Digital Government
OTA revival hits a wall
Despite a big push from a dedicated group determined to bring back the Office of Technology Assessment, it's unclear whether many in Congress are prepared to expend political capital on the issue.
Acquisition
GAO: DOD should take a closer look at contractor ownership
Some defense contractors may be disguising their owners and it’s costing the Pentagon millions, according to a new watchdog report.
Digital Government
GAO imagines the future of oversight
In a new Innovation Lab, a vision of audit tech with big data and expanded reach begins to take shape.
People
Agencies lag on IT workforce planning, GAO says
The congressional watchdog warned that agencies are putting billions in spending at risk by not taking steps to raise skills and competencies in the IT workforce.
Cybersecurity
GAO highlights security threats to federal employees
Extremist views on public land control put federal employees at risk, and government officials have played a part, according to the chairwoman of a House subcommittee.
Digital Government
DOD pushes back on open source
The Government Accountability Office wants the Department of Defense to implement governmentwide open source software requirements, but the Pentagon's top tech official has other plans.
Digital Government
Army faces familiar workforce woes in cyber, electronic warfare units
The Government Accountability Office warned the Army's rapid integration of cyber and electronic warfare force components poses staffing and training concerns.
Modernization
$10B JEDI cloud contract on hold for SecDef review
Newly appointed Defense Secretary Mark Esper said via spokesperson that "no award will be made on the program" until he's reviewed it.
Modernization
New data center metrics to show up in FITARA scorecard
CIOs want FITARA scoring to grow as federal IT does, but not sprint ahead.
People
Auditors want VA to better track VistA costs
What is an electronic health records system? A GAO audit found VA officials are still struggling with that question when it comes to their 30-year-old legacy system.
Cybersecurity
Another year, another raft of IT security concerns for IRS
A 2018 audit found 14 new deficiencies related to information system security controls for the tax agency.
People
How shared services providers can power DATA Act reporting
Federal agencies have generally positive experiences working with shared service providers to report spending data, according to a new government watchdog study.
Digital Government
GAO again warns of risks in 2020 census
Untested innovations, implementation of IT systems and cybersecurity issues are adding risk to the decennial population count, GAO says.
Digital Government
Your personal data is too public for agencies to verify
The widespread loss and theft of data on Americans has made a once popular form of remote identity proofing obsolete, and agencies need to start looking into other options.
Digital Government
10 legacy systems in need of modernization
The Government Accountability Office selected 10 systems that have unsupported hardware and software, are using outdated languages or operating with known security vulnerabilities.
Cybersecurity
Watchdog: Current pipeline security plans weak on cybersecurity, coordination
The Transportation Security Administration's plans for coordinating pipeline security incidents aren't keeping up with rising threats in cyberspace, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Cybersecurity
Are federal facial recognition programs supported by existing law?
Some members of Congress say law enforcement agencies are relying on decades-old laws to justify use of facial recognition tech.
Modernization
Why CIOs need a seat at the top table
Think of any mission-critical challenge facing any government organization today, and technology is invariably a part of the solution.
People
VA pushes back on health record oversight bill
The Department of Veterans Affairs is opposing a Senate plan to establish an advisory board to conduct oversight of the agency's $16 billion, 10-year plan to implement a commercial electronic health record system.
Modernization