Cybersecurity
Six States to Craft Election Security Plans Through National Academy
The National Governors Association-sponsored policy academy will help officials from Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada and Virginia devise communications and response plans to deploy if their election systems come under attack.
Cybersecurity
Nuclear Energy Regulators Need to Bring on More Cyber Experts, Watchdog Says
Cyberattacks on nuclear power stations on the rise, and an aging workforce may soon leave the government struggling to defend plants against the latest threats.
Emerging Tech
Bill Aims to Streamline Approval for Critical 5G Infrastructure
Senators reintroduced legislation to accelerate the deployment of small cells, which help power 5G networks.
Modernization
Agriculture Announces $858M to Upgrade Rural Electric Systems
The department aims to enhance electric reliability for rural communities and finance new smart grid technologies.
Emerging Tech
Report: Smart Transportation Systems Pose ‘Profound’ Privacy Risks
Governments are collecting lots of data on the people using roads, trains and buses, and without proper oversight, that information could easily be misused.
Policy
Federal Infrastructure Funding is Good, but Local Governments Want Flexibility Too
Accessing federal funds for infrastructure projects is much too difficult, county leaders say. With reauthorization of the FAST Act on the table, they want a bigger say in how money can be spent.
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers Want to Fund Cyber Upgrades for State and Local Governments
A bill introduced Monday would create a federal grant program for cash-strapped states that want to bolster their digital defenses.
Cybersecurity
DHS Invests $5.9 Million into Cyber Training Tool for Energy Sector
The project will expand a strategic decision-making and communication exercise tool developed for the finance sector to the energy sector.
Cybersecurity
Defending America’s Critical Infrastructure Will Take ‘Whole of Nation’
Strong public-private partnerships are imperative, former officials said.
Cybersecurity
How the Energy Department is Prioritizing Secure Infrastructure
The budding Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response aims to deflect cyber, manmade and natural security hazards.
Modernization
Agriculture Invests $122 Million in Rural Electric Infrastructure
More than 6,200 customers over five states will benefit and part of the funds will go to smart grid tech.
Policy
Trump Administration Releases Rural Broadband Strategy
Officials estimate that 24 million people in the United States can't get broadband internet service. Eighty percent of those people live in rural areas.
Cybersecurity
Former Official: Throwing More Bodies Into Cybersecurity Won’t Help
In fact, the focus on the cybersecurity workforce gap is leading to more insecurity and the need for more workforce, says a former FBI and intelligence official.
Ideas
A Mission Assurance Strategy Built for 2020 (and Beyond)
Our connected reality presents massive challenges to military and commercial entities working to safeguard networks from growing threats.
Cybersecurity
DHS Cyber Chief Explains Issuing Emergency Directive During Shutdown
CISA Director Chris Krebs says “an urgent response was required” despite a large swath of the government shut down due to a lapse in appropriations.
Cybersecurity
Shutdown Could Damage Homeland Security for ‘Months, if Not Years,’ Says Ex-DHS Chief
Efforts to strengthen the country’s cyber posture have come to a halt, and if a crisis were to strike, there wouldn’t be enough people to respond, former agency officials said.
Cybersecurity
Senators to WMATA: How Will You Keep Next-Gen Metro Cars Safe from Foreign Tampering?
Four D.C.-area lawmakers are asking WMATA leaders to take supply chain and cybersecurity issues into account when buying the next series of Metro cars.
Digital Government
Lawmakers Set the Stage for the Privacy Debate
Congress also took up bills to upgrade the power grid, combat Chinese tech threats and punish robocallers.
Digital Government
Lawmakers Propose Bills to Avoid Future Shutdowns, Secure the Power Grid
Congress also cleared a bill to ensure furloughed feds get back pay once the government reopens.
Ideas