Digital Government

GAO: Better Data Collection Can Improve Homelessness Estimates

Auditors suggest the Housing and Urban Development Department can improve its homeless estimates by gathering better data at the local level.

Digital Government

National Guard Taps First Chief Data Officer

The bureau is being deliberate about drawing predictive insights from the massive amounts of data it captures.

Ideas

Modernizing Procurement Could Help Federal Agencies Increase Efficiency 

Implementing contract lifecycle management system automates procurement systems to allow for faster, simpler and more accurate procurement. 

Artificial Intelligence

Defense AI Efforts Hinge on Strong Data Environments

JAIC Director Lt. Gen. Michael Groen spoke about the department’s current efforts to implement artificial intelligence and incorporate more sophisticated software into DOD’s daily operations.

Digital Government

Better Data Would Help Federal Response to Missing Indigenous Women, Watchdog Says

The Government Accountability Office recommends improving database access and management, as well as better communication, to help resolve cases of missing and murdered Native American and Alaskan women.

Ideas

How a National Health Care Database Could Address Mission-Critical Health Data Gaps

It’s time to consider a cloud-based national health care database to make better public health decisions and prepare for any future health crises.

Digital Government

OMB Issues 11 Action Items for 2021 Data Strategy With 2 Months Left in the Year

The 2021 Action Plan focuses on finalizing and building on action items from the original 2020 Action Plan.

Policy

White House Reveals Nation’s First Gender Equity Strategy, Aiming to Close the Pay Gap and Increase Abortion Access

The Biden administration’s Gender Policy Council has released a strategy that requires each agency to figure out how to implement measures to reach key goals and makes long-awaited reforms to data collection.

Modernization

Army Gets Strategic About Going Digital

Policy reforms and technology boosts are in the pipeline, military leaders confirmed.

Digital Government

Federal Data Officers Council Seeks Input on Mission, Focus Areas 

This request “signals a maturation of the [chief data officer] position,” said a data expert. 

Digital Government

State Department Wants Data at the Core of its Strategic and Diplomatic Operations

Chief Data Officer Matthew Graviss detailed how the new guidelines came together—and data-centered work that’s already unfolding.

Digital Government

VA Officials and Lawmakers Have (Different) Issues With Push to Collect More Veteran Data

Republicans worried collection of religious, sexual and gender information would violate veterans’ privacy; agency officials said they already collect that data. 

Policy

Big Tech Under Scrutiny as White House Looks to Align Policy Approach with Europe

Lawmakers are also trying to beef up resources for domestic privacy and cybersecurity enforcement at an emboldened Federal Trade Commission.

Ideas

Data Science Education Lacks a Much-Needed Focus on Ethics

Undergraduate students need to learn the responsible use of data science as well as the nuts and bolts.

Digital Government

Education Department Updates Rules and Criminal Penalties for Accessing Agency Data

A new filing updates the department’s policies on who can access IT systems and data, as well as the fines and prison terms for unauthorized access or failing to secure data.

Digital Government

LGBTQ+ People of Color Face Greatest Risk from Spike in Hate Crimes. Why Doesn't FBI Data Include Them?

Across the nation, more hate crimes were reported in 2020 than in any year since 2008. Advocates say federal data is missing crucial context that keeps resources from those at the greatest risk.

Ideas

'Noisy' Data Can Worsen Credit Inequality

“We’re working with data that’s flawed for all sorts of historical reasons,” a researcher said.

Ideas

Data Privacy Laws in the US Protect Profit but Prevent Sharing Data for Public Good – People Want the Opposite

People produce mountains of data every day, but not all data is treated the same under the law.