Congress

Experts Propose Feds Use Sanctions and Cyberweapons to Fight Deepfakes

Both social media companies and the government must play a role in fighting back against hyper-realistic misinformation, experts told the House Intelligence Committee.

  • By Jack Corrigan

The ‘Platform’ Excuse Is Dying

For years, tech companies have relied on a rhetorical sleight of hand. It’s not working anymore.

  • By Alexis Madrigal, The Atlantic

House Appropriations Package Now Includes Contractor Back Pay

There is still a chance federal contractors unpaid during the 35-day shutdown could get back pay.

  • By Frank Konkel

House Oversight Votes to Secure Connected Devices in Government

The committee approved legislation that would enforce basic security standards for the numerous internet-connected devices used at federal agencies.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Congress Questions Leadership of VA Health Record Overhaul

Veterans Affairs officials said their upgraded health record platform will start rolling out in March, but lawmakers worry they might be jumping in too soon.

  • By Jack Corrigan

House Panel Approves 3.1% Pay Raise for Feds in 2020

The bill advanced by the House Appropriations Committee to the House floor Tuesday also would increase funding for a number of civilian agencies.

  • By Erich Wagner

Senators Want to Know If CMS Paid China-Linked Companies for Genetic Testing

Sens. Marco Rubio and Chuck Grassley want more information on how the agency is protecting Americans’ genomic data from foreign entities.

  • By Brandi Vincent

DHS Cyber Incident Response Team Gets House Approval

Lawmakers passed legislation that would stand up a permanent team of cyber specialists to help agency and industry recover from digital attacks.

  • By Jack Corrigan

‘Space Force’ Shrinks in House Proposal

A bipartisan amendment would trim several generals from the new space-focused component.

  • By Katie Bo Williams, Defense One

House Passes Revamped Bipartisan IRS Reform Bill

The Taxpayer First Act would redesign the agency and boost identity theft protection.

  • By Charles S. Clark

OMB Chief: Contractors Need More Time to Cut Ties With Huawei, ZTE

Without the extension, there could be “a dramatic reduction” in the contractors that can legally do business with the government, according to acting OMB Director Russel Vought.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Lawmakers Want Government to Help Workers Prepare for Automation

Senators introduced a bipartisan bill that would require the Labor Department to analyze the impacts of automation and prepare workers for a tech-driven job market.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Audit: Pentagon Acquisition Reform Requires More Leadership Attention

The Government Accountability Office also flagged a lack of oversight for many of the department's mid-tier programs.

  • By Frank Konkel

VA Expects 'Hiccups,' but an Otherwise Seamless Health Overhaul This Week

Some lawmakers and veterans groups are nervous about VA's implementation process for the new private care program.

  • By Eric Katz

House Panel Advances Spending Bill With 3.1% Pay Raise for Feds

The measure also would block the Trump administration’s plan to merge the Office of Personnel Management with the General Services Administration.

  • By Erich Wagner

Bill Aims to Streamline Approval for Critical 5G Infrastructure

Senators reintroduced legislation to accelerate the deployment of small cells, which help power 5G networks.

  • By Brandi Vincent

DHS Would Get At Least $2.9B for Tech, Cyber Under House Proposal

The draft spending bill would set aside funding for new technologies at the border and a couple billion for the government’s central cybersecurity agency.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Tech Modernization Fund Would Get $35M in Draft Funding Bill

The $35 million is a middle ground funding number between what the administration proposed this year and what the fund received last year.

  • By Frank Konkel

Space Force Clears Senate Committee After House Attempt to Stall

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s legislation “greatly increases the odds that we end up with some sort of a Space Force,” one expert says.

  • By Marcus Weisgerber, Defense One

Lawmakers Want to Ban Warrantless Device Searches at the Border

Sens. Ron Wyden and Rand Paul introduced a bill that would curb law enforcement’s extensive authority over personal data at the border.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Senators Propose National 5G Strategy

The bipartisan bill would also fund removing Chinese equipment from existing networks.

  • By Brandi Vincent