Cybersecurity

Senate Report Highlights Lack of Government Data on Ransomware Payments

A new report details the role cryptocurrencies play in incentivizing ransomware attacks and the government’s response.

Digital Government

Senior GOP Senator Asked Watchdog to Report After ‘Whistleblower’ Action at IRS

The request of the watchdog agency followed the release of confidential information leading to a detailed news report of how the mega rich avoid paying taxes.

Cybersecurity

Legislation Promoting Cyber Collaboration Between DHS and States Awaits Biden Signature

The legislation would improve information sharing between federal cybersecurity authorities and state and local governments.

Artificial Intelligence

Defense Officials Review AI Initiatives Within New Office

A House committee hearing questioned defense officials about the agency's new AI officer role and the ethics underpinning emerging tech.

Cybersecurity

Agencies Showcase Federal Cyber Progress, Outline Future Threats

Witnesses from CISA, NIST, and the GSA spoke before a House Homeland subcommittee on their current efforts to bolster the nation’s cyber defenses.

Emerging Tech

What We Learned from Congress’ First Open UFO Hearing in 50 Years

A House hearing Tuesday discussed everything from extraterrestrials to advanced technology potentially developed by other nations.

Modernization

Technology-Focused Bills Advance Through Senate, House Committees

A bevy of pending legislation aimed at technological modernization moved through Congressional chambers on Wednesday with broad bipartisan backing.

Modernization

Army Advocates More Funding for Modernization in Tech, Data and Weaponry

Officials testified before a Senate committee to ask for federal funding specifically to modernize and keep up with opponents like Russia and China.

Policy

U.S. Spy Chief Reiterates ‘Overclassification’ Concerns

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines testified Tuesday before the Senate.

Artificial Intelligence

Senate Bill to Train Acquisition Workforce on AI gets House Counterpart

The AI Training Act, which passed the Senate last December now has a House companion from Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and James Comer (R-Ky.).

Modernization

House Legislation Aims to Support U.S.-Made Circuit Boards

New bipartisan legislation falls in line with other bills aimed at promoting U.S. manufacturing of printed circuit boards and other critical electronic input materials.

Policy

Senator Calls on Biden to Fill OSTP Leadership Role

The Biden Administration has not put forth a nominee for the Cabinet level position.

Emerging Tech

Bill Wants More Federal R&D In Blockchain Ledger Technology

The National R&D Strategy for Distributed Ledger Technology Act, introduced Tuesday, aims to allocate government resources to help the U.S. establish leadership with distributed ledger technologies.

Digital Government

FBI Ran Over 3 Million Searches on Americans' Electronic Data

Using data harvested by Section 702, the FBI published an approximation of how many searches it ran on Americans’ data for the first time.

Modernization

GPO Says Improved Bill Processing Hinges On New Tech, Gov’t Employee Enthusiasm

Government Publishing Office Director Hugh Halpern testified during a hearing on modernizing the legislative process and highlighted his office’s plans to streamline the production of bills.

Modernization

Lawmakers Quiz VA, Cerner Staff on Major EHR Problems

A House Veterans’ Affairs hearing examined why the agency’s EHR rollout continues to struggle, with lawmakers demanding Cerner address safety issues.

Emerging Tech

Lawmaker Argues for Quantum-Level Security in a Pre-Quantum World

New legislation advocates safeguarding U.S. online networks with quantum-resistant encryption as a preemptive cybersecurity measure.