Digital Government
Interior announces digital park passes alongside new, ‘America-first’ fee structure
Congress instructed the government to roll out digital park passes by January 2026 in a law signed by former President Joe Biden just before he left office.
Exclusive
People
The Interior Department is taking steps to implement layoffs
After a series of delays, DOI is preparing RIF lists as it looks to implement significant personnel cuts in the coming weeks.
Cybersecurity
Zero trust requires workforce buy-in, federal officials say
The Interior Department’s acting CISO, Louis Eichenbaum, said it’s important for agencies’ workforces to understand “the concepts of zero trust and how you incorporate it into your daily activities.”
People
DOGE and other day 1 Trump appointees head for the exits at multiple agencies
The Interior Department and General Services Administration are seeing significant turnover in the leadership ranks.
Exclusive
People
Thousands of layoffs to hit Interior, National Parks imminently
Employees fear diminished capacity after RIFs are tacked on to existing mass exodus.
People
SpaceX alum tapped as Interior CIO
Interior is the latest federal agency to undergo leadership turnover in its technology shop since Trump took office in January.
People
Interior fires senior leaders after fight over DOGE access to key payroll system
Several officials in the department’s CIO shop who were not fired are taking the latest deferred resignation offer, meaning that the office is nearly cleared out, with only two of nine leadership roles permanently filled.
People
Trump says he’ll move thousands of federal workers out of Washington. Here’s what happened the first time he tried
The Bureau of Land Management’s headquarters moved from the capital to Colorado in 2020, causing an exodus of leadership. If elected, Trump plans to use the same tactic across more of the federal government.
Digital Government
Digital park passes could become reality under a new legislative proposal
The new, bipartisan recreation-focused package is aimed at cutting red tape around national parks and public land, its backers say.
Cybersecurity
Interior faces 'disturbing' cyber risks due to cracked passwords and vulnerable assets
Recent reports reveal the Department of Interior is not enforcing multifactor authentication for its high-value assets and has a range of other significant cybersecurity risks.
Emerging Tech
Interior Wants a Fleet of Drones ‘On Call’ to Help With Wildfires, Other Emergencies
The department is awarding multiple spots on a $7.2 million contract for unmanned aerial systems-as-a-service.
Cybersecurity
Interior’s Cyber Practices Allow for Easily Crackable Passwords, Watchdog Finds
An OIG investigation found that the Interior Department has not fully implemented multifactor authentication and that its “outdated and ineffective” password requirements leave employees’ accounts vulnerable to exploitation.
Digital Government
Fish and Wildlife Service Contract Aims to Help Show Impact of Grants
The contractor will help develop the agency’s internal system and use artificial intelligence to aggregate data.
Cybersecurity
Offshore Drilling Operations Vulnerable to Cyberattacks, Watchdog Warns
The Government Accountability Office made a new case for improving the cybersecurity safeguards within offshore drilling and natural gas facilities.
Policy
Interior’s Body Camera Policy is not Finalized Despite Years of Use, Watchdog Says
Not all Department of Interior bureaus using body cameras have finalized and implemented their policies, which often were not in compliance with the agency’s overall policy or standards.
Emerging Tech
New Computer Vision Model Tackles Improved Wildfire Prevention
The model uses satellite imagery to identify areas at risk of wildfires before they actually happen.
Cybersecurity
Interior’s Cyber Threat Detection and Defenses are Sufficient, OIG Finds
According to the inspector general’s memorandum, the Department of the Interior detected simulated malicious attacks and responded properly, making improvements from 2015 and 2018 evaluations.
Modernization
Interior Issues Draft Cloud RFP Valued at up to $1B
The Interior Department’s next cloud contract appears to be a big one.
Digital Government
Better Data Would Help Federal Response to Missing Indigenous Women, Watchdog Says
The Government Accountability Office recommends improving database access and management, as well as better communication, to help resolve cases of missing and murdered Native American and Alaskan women.
Digital Government