Cybersecurity
GAO: DOD weapons systems easy to hack
The Department of Defense is playing catch up when it comes to securing weapons systems from cyberattacks, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office.
Acquisition
Court starts clearing out protests against Alliant 2 Small Business
The battle over the General Services Administration's $15 billion Alliant 2 Small Business contract for IT products and services continues to be tied up in court, but so far GSA is on a winning streak.
Digital Government
GAO: $15.6 billion census cost estimate not reliable
The Census Bureau bumped its lifecycle cost estimate for the 2020 count up to $15.6 billion last year -- more than $3 billion more than initially projected. But the GAO is, again, taking issue with the reliability of the estimate.
Modernization
Debate heats up around $10B cloud deal as protests expand
Concerns around the Defense Department’s management of services for the pending Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure bubble up as award protests mount.
Cybersecurity
Federal agencies reacted unevenly to Equifax breach
The federal government's central cyber incident response agency played a minor role in the wake of the Equifax breach, while agencies wondered who was in charge.
People
GAO: Data-driven management is stuck in neutral
The Government Accountability Office says agencies haven't really improved on data-driven decision-making since 2013.
Digital Government
First-ever online census lags on tech issues
Plans for a first-ever online census are lagging on IT readiness, a government watchdog says, and there's still work to do securing systems and data.
Cybersecurity
The IRS can do more with its fraud detection system
A GAO audit found that the tax agency's Return Review Program has made strides in recent years that can be applied to number of other enforcement activities.
People
GAO presses OPM for better data on employee misconduct
A new report from the GAO flags multiple holes in the way OPM collects for employee misconduct. OPM thinks GAO doesn’t understand the law.
Modernization
GAO urges DOD to share data about commercial satellite programs
Centralizing data related to the Defense Department's work with commercial satellites could be one of the first tasks for a “Space Force.”
People
Agencies still lag in empowering their CIOs. What gives?
Despite legislation, other congressional pressures and a presidential executive order aimed at expanding the authorities of CIOs, most agencies still lack policies to make those requirements a reality.
People
Dave Powner audits the state of federal IT
The GAO director of information technology issues is leaving government after 16 years. On his way out the door, Dave Powner details how far govtech has come in the past two decades and flags the most critical issues he sees facing federal IT leaders.
Acquisition
GAO: NNSA needs better contract oversight
The agency responsible for the security and maintenance of the nation’s nuclear stockpile should have a better handle on its maintenance and operations contract documents, a new audit finds.
Digital Government
GAO, TIGTA call out IT shortcomings at IRS
The tax agency's acquisition processes, broader information security systems and troubled enterprise case management solution drew criticism in three separate reviews.
Digital Government
Clock ticks on census prep
As the clock ticks down to the 2020 census, lawmakers and watchdogs want to make sure the Census Bureau is on schedule to count the entire population.
Digital Government
Watchdog: Government cyber defenses lag as attacks evolve
Legacy IT systems continue to limit the overall effectiveness of other cybersecurity solutions, federal CIO Suzette Kent said at a July 25 House hearing.
People
Powner to exit GAO
After 16 years working at the Government Accountability Office, IT oversight expert Dave Powner is taking his talents to MITRE.
Cybersecurity
IRS makes infosec strides after Get Transcript breach, but challenges remain
IRS officials charged with protecting and authenticating taxpayer data are getting better at their jobs – but so are fraudsters.
People
The DATA Act compliance struggle is real
After more than a year's worth of DATA Act reporting, just six of the 24 CFO Act agencies submitted data agency watchdogs considered complete.
Cybersecurity