Cybersecurity
IG fears risks to DHS stimulus money
The Homeland Security Department's inspector general has said DHS should work to mitigate risks that may affect its capability to prudently spend, manage and report on $2.8 billion it got in stimulus money, including hundreds of millions for technology.
Cybersecurity
US-CERT director resigns
Mischel Kwon, director of the Homeland Security Department's operational cybersecurity team that handles cyber incident detection, warning and response activities for civilian agencies’ networks, has resigned. She will join RSA in early September.
Cybersecurity
Rising Star Alma Ritter Cole
Cole led the response to the Adobe Reader JBIG2 vulnerability. His team identified and tracked multiple spear-phishing e-mail messages that attempted to exploit this vulnerability. His team also tackled other zero-day security threats — that is, flaws for which no fixes are available.
Cybersecurity
Rising Star Anthony Hoang
Hoang smoothed the way for adopting the National Information Exchange Model as a way to improve information sharing across DHS and between the department and its partners in federal, state and local governments. He also persuaded senior executives at DHS and DOD to transition the Maritime Information Exchange Model, a competitor to NIEM, into NIEM.
Cybersecurity
Auditors hit HUD, immigration services
USCIS and HUD were scolded for gaps in IT management, but USCIS hit back.
Cybersecurity
Regulators urged to lighten up on award-fee rules
Agencies asked regulators to avoid more burdensome rules and reporting requirements.
Cybersecurity
Airline crew members get fingerprint IDs
TSA has approved standards for a fingerprint identification program for pilots and other airline crew members.
Modernization
Agencies get creative to recruit acquisition workforce
Administration officials say new ideas are being tried to expand the acquisition workforce.
Cybersecurity
Hathaway's departure renews worries about cyberczar vacancy
The resignation of Melissa Hathaway, the Obama administration’s acting senior director for cyberspace, has brought renewed scrutiny on the administration's effort to secure the online world.
Cybersecurity
Agencies play by different rules on contractor award fees, says GAO
Federal agencies are not being consistent in how they distribute contractor award fees, according to a senior GAO official.
Modernization
IG, Immigration disagree on transformation steps
DHS Inspector General issued five recommendations for the USCIS IT transformation plan, but agency says two are already in place.
Modernization
Come join the homeland security review
Starting today people can go online to participate in a wide-ranging review of the Homeland Security Department designed to help shape the department over the coming years.
Cybersecurity
E-Verify could add biometrics
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has begun laying the groundwork for adding a biometric — most likely a fingerprint — to the E-Verify federal employment verification system
Cybersecurity
The great cybersecurity star search
A consortium of private and government organizations has launched a program of competitions and educational opportunities for young people to build the next-generation cybersecurity workforce.
Cybersecurity
Group opposes making contractors use E-Verify
The Professional Services Council opposes Senate legislation would require federal contractors to use the E-Verify system for new and existing employees.
Cybersecurity
The ethics of contracting: Still an open question
Experts today reacted to reports of inappropriate procurement activities at the Homeland Security Department by saying it was unclear whether such actions are common at other federal agencies.
Modernization
Committee approves bill to strip some IT requirements from Real ID
A bill that would remove costly information technology requirements from a secure identification law has been approved by a Senate committee.
Cybersecurity
DHS officials skirted procurement ethics rules, IG says
DHS officials had inappropriate communications and committed other improprieties in four procurements, according to a new report.
Cybersecurity
Spires named new CIO at DHS
Richard Spires is the Homeland Security Department's top information technology executive.
Modernization