Author Archive
Chris Riotta
Staff Writer

Chris Riotta is a staff writer at FCW covering government procurement and technology policy. Chris joined FCW after covering U.S. politics for three years at The Independent. He earned his master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he served as 2021 class president.
IT Modernization
NASA Spent $35 Million on ‘Wasteful’ Software Licenses and Fees, Report Says
NASA’s current software management operations put it years away from achieving a centralized and consolidated enterprise computing model, according to its inspector general.
- By Chris Riotta
News
National Cyber Director Chris Inglis Reportedly Set to Retire in the Coming Months, Reports Say
The first national cyber director has been shepherding the White House’s national cyber strategy with the help of industry professionals and cybersecurity experts.
- By Chris Riotta
CXO Briefing
Navy Awards AWS Cloud Contract Worth Nearly $724 Million
The five-year contract gives the military branch access to the cloud giant’s full suite of commercial cloud services, trainings and certification programs.
- By Chris Riotta
IT Modernization
Omnibus Funding Bill Includes $50M for TMF, $90M for Citizen Services Fund
Funding levels for the tech modernization vehicles fell short of Biden administration requests.
- By Chris Riotta
CXO Briefing
FITARA Scorecard Sees 7 Agencies Increase Marks Amid Cyber Methodology Changes
All 24 agencies received passing grades in the latest iteration of the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act scorecard, though 17 saw their scores largely unchanged.
- By Chris Riotta
CXO Briefing
Are Best-In-class Contracts on the Downswing?
The question was one of the main focuses among acquisition experts at the Professional Services Council federal market forecast conference.
- By Chris Riotta
Emerging Tech
Defense Policy Bill Features FedRAMP Authorization Act
Cybersecurity experts tell FCW that ‘authorizing FedRAMP is the first step to fully and robustly resourcing the program’ after it was established in 2011
- By Chris Riotta
Cybersecurity
CISA Sets Voluntary Cyber Performance Targets for Critical Infrastructure
A new set of documents and resources from the agency is designed to help critical infrastructure operators manage the basics of cybersecurity.
- By Chris Riotta
Cybersecurity
White House Looks to Advance Cyber Safety Labeling Effort With 'Initial Scope' Next Spring
A senior administration official said the White House is beginning with a label that will focus on some of the most at-risk technologies – and that the National Institute of Standards and Technology will play a major role in getting it done.
- By Chris Riotta
IT Modernization
Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Safeguard Open Source Software
The Securing Open Source Software Act would task the Office of Management and Budget with issuing guidance around the secure usage of open source software and give new oversight responsibilities to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
- By Chris Riotta
CXO Briefing
Biden Adds Cyber, Data, Supply Chain Risks to CFIUS Reviews
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States will be required to consider five new sets of national security concerns – including cybersecurity – when reviewing foreign investments in the U.S. as part of a new executive order.
- By Chris Riotta
CXO Briefing
Industry Cautions on Software Security Regs in the Defense Bill
Trade groups want Congress to remove a provision in the House-passed defense policy bill mandating software bills of materials in some federal acquisition.
- By Chris Riotta
CXO Briefing
CISA's Cyber Info Sharing Program Didn't Always Deliver, Watchdog Says
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency did not always provide more than 300 participants of a public-private cyber threat partnership with actionable information to address potential vulnerabilities, according to an oversight report.
- By Chris Riotta
Cybersecurity
VA Systems Vulnerable to Cyber Intrusions Due to Lack of Effective Oversight, Report Says
The Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General's office said the agency is "leaving its systems vulnerable to compromise by impostors who may gain access to protected information."
- By Chris Riotta
CXO Briefing
DOD Failing to Track Progress on Military Alternatives to GPS, GAO Says
A new report says military leaders don’t have enough information to make crucial decisions about ongoing efforts to develop alternatives to the Global Positioning System.
- By Chris Riotta
CXO Briefing
TMF Announces Over $26 million for Three Projects
The Technology Modernization Fund is making good on its promise earlier this year to support projects focusing on improving public-facing digital services.
- By Chris Riotta
CXO Briefing
Senators Introduce Bill to Ensure Resiliency of Federal Data Centers
The proposal would establish baseline safeguards for cybersecurity and physical issues like natural disasters.
- By Chris Riotta
CXO Briefing
Lawmakers Float FITARA Changes as Scores Get Dragged Down by Missing Data
The cyber scores were unreliable due to incomplete data, witnesses told lawmakers.
- By Chris Riotta
IT Modernization
FITARA 14 Sees Just One Overall A and Stagnant Grades
The Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act scorecard did reveal continued struggles in the cybersecurity and Networx transition.
- By Chris Riotta
Data
Small Business Contract Awards Hit Record $154B
But fewer of those companies are entering the federal market or competing for the work, the Small Business Administration says.
- By Chris Riotta