Oversight

Small Agencies Need Shared Services Providers to Step Up DATA Act Support

Large departments are assisting smaller agencies in meeting their DATA Act requirements through shared services providers. But that help isn’t always so helpful.

  • By Aaron Boyd

OIG: Beware of Fraud Ring Scamming Equipment by Posing as Federal Buyers

Their preferred way to swindle laptops, hard drives and smartphones is by fax.

  • By Brandi Vincent

IRS Still Has Dozens of Cyber Fixes to Make From Last Year

Numerous security deficiencies in the agency’s IT ecosystem could leave data on millions of taxpayers at risk, according to the Government Accountability Office.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Census Chief Assures Lawmakers IT and Cyber Risks are Under Control

But with less than a year until the 2020 count kicks off, the bureau still has little room for error, the Government Accountability Office warns.

  • By Jack Corrigan

High-Level Vacancies Are Weakening Agency Management and Oversight, Lawmaker Says

Rep. Gerry Connolly’s comments marked the release of a bipartisan report recommending ways agencies can deliver better on their missions.

  • By Courtney Bublé

NSA Isn’t Always Following Its Own Cybersecurity Policies, Watchdog Says

The NSA Inspector General found the agency has “room for improvement” in every IT security category outlined in FISMA.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Watchdog: Poor Oversight Put GSA’s $50B Telecom Transition Over Schedule, Over Budget

The agency hired contractors to help with a smooth transition but ended up spending lots of money for little movement.

  • By Aaron Boyd

CBP Approving ‘Potentially High-Risk’ People for Trusted Traveler Program 

The Homeland Security Department Inspector General found officers aren’t properly vetting applicants for the Global Entry program or checking their status at ports of entry.

  • By Jack Corrigan

National Archives Needs Better Handle on Agency Electronic Records, Says Watchdog

Challenges come from outdated technology, uncertain inventory of agencies.

  • By Charles S. Clark

Lawmakers: OMB ‘Skirting the Intent of the Law’ With New Data Center Policy

The administration’s shift in focus to optimization, rather than closures, is not what lawmakers envisioned when they passed FITARA.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Agencies Are Leaving Sensitive Data Vulnerable to Hackers, Congress Says

Amid growing threats from China, Iran and Russia, most agencies are struggling to put in place even the most basic cybersecurity measures, according to congressional researchers.

  • By Jack Corrigan

People-First Policies Will Help Close the Government’s Skills Gap

Human capital strategies should be baked into long-term strategic plans, a GAO executive said.

  • By Brandi Vincent

NASA Managers and Contractors Significantly Lowballed Space Mission Costs, Watchdog Found

Despite cost overruns and schedule delays, the space agency awarded Boeing and Lockheed Martin $200 million in performance awards, GAO noted.

  • By Charles S. Clark

The Risk Management Framework Is Dead. Long Live the RMF.

A framework is just that: a frame of reference from which to adapt according to your needs and situation.

  • By Richard P. Tracy and Gianna Price

OIG: USPS Must Better Manage Its Cyber Funds

Day-to-day expenses shouldn't count as cyber investments, the IG said.

  • By Brandi Vincent

10 Government Legacy Systems Cost Taxpayers $337 Million Every Year

Outdated tech can be costly.  

  • By Heather Kuldell

Congress Questions Leadership of VA Health Record Overhaul

Veterans Affairs officials said their upgraded health record platform will start rolling out in March, but lawmakers worry they might be jumping in too soon.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Audit: Pentagon Acquisition Reform Requires More Leadership Attention

The Government Accountability Office also flagged a lack of oversight for many of the department's mid-tier programs.

  • By Frank Konkel

Nuclear Energy Regulators Need to Bring on More Cyber Experts, Watchdog Says

Cyberattacks on nuclear power stations on the rise, and an aging workforce may soon leave the government struggling to defend plants against the latest threats.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Census’ Cybersecurity Plan is Full of Holes, Watchdog Says

The 2020 Census will be a prime target for digital adversaries, but the plans for fighting those threats are incomplete and outdated, the Government Accountability Office found.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Homeland Security Watchdog Issues Unusual Retraction of 13 FEMA Reports

Results of self-criticism to be fewer “feel-good” after-action evaluations.

  • By Charles S. Clark