Modernization
$13.5M in new TMF awards to NARA, USDA
An award to the National Archives appears designed to reduce a pandemic-era backlog in veterans records processing.
Cybersecurity
EPA seeks funding to improve the cybersecurity of America’s water systems
The Environmental Protection Agency aims to invest $4 billion in upgrades to the nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure with a strong focus on cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity
Agencies are sharing cyber data with CISA, officials say
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is rapidly expanding its visibility into federal networks under the Biden administration's cybersecurity executive order.
Acquisition
Acquisition experts ask Congress to address decline in small business awards
Congress should work to develop new procurement vehicles and streamline compliance and security requirements to counteract category management practices and other issues causing a steep drop in the number of small businesses in the federal marketplace, experts said on Thursday.
Modernization
Library of Congress plans new cloud office
The Library of Congress made “great progress” on its strategic Information Technology investments despite being a “constant target” of major cyber threats, the agency’s Chief Information Officer told lawmakers on Thursday.
People
More than 60 Democratic lawmakers want a 5.1% raise for feds
The lawmakers asked the leadership of the House Appropriations Committee to override President Biden’s plan to offer an average 4.6% raise for federal employees in 2023.
Acquisition
Bernie Sanders wants Amazon debarred from federal contracting
The Vermont lawmaker cites the company's anti-union activity in a letter urging President Biden to eliminate the e-commerce and cloud behemoth from federal contracts.
Cybersecurity
New cybersecurity bill authorizes DHS to ramp up incident response efforts nationwide
The National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act gives the Department of Homeland Security a range of opportunities to bolster cybersecurity preparedness at the state and local level, including and technical assistance services.
Acquisition
Federal contractors could soon have to disentangle themselves completely from Russia
A top House oversight Democrat says her bill limiting contracts with companies operating in Russia during the Ukraine war would supplement existing sanctions.
Cybersecurity
New cyber bill calls for shadow IT assessment at VA
The bill tasks VA with obtaining an independent cybersecurity review of the agency's most critical systems.
Cybersecurity
FBI confirms increase in Russian cyber scanning of U.S. companies
A senior FBI official suggested potential cyber attacks were coming amid increased Russian-linked cyber scanning activities targeting major U.S. businesses and tensions with the Kremlin over its invasion of Ukraine.
Acquisition
Senators look to root out contractor conflicts of interest
A bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation they say will help prevent potential conflicts within businesses that work with the federal government after concerns were raised over McKinsey's work with the Food and Drug Administration while it was consulting with pharmaceutical firms.
Defense
Lawmakers worry about cyber risks in space
Senators questioned the commanders of Space Command and Strategic Command on their plans to handle an increase in space-based threats.
Defense
Russia’s invasion will boost 2023 defense budget, top Democrat Says
Rep. Adam Smith: Putin’s war “fundamentally altered what our national security posture” needs to be.
Digital Government
GSA’s Trump Hotel lease is under scrutiny again
Lawmakers are calling for the agency to consider terminating the lease after the Trump Organization’s accounting firm said it could no longer vouch for the company’s financial statements.
Modernization
Connolly, Issa launch IT modernization caucus
The lawmakers behind the FITARA legislation are establishing a new caucus centered around IT modernization issues.
Cybersecurity
Is there a path forward in Congress for mandatory cyber incident reporting?
A group of lawmakers is seeking legislation that would require private companies to report cyber incidents and ransomware attacks to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, despite their efforts being derailed late last year.
People
Hill proposal would give feds a 5.1% average pay raise in 2023
A bill from Democratic lawmakers would provide federal workers with a 4.1% across-the-board boost, along with an average 1% increase in locality pay.
Cybersecurity
Defense officials press lawmakers for a 2022 appropriation
Defense officials warned lawmakers that some programs and tech efforts could be delayed or eliminated if Congress fails to pass a 2022 defense spending bill soon.
Cybersecurity