Digital Government
IG: ‘Tens of Billions’ in Fraudulent Unemployment Claims in 2020
A Labor Department Inspector General memo suggests a massive uptick in fraudulent unemployment claims brought on by COVID-19.
People
Flat defense budget, cost-savings push seems likely for 2022
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the chairman for the Senate Armed Services Committee, said military services should look for cost-savings and where reinvestments can be made.
Cybersecurity
CIA nominee: Cyber threats are 'ever greater risk' for U.S. society
William Burns, the president's nominee to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, said the SolarWinds attack was a "harsh wake-up call" about the country’s vulnerabilities in both critical infrastructure and supply chains.
Digital Government
Billions went to fraudulent unemployment claims in 2020, IG memo reports
Fraudulent unemployment benefit claims since March could end up costing tens of billions of dollars, the memo says.
Digital Government
Democratic Lawmakers Call Out TV Companies Over Misinformation Spread
The pair asked cable, satellite and streaming TV companies about conspiracy-related content ahead of a Feb. 24 hearing.
Acquisition
GAO: DOD has to get a handle on future services spending
As the Defense Department looks to buy more services, it's going to need to come up with action plans to better account for spending in future years, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report.
Cybersecurity
GSA Could Be Vulnerable to Security Threats From ‘Trusted Insiders’
Watchdog finds gaps in a program meant to protect personnel, facilities, operations and resources.
People
Lawmakers press OPM, CDC for vaccine allocations for federal employees
A group of Capital region Democrats want the Office of Personnel Management and the Centers for Disease Control to make the inoculation of federal employees a federal process.
Cybersecurity
CISA eyes changes to combat future supply chain hacks
The acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency today said his agency is looking various changes to protect federal networks in the wake of the massive breach discovered late last year.
Cybersecurity
Warner seeks answers from FBI, EPA on Florida water utility breach
The top lawmaker on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today sent a letter to the agencies asking for a clearer picture of how hackers attempted to poison a Florida community's water supply and what is being done to prevent a future attack.
Digital Government
Consumer Product Safety Commission Employees Want to Telework at Least Twice Per Week Post-Pandemic
Commission staff and leadership report higher productivity during mass telework and more benefits than drawbacks.
Modernization
Pentagon watchdog flags cyber issues in DEOS, JRSS
The Defense Department's testing and evaluation body has serious cybersecurity concerns when it comes to using commercial cloud offerings and the embattled Joint Regional Security Stacks effort.
Cybersecurity
DOD IG audit cites five programs for updating cyber requirements
The Pentagon's watchdog says the five weapons programs it audited have been updating cybersecurity requirements to defend against identified threats.
Modernization
GAO Recommends VA Pause EHR Deployment to Resolve Issues
The Veterans Affairs Department told auditors it will move on with deployments while addressing test findings.
Cybersecurity
CMMC reciprocity in sight for 2021
The Defense Department is still figuring out how to give contractors reciprocity with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program and similar certifications, but the end is close, officials say.
Cybersecurity
Senators: Biden picks Anne Neuberger to lead SolarWinds response
The lawmakers had sent a letter to the White House earlier this week urging President Joe Biden to select one official to oversee the federal government’s response to the breach.
Cybersecurity
Warner, Rubio seek single top official for SolarWinds response
The two leaders of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence say the government's response to the hack so far has been "disjointed and disorganized."
Modernization
Tech and tweets: Tanden talks policy and social media on Capitol Hill
President Biden's nominee for OMB director came under fire during her hearing for mean tweets aimed at Republican lawmakers. "I regret the language," she said.
Acquisition
New risks threaten defense industry's cybersecurity, report claims
Newly reported cybersecurity vulnerabilities inched past 17,000 in 2020, signaling worsening security in the defense industrial base, according to a National Defense Industry Association report.
People