Digital Government
Congress Expects to Pass Another Stopgap Spending Bill to Keep Agencies Open Through Dec. 20
Lawmakers hope to pass full-year appropriations before the new deadline and avoid another holiday season shutdown.
Emerging Tech
Lawmakers Want to Ban Unauthorized Drones from Flying Over Stadium Concerts
The FAA currently only issues temporary flight restrictions during sporting events, but a bipartisan group of senators wants to protect stadium skies during all types of events.
Digital Government
House Sets Up Tight Timeline to Pass Another Shutdown-Averting Spending Bill
Lawmakers appear poised to punt a Thanksgiving shutdown threat to Christmas.
Cybersecurity
Legislation Introduced to Bolster Cyber Workforce
The bipartisan HACKED Act offers funding and resources to close the critical gaps.
Modernization
Can CBP Stand Up an Electronic Health Records System in 90 Days?
Lawmakers eager to see Customs and Border Protection digitize its health care system are pushing a bill that would give the agency three months to go from paper to electronic records.
Cybersecurity
House Committee to Hold Hearing on the Online Exploitation of Veterans
A veteran, a scientist and representatives from Facebook and Twitter are all set to testify.
Emerging Tech
Despite Federal Efforts, 5.5 Billion Robocalls Targeted Americans in October
Robocallers just keep on robo-calling.
Digital Government
Senate Lawmakers Want to Pop Social Media Filter Bubbles
A newly proposed bill would require large social media companies to give users the chance to opt out of algorithmically curated content.
Modernization
Pentagon Tech Chief Defends Integrity of JEDI Award
The White House had no sway over the $10 billion JEDI cloud computing contract that the Defense Department awarded Microsoft, according to Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy.
Emerging Tech
Aviation Safety Bill Targets Challenges Posed by Flight Automation
It comes on the heels of two tragic commercial aircraft crashes that killed 346 in the last year.
Digital Government
Republican Senators Introduce Bill to Relocate Major Federal Agencies Outside of D.C.
Ninety-percent of positions in 10 departments would be moved to economically distressed areas.
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmakers, Think Tank To Develop Bipartisan National AI Strategy
Two representatives are teaming up with the Bipartisan Policy Center to work on a national framework for AI development and deployment.
Cybersecurity
Senators Push FTC to Investigate Amazon’s Role in Capital One Hack
The bank was renting servers from the tech company, which were exploited in the attack.
Policy
White House Threatens to Veto House-Passed Election Security Bill
The SHIELD Act would require political campaigns to report offers of campaign assistance from foreign powers to the FBI.
Emerging Tech
Silicon Valley Rep Calls For Task Force, Legislation on Government Use of Biometrics
Rep. Ro Khanna said Congress should dictate exactly how federal agencies use technologies like facial recognition. But first, the legislative body needs to get properly educated.
Cybersecurity
Silicon Valley Lawmaker Proposes Cyber Training for Every Federal Employee
Rep. Ro Khanna plans to introduce a bill that would require feds to learn basic cyber hygiene, including how to securely navigate the internet of things.
Policy
Privacy Bill Could Put Dishonest Tech Execs Behind Bars
The Mind Your Own Business Act would expand FTC authorities and introduce comprehensive new protections for consumers’ personal data.
Emerging Tech
House Committee Votes to Increase Funding for Energy’s DARPA by $2.9B
The House Science, Space and Technology Committee moved a bill to reauthorize ARPA-E with additional funding, as well as new restrictions and oversight.
Digital Government
Federal Employees Lose a Powerful Advocate With Death of Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings
The Oversight and Reform chairman was a “fierce advocate for the public interest,” one observer says.
Cybersecurity