Oversight

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

Congress Lays Out Tech Funding in Spending Bills and Focuses on Supply Chain Threats

It's a busy week ahead for Congress.

  • By Joseph Marks

Are Federal Cyber Workers Up to Snuff? Many Agencies Don't Know.

Some still aren’t sure who counts as a cyber worker and who doesn’t.

  • By Joseph Marks

Interior IG: Nation’s Dams Safe From Hacks But Vulnerable to Insider Threats

An inspector general review exposes significant weaknesses to dam cybersecurity that have grown more serious over time.

  • By Aaron Boyd

GAO Probing FCC Claims of Denial-of-Service Attack

Critics have questioned whether the FCC’s commenting site was actually hit with a distributed denial-of-service attack or just deluged with comments opposing net neutrality repeal.

  • By Joseph Marks

GAO Rules Against Pentagon's Experimental $950 Million Cloud Deal

The Government Accountability Office recommended the Defense Department terminate a contract awarded to REAN Cloud in February.

  • By Frank Konkel and Heather Kuldell