People
Senate defense committee delays NDAA markup
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chairman for the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced that the committee would delay marking up the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act due to "uncertainty" in White House budget delivery.
Modernization
$2.1 billion in UI modernization comes with oversight
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh told a panel of House Appropriators that the agency's planned $2.1 billion investment in state unemployment systems needs oversight and monitoring, and metrics for measuring success.
Digital Government
Biden Nominee for Pentagon Weapons Buyer Under Investigation
Inspector General complaint alleges DIU Director Michael Brown’s agency used federal hiring tools to hire friends, but office says it’s competing for talent.
Modernization
Court will hear case against Trump on JEDI
The U.S. Court of Federal Claims denied a motion from the U.S. government to dismiss a complaint from Amazon Web Services alleging undue influence on the award of the $10 billion, 10-year cloud program JEDI to Microsoft.
Digital Government
Former CIO urges lawmakers to relax TMF paybacks
The $1 billion boost to the Technology Modernization Fund can help agencies, but some changes to strict payback rules will help CIO shops get started on much-needed modernization.
Digital Government
Treasury IG Details IRS’ COVID-19-Related Customer Experience Issues
Millions of taxpayers have had a hard time reaching the IRS during the pandemic.
Digital Government
Audit Finds Inconsistencies in How DOD Buys through Consortia
The Defense Department Office of Inspector General unveiled problems with other transaction agreements including tracking, security, fee negotiation and training.
Acquisition
Consortium OTAs suffer from lack of guidance, data, IG finds
The Defense Department's internal watchdog found a lack of data on other transaction awards made through consortiums.
Modernization
HASC chair calls for new incentives to reduce defense costs
Divesting of legacy systems to make way for new technologies is expensive and at the heart of the Defense Department's budget debate. But could new incentives for contractors make a difference?
Modernization
Commerce Watchdog Issues Alert on Major IT Modernization Project
In a management alert, the agency inspector general warned a 20-year, $341 million project is too focused on new technology instead of fixing business processes.
Modernization
Special Report: The Evolution of the FITARA Scorecard
An in-depth look at an important oversight tool Congress uses to track agencies’ modernization efforts.
Digital Government
House Dems back bill to put guardrails around IGs
The proposal would limit the power of the president to remove inspectors general to for cause reasons and outline exactly who can serve as an acting IG.
Modernization
Connolly, Hice Announce Bill to Improve Performance Planning at FITARA Hearing
The Performance Enhancement Reform Act would require greater collaboration among agency officials and more detailed descriptions of resources required to meet goals.
Cybersecurity
Pentagon Not Compromised by SolarWinds, Microsoft Exchange Hacks, Official Says
The official urged continued patching of on-premises Microsoft Exchange servers.
Cybersecurity
Senators seek details on Einstein's performance and limitations
Ahead of its scheduled reauthorization next year, two senators are seeking detailed information about Einstein, a government cybersecurity program that has come into the spotlight in the wake of the breach involving SolarWinds.
Modernization
DOD Workforce Wants to Keep Telework Going Despite Early Hiccups
A Defense Department Inspector General report surveyed more than 56,000 employees about telework during the pandemic.
Digital Government
Google wins decade-old software case against Oracle
The Supreme Court ruled that Google was within its rights to copy and repurpose 11,500 lines of Java software code in the Android mobile operating system.
Digital Government
IRS Employees on Paid Leave During Pandemic Has Dropped by 87% From Peak of 35,000
More than 3,400 IRS employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
Cybersecurity
DOE Watchdog Detailed Its Cybersecurity State Amid SolarWinds Hack
The department continues to struggle with many of the issues the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency identified after widespread intrusions into the public and private sector.
Cybersecurity