Exclusive
People
Exit interview: OMB’s CX guru Amira Boland
Amira Boland was the first to take on the role of customer experience lead at the White House, and she sees great potential even beyond her departure.
Cybersecurity
Feds saw more cyberattacks but better detection last year, FISMA report says
11 major incidents were reported by agencies in FY2023.
People
Federal CISO to leave post
Chris DeRusha has held the position of federal chief information security officer since January 2021.
Digital Government
Federal CIO defends Login security after health agency dropped it from grantee system
Clare Martorana doubled down on Login’s capabilities, saying the government “needs to continue to rely” on the tool.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
‘Relatively few’ agency policies met standards for IoT security, OMB reports
Early last year, the White House office ran a sweeping assessment on agency IoT device security policies. Most fell short on aligning with NIST guidance, according to a letter sent to Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.
Digital Government
OMB wants public input on privacy impact assessments
A forthcoming request for information includes questions about how agencies procure data about Americans from commercial sources.
People
Uncle Sam wants you to help train government HR to hire tech talent
Several agencies are hosting a challenge with prize money meant to spur innovation in how the government hires techies.
Modernization
GSA, OMB lag on FedRAMP improvements, GAO finds
The congressional watchdog wants agencies to streamline the cloud approval process.
Policy
OMB head 'not optimistic' about avoiding a government shutdown
Congress is back next week with a short clock to pass a 2024 budget or extend the existing stopgap measures funding the government.
Digital Government
OMB releases ‘broad’ accessibility guidance for government tech
This is the first new guidance on Section 508 in a decade.
Artificial Intelligence
Agencies have over 1,200 AI uses planned or in operation, watchdog finds
The massive GAO report found that some agencies — like NASA and the Department of Commerce — have made major investments in artificial intelligence, while others struggled to meet federal requirements.
Digital Government
OMB adds metrics to digital experience oversight
The Office of Management and Budget is piloting new digital experience indicators based on recently released guidance for the 21st Century IDEA Act.
Cybersecurity
20 federal agencies miss deadline for implementing cyber incident tracking requirements, watchdog says
The Government Accountability Office found that just three federal agencies were in compliance with the Office of Management and Budget’s advanced cyber event logging requirements.
Cybersecurity
OMB takes aim at internet of things cybersecurity
The Office of Management and Budget’s recent FISMA guidance notes the importance of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s ability to scan agencies for vulnerabilities on an ongoing basis.
Digital Government
OMB previews tech accessibility guidance
Federal Chief Information Officer Clare Martorana said coming guidance will focus both on external- and internal-facing government tech.
People
Former officials sound off on the challenges of managing through a shutdown
“The big thing that happens..is lots of lawyers weighing in on what activities are actually exempt," one former official said.
Modernization
The White House is developing a 10-year modernization plan to replace legacy IT
The National Cybersecurity Strategy tasks the Office of Management and Budget with creating a plan to eliminate all vulnerable legacy systems from federal agencies within a decade.
Cybersecurity
Industry calls for clarity after White House extends software security form deadline
Software vendors praised a decision from the Office of Management and Budget to extend a deadline for agencies to collect self-attestation forms, though questions remain about what comes next.
Digital Government
Can a chief data officer reignite federal data strategy?
Tech think tank ITIF wants the White House to revive the Trump-era Federal Data Strategy, which it says has “stalled” with a lack of leadership support.
Artificial Intelligence