Congress

Senators’ Plan to Secure Open Source Software Involves Agencies Using More of It

The discovery of exploitable weaknesses in Log4j is resurfacing a 6-year-old push to save taxpayers money by calling on agencies to embrace open-source code.

  • By Mariam Baksh

House Delays Shutdown Threat by 10 Weeks After Approving Stopgap Spending Bill

The measure now heads to Biden's desk, who is expected to sign it before midnight deadline.

  • By Eric Katz

US Must Proactively Participate in International AI Standards-Setting, Officials Warn

Maintaining the country’s leadership in artificial intelligence hinges on contributions to international technology standards, as experts advocate diversity in feedback.

  • By Alexandra Kelley

FCC’s Proposed Change to Orbital Debris Rule Draws Lawmaker Worry

The leaders noted that coordination in this area is important, and the agency’s change could cause confusion.

  • By Kirsten Errick

Senate Legislation to Secure Open Source Software Relies on Transparency Initiative

Success would depend to a significant degree on whether agencies require vendors of information and communications technology to provide a software bill of materials with their products and services.

  • By Mariam Baksh

Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Safeguard Open Source Software

The Securing Open Source Software Act would task the Office of Management and Budget with issuing guidance around the secure usage of open source software and give new oversight responsibilities to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

  • By Chris Riotta

Senate Confirms New White House Science and Tech Advisor in Historic Vote

Dr. Arati Prabhakar is the first woman, immigrant or person of color to serve as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

  • By Edward Graham

Industry Objections Spur Changes to Cybersecurity Provisions in Defense Bill  

Key members of the House and Senate are altering proposals for identifying systemically important critical infrastructure and securing the software supply chain.

  • By Mariam Baksh

VA Official Has 'Deep Concerns' About Agency's EHR Deployment

But leadership at the agency pushed back against projected cost overruns and delays moving forward.

  • By Edward Graham

Federal Cyber Mandates for Water Infrastructure Are Too Costly to Implement, Experts Say

A House hearing saw expert testimony emphasizing the need for steady funding to cybersecurity programs in water utility providers—especially in rural regions. 

  • By Alexandra Kelley

Acquisition Failures at VA Lead to Congressional Calls for Enhanced Oversight

Republican leaders on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee want the VA to halt major purchases until a new binding acquisition management framework is implemented.

  • By Edward Graham

Is it Time to Add IT Workforce Ratings to the FITARA Scorecard?

A new report from ACT-IAC recommends changes to the biannual FITARA scorecard, including adding a category measuring IT workforce capabilities.

  • By Natalie Alms

Federal IT Modernization Fund’s Financial Needs Draw Lawmaker Scrutiny

Federal CIO Clare Martorana said that the government should be operating on the “most modern technology available.”

  • By Kirsten Errick

Social Media’s National Security Implications Draw Lawmaker Scrutiny

Senate Homeland Security Committee members grilled social media executives about their content moderation practices and ties to foreign adversaries.

  • By Edward Graham
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Industry Cautions on Software Security Regs in the Defense Bill

Trade groups want Congress to remove a provision in the House-passed defense policy bill mandating software bills of materials in some federal acquisition.

  • By Chris Riotta

Lawmakers Ask National Archives to Certify Whether Trump Returned All Presidential Records

A Congressional committee expressed concern that former President Donald Trump may still possess presidential records at non-secure locations.

  • By Frank Konkel

Senate Dems Call on ICE to Halt Facial Recognition and Buying from Data Brokers

Sens. Ed Markey and Ron Wyden are also pressing the immigration enforcement agency to detail their use of surveillance technologies.

  • By Natalie Alms

Federal Action is Needed to Protect Consumer Data, New Report Says

The Government Accountability Office said Congress should enact ‘comprehensive legislative changes’ to address privacy issues around the collection and use of personal data.

  • By Edward Graham

Americans Think They Know a Lot About Politics—and It’s Bad for Democracy That They’re so Often Wrong in Their Confidence

Many Americans think they know much more about politics than they really do. That overconfidence can thwart democratic politics.

  • By Ian Anson, The Conversation

Lawmakers Ask for Info on Meta’s Data Privacy Policies

Concern on Capitol Hill continues to rise about reproductive data and big tech following Roe v. Wade’s overturn.

  • By Alexandra Kelley

House Lawmaker Asks 9 Entities to Illuminate Crypto’s Security Concerns

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi issued nine letters to regulatory agencies and crypto trading platforms alike asking for future plans, emphasizing consumer protections.

  • By Alexandra Kelley