People
House Dems want leaders to fight for spending bill's labor protections
More than 200 legislators warn against cutting key workforce provisions during final funding negotiations.
Modernization
Esper still mulling JEDI strategy
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he's examining the strategy and execution of the DOD's planned $10 billion cloud buy and doesn't have a deadline to complete his review.
Modernization
Watchdog: IT Troubles Limited FEMA’s Response to 2017 Hurricanes, Wildfires
The flaws, some of which date back more than a decade, left first responders scrambling to gather, share and access critical information.
Emerging Tech
Why Agencies Aren’t Buying More Electric Vehicles
Federal fleets are getting more energy-efficient, but officials said electric vehicles aren’t viable at this time.
Cybersecurity
Senior Justice Official Caught Watching Porn on Government Computer
The then-deputy assistant attorney general resigned after investigators found a trove of sexually explicit content on their computer.
Cybersecurity
Digital rights group sues DHS over warrantless surveillance at border
The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a lawsuit demanding the release of legal and training documents that could shed new light on the government's use of GPS trackers for vehicles entering the United States.
Modernization
Social Security Advisory Board names expert IT panel
Over the next year, a group of experienced federal IT executives will review how the Social Security Administration's system modernization work is progressing.
Acquisition
Watchdog warns on GSA's contracting data trial
A pilot at the government's contracting hub isn't producing the data it promised and threatens pricing transparency, according to the inspector general at the General Services Administration.
Cybersecurity
IRS spent $1.2 million on unused data security software, auditors say
In 2010, IRS began implementing a large data loss prevention solution to protect taxpayer data. Nearly a decade later, only one-third of the system is operational.
Acquisition
Why GSA buys tech from NASA SEWP
The General Services Administration is the government's hub acquisition, so the agency's IG is wondering why it's buying tech from NASA's big IT contract.
Modernization
VA’s Health Records Digitization Backlog Is 5 Miles High
Staff at Veterans Affairs medical facilities aren’t keeping up with the backlog of paper records that need to be digitized, with some outstanding documents dating back to 2016.
Digital Government
Defense Department Inaction Is Hurting Effort to Improve Pentagon Efficiency
Officials are nearly two years late in meeting some congressional requirements, a watchdog found.
Acquisition
Lawmaker sounds alarm on supply chain risk
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) wants the Defense Department to shore up cyber vulnerabilities in the defense supply chain and says the newly formed Cyberspace Solarium Commission could help.
Cybersecurity
How petabytes are crushing the security classification system
The official in charge of overseeing the federal government's information classification policy is warning that the current system is beginning to break – and he wants help and money to fix it.
Cybersecurity
The Army is Falling Behind on Staffing Cyber Units, GAO Says
As of March, the cyber and electronic warfare units the Army deployed last year had less than 40% of their combined positions filled.
Digital Government
Windows 7 woes crash into 2020 election cycle
Financial, technical and bureaucratic hurdles are making it more difficult for states to patch their election-related software and move on from an expiring Windows operating system.
Cybersecurity
Watchdog: Hiring freeze increased cyber risk at State
An extended hiring freeze at the Department of State delayed key cybersecurity initiatives and placed highly classified information at risk, according to a watchdog report.
Cybersecurity
Battle lines forming over surveillance authority
Advocates for eliminating or curtailing one of the government's main Patriot Act surveillance authorities are gearing up for battle, but questions remain whether Congress will be receptive to the message.
Modernization
Defense Department Inspector General Clarifies JEDI Involvement
The Pentagon’s IG is reviewing complaints from multiple sources.
Cybersecurity