People
Feds could see relief as Public Service Loan Forgiveness gets a reboot
The program, meant to wipe the student debt of eligible public servants, has rejected the vast majority of applications it's received.
Cybersecurity
DHS faces uphill climb with financial systems modernization
The agency made some awards on a long-delayed financial management modernization effort earlier this month, but years of work awaits the agency on establishing an enterprisewide system.
People
GOP lawmakers seek answers on SSA's acting leadership
Five Republicans are asking the Government Accountability Office to clarify legal limits under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of the term and authorities of the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, who was installed after President Joe Biden fired two top leaders in July.
Acquisition
DOD could face $4 billion in pandemic reimbursement payments for contractors
According to a GAO report, the Defense Department may have $4 billion in eligible reimbursements for contractors under the CARES Act.
Cybersecurity
TSA ramps up fuel pipeline cyber strategy
At a Senate hearing, the TSA administrator updated lawmakers on the implementation of two recent cybersecurity directives issued in the wake of the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline.
Modernization
Why VA's electronic health record mega-project is failing
The agency's former top technology official explains how management problems, reliance on outmoded development methodology and lack of customer buy-in are combining to sink (for now) a critical modernization project at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Digital Government
DHS lacks comprehensive strategy to counter violent extremism, report says
The Department of Homeland Security is failing to assess critical external factors and has not yet implemented a data governance framework while developing strategies around terrorism prevention, a new report warns.
Modernization
DOD may be 'overly optimistic' with IT program risks, GAO says
The Government Accountability Office found that DOD often underestimated risks to IT programs compared to its own assessments.
Cybersecurity
Tech can help, but clearance reciprocity is a policy issue
The backlog of security clearance investigations has continued to drop from a 2018 high of 725,000 to 200,000, but agencies continue to struggle with reciprocity issues.
Cybersecurity
TSA's role in pipeline security looks like a weak link to some in government and industry
Questions about whether TSA is rightly positioned to oversee cybersecurity for natural gas and oil pipelines are resurfacing in the wake of the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline.
People
Boosting student loan debt forgiveness could pay off for cyber recruiting
Almost all Defense Department personnel who have sought student loan debt forgiveness have been denied -- a trend that, if unchanged, could make it even harder to recruit and retain tech talent.
People
Dismantling the 'old boys' club' at State
Several witnesses scrutinized the State Department's placement and promotion practices when it comes to minority foreign service officers.
Modernization
VA chief looks at spend, productivity on $16B health record modernization plan
Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough told House lawmakers on Thursday that performance and joint execution were issues driving the 12-week "strategic review" of the Electronic Health Record Modernization program.
Cybersecurity
Impatient lawmakers press Biden for cyber director nominee
President Joe Biden has said cybersecurity will be a top priority for his administration, but two senior positions focused on the issue remain either vacant or held by an acting official.
Modernization
GAO warns on cyber risks to power grid
The country's electrical systems are increasingly susceptible to cyberattacks, according to government auditors, and there is uncertainty about the extent to which a localized attack might cascade through power distribution systems.
Cybersecurity
House panel advances industrial control systems bill
New legislation puts the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in the center of federal response to threats to computerized industrial systems.
Cybersecurity
Vague contract language hampers cybersecurity for weapons systems, GAO says
The Government Accountability Office found that missing or vague cybersecurity requirements in acquisitions contracts for weapons systems often led to DOD getting a system that didn't meet its security needs.
People
Human capital woes make high-risk operations worse, GAO says
Strategic human capital management has fallen by the wayside, and that is taking a toll on government operations.
Acquisition
GAO: DOD has to get a handle on future services spending
As the Defense Department looks to buy more services, it's going to need to come up with action plans to better account for spending in future years, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report.
Modernization