Oversight

Government Gets Poor Marks Securing Students' Personal Info

The office isn’t effectively monitoring cyber protections after it shares student information, including with collection agencies.

  • By Joseph Marks

Congress Doesn’t Know Who’s in Charge of VA’s $10 Billion Health Records Overhaul

Lawmakers are trying to figure out what to do about the lack of accountability within the program’s leadership.

  • By Jack Corrigan

GAO: 'Urgent Action’ Needed to Address Nation’s Cyber Challenges

The Government Accountability Office is sounding the alarm that U.S. critical infrastructures are not as secure as they should be.

  • By Frank Konkel

Census Bureau Must Fix 3,100 Cyber Vulnerabilities Before 2020 Count

The first digital census has suffered from delays and ballooning IT costs, an auditor’s report states.

  • By Joseph Marks
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

Senator Urges a Roving Cyber Auditor

A governmentwide inspector general would have a broader view of cyber deficits than individual agency IGs, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., says.

  • By Joseph Marks

The Government’s Paperwork Problem is Undermining Public Trust

An audit suggests agencies are doing a poor job of assessing the burden their information requests place on the public.

  • By Frank Konkel
Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., questions witnesses at a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing in 2014.  Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., questions witnesses at a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing in 2014. 

Lawmakers Call for Broad Changes at VA After Report of Mar-a-Lago Members’ Influence

One top committee member launches investigation into alleged undue policy-making involvement.

  • By Erich Wagner
John Oliver speaks during the "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" panel during the HBO Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton hotel on July 25 in Beverly Hills, Calif. John Oliver speaks during the "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" panel during the HBO Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton hotel on July 25 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

FCC IG Says the Alleged Net Neutrality DDoS Attack Never Happened

An internal investigation found the agency’s commenting system was knocked offline by “system design issues” and “‘flash crowd’ activity,” not hackers.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Watchdog: Agency CIOs Still Don’t Have Mandated Authorities

A Government Accountability Office report shows few agencies have policies giving chief information officers the authorities they need to be successful.

  • By Aaron Boyd
GAO’s Information Technology Management Issues Director Dave Powner (center) arrive to testify at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the 2020 Census May 8. GAO’s Information Technology Management Issues Director Dave Powner (center) arrive to testify at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the 2020 Census May 8.

Government’s IT Watchdog on the Tech Challenges He Leaves Behind

After 16 years, the Government Accountability Office’s IT Director Dave Powner has seen federal technology improve but here’s what he hopes agencies and Congress continue to work on.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Shoddy IT is Limiting FEMA's Ability to Respond to Disasters, IG Says

Some of the outstanding recommendations go back to 2005, just after Hurricane Katrina.

  • By Jack Corrigan

NSA Hasn’t Implemented Post-Snowden Security Fixes, Audit Finds

The spy agency also fell short on numerous information security requirements, according to its first public audit overview.

  • By Joseph Marks

IRS Has A Plan to Verify Taxpayers’ IDs. Now It Needs to Do It.

The agency has a plan to improve taxpayer authentication but needs to work out details on funding and execution, according to a government watchdog.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Only One-Quarter of Agencies Publishing Timely, Accurate Spending Data, Says GAO

Eight agencies submitted financial data that was more than 75 percent wrong.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Census Bureau Fumbles a 'Foundational' Part of the 2020 Trial Run

The Census Bureau is facing more problems in the lead up to the 2020 Census.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Transferring Background Checks, Boosting Cyber Workforce Are Top Goals of Trump Government Reorg

A White House official was short on answers during a Senate hearing but said background checks and cyber workforce are a good place to start.

  • By Joseph Marks and Aaron Boyd

VA Creates Special Office to Direct $16B Health Record Overhaul

The House Veterans Affairs Committee also unveiled the lawmakers who will track the project from its new subcommittee.

  • By Jack Corrigan

There’s Even More Bad News About IRS Information Security

A board charged with overseeing the agency’s sprawling active directory networks isn’t fulfilling its basic responsibilities.

  • By Joseph Marks

Auditor Dings CFPB Complaint System for Poor Identity Management

The system is doing better on patching vulnerabilities and continuously monitoring activity for anomalies.

  • By Joseph Marks

IRS’ Rush to Secure Exposed Taxpayer Data Left It Vulnerable Again

Personal information about more than 350,000 taxpayers was compromised in 2015. Three years later, it’s still not secure.

  • By Joseph Marks