Digital Government
Agencies Are Making ‘Uneven’ Progress Meeting Evidence Act Mandates, GAO Says
Many federal managers reported having the necessary staff, skills and tools to collect and analyze performance data, but the results varied widely across government.
Modernization
One A, One D in a Relatively Static FITARA Scorecard
Eighteen of 24 agencies received the same grade as in the previous FITARA scorecard.
Cybersecurity
TSA ramps up fuel pipeline cyber strategy
At a Senate hearing, the TSA administrator updated lawmakers on the implementation of two recent cybersecurity directives issued in the wake of the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline.
Emerging Tech
Senate Banking Chair Asks CFPB How It Plans to Address Risks of Chime and Other Banking Apps
With an estimated 12 million customers, Chime is the largest in its highly competitive subcategory of financial technology companies that serve low- to moderate-income individuals.
Digital Government
EEOC Wants a Quality Check For Its Data and Automation Strategy
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s inspector general wants an independent third party to look over the agency’s Digital Process Transformation and Automation strategy.
Acquisition
VA to continue pause on Cerner deployment for six more months
At the end of calendar 2021, the Department of Veterans Affairs expects to announce a new schedule for the deployment of its $21 billion electronic health record modernization project.
Cybersecurity
CBP Cybersecurity Failures Left Travelers' Personal Info at Risk, IG Says
A new internal watchdog report finds Customs and Border Protection failed to conduct required cybersecurity activities for its Mobile Passport Control applications.
Cybersecurity
Bill Would Require Federal Agencies and Contractors to Report Cyber Intrusions Within 24 Hours
The bill leaves it up to an interagency rulemaking process to determine whether entities would be required to report incidents they’re aware of but not directly involved in.
Digital Government
DHS lacks comprehensive strategy to counter violent extremism, report says
The Department of Homeland Security is failing to assess critical external factors and has not yet implemented a data governance framework while developing strategies around terrorism prevention, a new report warns.
Modernization
Lawmakers balk at cost-overruns, transparency issues with VA's $21 billion health record program
At a Senate hearing last week, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough noted deficiencies in training including the lack of a real system available for use by clinicians in advance of the go-live date for a new, integrated health care software system.
Digital Government
GAO Issues Recommendations to White House Science and Tech Wing
This is the first time the Government Accountability Office has provided a priority recommendation letter to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Modernization
VA Secretary Outlines Structural Changes to EHR Rollout
The secretary updated Congress on three pivotal changes coming to the program, including shifting the schedule to focus on sites that are ready to handle the deployment.
Cybersecurity
Energy’s Cyber Response Office Misspent Millions Due to Lack of Budget Management
Complaints alleged the relatively new CESER misspent $11.7 million, though the inspector general could only substantiate some of those claims.
Cybersecurity
Key State Department Systems ‘Require Management Attention,' IG Says
The inspector general found multiple expired authorizations to operate.
Modernization
More Underestimated Infrastructure Costs Could Raise VA EHR Price Tag $2.5B
The latest inspector general report shows more underreported infrastructure costs for the electronic health record program, prompting lawmakers to call a hearing for later this month.
Cybersecurity
VA’s Cybersecurity Still Missing Critical Zero-Trust Element, Watchdog Says
An official from the Government Accountability Office said she is encouraged by the formation of an investment review board at the department and intends to monitor it closely.
Digital Government
White House Tells Watchdog It Won’t Comply With Some Priority Suggestions to Improve Government
OMB has 153 open recommendations from GAO and a lower completion rate than the rest of government.
Digital Government
White House stresses stakeholder engagement in Evidence Act guidance
Three years after its passage, the Biden administration is now trying to provide clarity and additional recommendations for agencies still struggling to implement the Evidence-Based Policy Act.
Digital Government
Lawmakers mull federal response to state and local technology gaps
One potential fix could be for the federal government to harmonize its cybersecurity and data protection rules for state and local partners across federal agencies that interact with state systems.
Modernization