply data.
Cybersecurity