Policy
House Science Committee Ponders Ways to Strengthen U.S. Semiconductor Industry
The United States has lost significant ground manufacturing semiconductors in recent years.
Modernization
Energy Department Awards Verizon $34.6M to Modernize its Communications Services
Two new Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions task orders will underpin the work.
Digital Government
Biden Selects Former Air Force Executive to Lead Pentagon Acquisitions
The latest nomination for DOD’s undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment comes almost a year into the role’s vacancy.
Digital Government
Biden Administration Delays Vaccine Mandate Penalties Until 2022
OMB and OPM officials said agencies should extend the counseling portion of enforcement of President Biden’s vaccine mandate through the end of the year, citing recent progress in the federal workforce’s vaccination rate.
Artificial Intelligence
NIST Asks for Input on Emerging Tech Trends and Risks for Congressional Study
Topics of interest include artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum computing, autonomous delivery technologies—and more
Digital Government
Labor Dept Issues Final Rule Requiring Federal Contractors to Pay $15 Minimum Wage
The ruling is expected to impact 327,300 workers.
Digital Government
Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Oracle to Bid on Pentagon’s Next Multibillion-Dollar Cloud Contract
The department expanded the pool of bidders for its much-anticipated JEDI replacement.
Digital Government
Bid Protests Decrease for Third Straight Year
Industry filed 12% fewer protests in fiscal 2021 than fiscal 2020, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Cybersecurity
Report: 20% of Defense Contractors at Risk for Ransomware Attack
The report measured the cybersecurity protocols undertaken by top defense contractors.
Artificial Intelligence
DIU Issues Step-by-Step Guide for Defense Stakeholders to ‘Responsibly’ Use AI
The framework is meant to promote transparency and accelerate the Pentagon’s adoption of trustworthy commercial technologies.
Cybersecurity
CISA Launches Government Cybersecurity Incident and Vulnerability Response Playbooks
The playbook stems from an executive order issued in May.
Ideas
Working to Secure the Technology Supply Chain
From security-first design to safe device disposition, an industrywide initiative called Compute Lifecycle Assurance is making technology more secure for all users.
Policy
Tech Association Pushes Long-Term Approach to Semiconductor Shortage
The group issued several recommendations as part of a Commerce Department request for comment.
Digital Government
Federal Contractor COVID-19 Vaccine Deadline Pushed Back to January
The deadline aligns with the Biden administration’s other new vaccine mandates, but is more than six weeks after federal employees are required to receive their shots.
Modernization
Building a Cloud-Savvy Workforce May Mean Rethinking Degree Requirements
Government and industry officials question how they can keep cloud positions filled when they require various degrees and certifications.
Emerging Tech
Lockheed Martin and Verizon to Partner to Develop 5G Tech for the Military
The companies recently connected a military communications network to a commercial 5G network.
Digital Government
Eleven States Challenge Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandate
The Justice Department and EEOC “have already determined that COVID vaccines can be mandated by employers,” said an OMB spokesperson.
Cybersecurity
Senate Committee Chair: ‘Ransomware Has Changed the Equation’
The recent attacks on food and gas supply chains shifted how Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Gary Peters prioritizes cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity