Cybersecurity
Senators call for investigation of DOD’s comms following Chinese telecom breach
“DOD’s failure to secure its unclassified voice, video and text communications with end-to-end encryption technology has left it needlessly vulnerable to foreign espionage,” Sens. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., wrote to the Pentagon’s inspector general.
People
Intelligence IGs head for the exit before Trump’s return
Trump fired five inspectors general during his first administration.
Modernization
Lawmaker looks to improve SBA’s IT modernization after critical GAO review
A proposal from Rep. Nydia Velázquez would require that the Small Business Administration “establish and implement policies and procedures to govern information technology modernization projects.”
Cybersecurity
HHS has still not addressed key cyber recommendations, GAO says
The Government Accountability Office said its unaddressed cyber guidance can result “in potential adverse impact on healthcare providers and patient care.”
People
DHS IG committed ‘substantial misconduct,’ governmental watchdog finds
Whether Joseph Cuffari is removed or not is up to President Biden.
Modernization
Nearly 40% of FAA air traffic control systems need urgent updates, GAO reports
Several systems, some which aid in navigation and communications, did not have modernization efforts in place, the GAO said.
Cybersecurity
GAO to unveil findings on outdated FAA tech systems
The congressional watchdog's forthcoming report will examine legacy air traffic control systems and the agency’s modernization efforts.
Digital Government
ICE struggles to track unaccompanied minors, oversight report says
The agency lacks automated systems to chart the path of underage migrants through the immigration system.
Cybersecurity
FBI is losing track of classified and sensitive data, watchdog finds
The bureau is failing to account for electronic storage media that are marked for destruction at secure facilities.
Modernization
IRS is flying blind without plans to modernize legacy tech, watchdog says
This isn’t the first time the IRS has been called out by oversight officials for a lack of detailed technology planning.
Emerging Tech
VA launches new platform to help veterans identify and report scams
Scammers have increasingly targeted veterans and their beneficiaries, particularly after the PACT Act expanded benefits and health services for retired service members.
Digital Government
IRS program to assist poor taxpayers rarely picks up the phone
TIGTA investigators were unable to leave a message at 16 local Taxpayer Advocate Service offices because their voicemail boxes were full.
Cybersecurity
New tech, personnel will help CISA with coming rush of cyber incident reports
CISA said “an automated mechanism” could help it better process and review a coming deluge of new cyber incident reports but could not be accounted for in its current budget.
Modernization
Cost overruns, delays plague VA’s new integrated financial management system
The rollout of VA’s modernized financial management and acquisition system has been affected by delays in the department’s new electronic health record system, since “multiple deployments” depend on the EHR’s launch at medical facilities.
Cybersecurity
Several DOD IT programs still don’t have a cyber strategy, watchdog finds
Cyber strategy requirements in the Defense Department’s IT business unit date back to at least 2014. A government watchdog thinks it's time for an update.
Defense
Pentagon background-check systems at risk of hacking, GAO says
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency didn’t fully implement DOD’s cybersecurity process, a new report finds.
Cybersecurity
Decade-old cyber advice from GAO remains unimplemented, watchdog says
Reliance on legacy IT systems creates challenges for agencies looking to make use of the suggestions.
Modernization
VA still needs to shore up usability of new EHR system, GAO says
More than one-third of the government watchdog's priority open recommendations for the Department of Veterans Affairs have to do with improving oversight and management of the new electronic health record system.
Defense
Defense Digital Service directors tapped unauthorized tech without proper waivers, watchdog finds
The Pentagon’s Office of the Inspector General found that former Defense Digital Service heads had “exposed DOD information to additional cybersecurity risk and increased the risk of compromise.”
Cybersecurity