Cybersecurity
Senate Homeland panel likely to approve Cairncross, Plankey for key cyber positions
Sean Plankey, tapped to lead CISA, did not appear at a Thursday hearing due to reported clearance-related delays, but his name was still added to a list of nominees to be voted on next week.
Acquisition
DHS scraps $2.4B cyber contract amid reorganization
The Homeland Security Department terminates the award to Leidos after a year-long protest battle, but for reasons unrelated to the dispute.
Emerging Tech
Senators privately advocated to save DHS Centers of Excellence
Lawmakers representing Alaska and Nebraska held private conversations with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to pause funding terminations for their states’ Centers of Excellence.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers seek DHS records in probe of US response to Chinese cyber campaigns
The House Homeland Security Committee wants DHS to provide internal documents on China’s Volt and Salt Typhoon hacking units, according to a letter being sent Monday.
People
DHS IG committed ‘substantial misconduct,’ governmental watchdog finds
Whether Joseph Cuffari is removed or not is up to President Biden.
Cybersecurity
Trump campaign allegedly hacked, blames Iran for stealing internal communications
Iranian hacking activities are aligning more with legacy Russian cyber operations, a former top CISA official said.
Artificial Intelligence
Mitigating AI risks requires global cooperation, officials say
The U.S. is looking “to try and build international consensus around a set of norms” for countries’ uses of AI, a State Department official said on Thursday.
Artificial Intelligence
DHS creates new chief of AI and unveils safety policies
The Department of Homeland Security is advancing its use of artificial intelligence technologies with new leadership and guidance.
People
GOP lawmakers tap Holman Rule to slash salaries of agency heads
If House conservatives get their way, multiple federal officials will open fiscal 2024 with $1 annual salaries.
Acquisition
Federal law enforcement training centers are shopping for enterprise IT services
The interagency organization tasked with training federal, state and local law enforcement officers is prepping for an enterprise IT support services contract that ranges from hardware and software to zero trust architecture and configuration management support.
Cybersecurity
Cracks in ICE’s access controls increase agency cyber risk, watchdog finds
This isn’t the first DHS agency to come under fire for its access control deficiencies.
CXO Briefing
CBP wants blockchain capability for its trade portal modernization
The law enforcement agency is conducting market research into distributed ledger technology that could be included in its efforts to update a trade processing portal.
Cybersecurity
NDAA amendment calls for DOD, DHS to assess cyber threats to border security
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, said his proposal “sets a plan to prevent cyber incidents by reducing the risk of future cyber vulnerabilities” in key border technologies.
Digital Government
Records agency to DHS: Look into your watchdog’s use of text messages
This comes after a hearing two weeks ago that raised concerns among some lawmakers about how the IG uses and retains records of electronic messages.
Cybersecurity
No 'systemic risk' to government networks from latest breach, CISA says
The nation’s cyber defense agency confirmed it was providing assistance to several federal agencies that have been impacted in an apparent global cyberattack.
Cybersecurity
Experts call for overhaul of 'outdated' critical infrastructure cyber policy
A new report analyzes the federal government’s approach to infrastructure cybersecurity as a key strategy document is getting a rewrite.
Artificial Intelligence
AI and China are ‘defining challenges of our time,’ CISA director says
Artificial intelligence’s potential as an “extinction event” for humanity prompted CISA Director Jen Easterly to advise companies to “think about self-regulation” for product security and safety.
Cybersecurity
Agencies Warn of State-Sponsored Volt Typhoon’s Hacking Tactics
In collaboration with international and private sector partners, CISA released a new advisory warning network defenders of PRC-linked Volt Typhoon’s infiltration tactics.
Cybersecurity
Securing U.S. Intellectual Property ‘Top Priority’ for Federal Law Enforcement
The FBI and Homeland Security are emphasizing the need to digitally safeguard tech R&D in the U.S. from state-sponsored adversaries.
Cybersecurity