Acquisition
Lawmakers hear from Trump's picks to lead GSA, OPM
Federal hiring, the clearance backlog and procurement data came up in a Senate confirmation hearing for candidates to lead the Office of Personnel Management and the General Services Administration.
Acquisition
GAO sustains protest in $283M Census mobile contract
As the Census Bureau prepares to ramp up its preparations on a tight budget and schedule, the Government Accountability Office decided a critical $283 million contract was not rightfully awarded.
Cybersecurity
White House: No new policy for encrypted chat apps
In a terse response to probing questions from Capitol Hill, a White House liaison indicates that there's no new policy when it comes to encrypted messaging platforms.
Digital Government
GAO Denies Equifax Bid Protest on IRS Contract
In its ruling, GAO said Equifax’ contentions were “unreasonable,” allowing IRS to move forward on a contract with Experian.
Cybersecurity
IG: Infosec weaknesses at Energy continue
While DOE has gotten better at protecting sensitive information, the agency still shows weaknesses in vulnerability management, business web applications and access controls.
Digital Government
GAO denies Equifax bid protest
The protest had resulted in a controversial (and now suspended) bridge contract from the IRS for Equifax's identity management and taxpayer fraud protection services.
Cybersecurity
Senator wants Kaspersky out of U.S. voting systems
Amid concerns about election system security, Sen. Amy Klochubar is looking for DHS to help boot Kaspersky from state and local voting systems.
Acquisition
IRS suspends Equifax contract
After a tough congressional hearing and news of more infosec woes at Equifax, the IRS suspended a $7.2 million contract with the credit monitoring agency.
Digital Government
Extra $3 billion might not solve all Census woes
More money might not alleviate concerns about IT preparedness and communications programs entering the 2018 dress rehearsal.
Digital Government
House panel skeptical of DOD clearance plan
Members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee say they need more detail from the Department of Defense on its plan to take over large parts of the security clearance process.
Digital Government
GAO to IRS: Actually, You Didn't Have to Give Equifax a Contract
Despite what IRS officials told Congress, the IRS did not have to continue using Equifax services in a bridge contract, a GAO official said.
Cybersecurity
Audit chides FDIC for sloppy breach protocols
An audit found that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's protocols for responding to a data breach weren't followed, even as the agency has faced dozens of security incidents in the past two years.
Digital Government
Is USPS prepping for driverless mail trucks?
A report by the USPS Office of the Inspector General examines how autonomous vehicle technology could change the way the Postal Service transports and delivers the mail.
Modernization
Border tech bill clears Senate committee
A bill to require DHS and components to keep a closer eye on major border security technology acquisitions could soon see a vote in the full Senate.
Cybersecurity
IRS IT leaders didn't know about $7M Equifax award
IRS CIO Gina Garza told Congress that she and other tech officials at the tax agency did not sign off on a $7 million contract awarded to Equifax a month after the credit monitoring firm disclosed a massive data breach.
Cybersecurity
IT outages create headaches for CBP field workers
Despite a $1.4 billion IT budget, the agency responsible for screening people and cargo entering the U.S. from abroad suffers from system downtime that could lead to increased security risks, according to an internal oversight report.
Cybersecurity
DHS still pushing to rename cyber shop
A bill that would rename and federate a key Homeland Security cybersecurity component is key to fueling the agency's efforts in cybersecurity and its overall image, supporters say.
People
White House cracks down on executive travel
The same day Tom Price stepped down as secretary of Health and Human Services, the White House put out a memo reminding agency execs not to stick taxpayers with the tab for private travel.
Modernization
Hurd promises more FITARA oversight
Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) said selective compliance with FITARA initiatives was a "frustrating" problem that oversight can solve.
Cybersecurity