Artificial Intelligence

U.S., EU Create Council to Consider and Coordinate Tech Standards

It could be a vessel to puzzle out new regulations, according to the Commerce secretary.

Modernization

GSA’s Latest Blanket Purchase Agreement Benefits Climate Agency

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a new way to procure mission critical IT.

Digital Government

GAO: Tech, Automation Improved Decennial Census Productivity

More than half of the Americans self-responded to the decennial census using the internet in 2020.

Cybersecurity

FDA Tells NIST Securing ‘Critical Software’ Extends Beyond Devices

Two federal agencies were among those who submitted comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for shaping deliverables under a recent executive order.

Emerging Tech

DOD-NTIA Open 5G Challenge Could Lead to New Requirements

A Defense Department official said DOD’s 5G prototyping is also examining the benefits of hardware and software bills of materials to scrutinize the supply chain.

Cybersecurity

NIST Will Build on Existing Software Development Framework to Meet Executive Order

The agency also shared how it’s thinking about defining “critical software,” which is to be prioritized under the order.

Digital Government

As Space Junk Multiplies, Pentagon Is Stuck Tracking It for Civilians

Private industry is launching at a pace with which the military’s space-surveillance system can’t keep up. Now lawmakers say the Commerce Department’s fix is running late.

Cybersecurity

NIST Will Do Gap Analysis Before Creating Software Standards for Executive Order

The Government Accountability Office told lawmakers enforcement, through expanded reporting, of agencies’ supply chain security activity is “the thing that has to happen.”

Digital Government

3 Cabinet Secretaries on How Their Experiences Inform Their Leadership and Pandemic Response

Marcia Fudge, Jennifer Granholm and Gina Raimondo said they all had to staff up when they started running their agencies — but that it gave them a chance to diversify.

Artificial Intelligence

NIST Wants Help Assessing China’s Influence on Emerging Technology Standards

The agency wants insight into how the nation might engage in international standardization activities for artificial intelligence and quantum information science.

Modernization

Commerce Watchdog Issues Alert on Major IT Modernization Project

In a management alert, the agency inspector general warned a 20-year, $341 million project is too focused on new technology instead of fixing business processes.

Digital Government

Bill Would Prohibit Sale of Americans’ Personal Data to Adversarial Countries

The proposal would establish an interagency group to categorize data, then develop a list of countries banned from importing individuals’ data that could threaten national security.

Digital Government

Commerce Awards $29M in Coronavirus-Related Innovation Grants

The projects address economic, health and safety risks caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Emerging Tech

U.S. Bans Business with 7 Chinese Supercomputing Firms

The new Entity List inclusions are reportedly due, in part, to use of products in China’s military pursuits.

Policy

Jobs Plan Is Part of Competing with China, Commerce Secretary Says

Gina Raimondo said President Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure proposal will be key in out-competing China.

Emerging Tech

Lawmakers Call for Agency-Led Working Group for Digital Assets

They want the U.S. government to gain a better grasp of the rapidly emerging landscape of virtual currencies, smart contracts and other commodities.