Digital Government
McCaskill sounds alarms over proposed IG budget cuts
The ranking Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security committee is calling foul on budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration to a number of inspector general offices throughout the federal government.
Digital Government
4 House Intel members offer election security bill
A Senate proposal to secure the U.S. election system has a companion bill in the House and a prominent Republican co-sponsor.
Cybersecurity
NARA is doing great at email, website security. Maybe
An audit finds the National Archives and Records Administration is well on its way to complying with a DHS directive to boost email and website security, but the agency's measurements need improvement.
People
Dave Powner audits the state of federal IT
The GAO director of information technology issues is leaving government after 16 years. On his way out the door, Dave Powner details how far govtech has come in the past two decades and flags the most critical issues he sees facing federal IT leaders.
Cybersecurity
DHS' Mosley headed to FDIC
Sara Mosley, the chief enterprise architect for the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, will be leaving her post in mid-August.
Cybersecurity
DHS to hold cyber-focused industry day
The Department of Homeland Security will hold an event Aug. 16 in Arlington, Va., to engage with "large and small companies interested in cybersecurity contracting."
Digital Government
Senate blocks additional funding for election security
An amendment to spend an additional $250 million on election security next year failed to hit the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster.
Cybersecurity
Facebook uncovers the next online election influence campaign
The social media giant has revealed what it believes to be a coordinated effort by unknown parties using its platform to influence the outcome of the 2018 elections.
People
New bill would restore IRS critical pay for IT hires
A new bill by Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) would reinstate a key hiring tool to boost IT talent at the Internal Revenue Service.
Cybersecurity
Economic cyber espionage will only get worse, ODNI report says
A new report says companies in the IT, defense, energy, biotechnology, environmental protection and manufacturing sectors have the most to fear from nation-state groups looking to conduct economic cyber espionage.
Digital Government
Watchdog: Government cyber defenses lag as attacks evolve
Legacy IT systems continue to limit the overall effectiveness of other cybersecurity solutions, federal CIO Suzette Kent said at a July 25 House hearing.
Modernization
Hurd, White House push for MGT funding
The Senate zeroed out funding for the Modernizing Government Technology Act for FY 2019, and House supporters and the White House are hoping to get the money back on the table.
Digital Government
Officials push for more election security dollars
A $380 million appropriation for election security is going to run out before the November elections, and House Democrats and some state officials are looking to renew the funding.
Cybersecurity
IRS makes infosec strides after Get Transcript breach, but challenges remain
IRS officials charged with protecting and authenticating taxpayer data are getting better at their jobs – but so are fraudsters.
Cybersecurity
Grant Schneider named federal CISO
A year and a half into the Trump administration, Schneider can remove the “acting” label from his job title.
Digital Government
House zeroes out $380M in voting security funding
A House-passed appropriations bill eliminates $380 million in grants to states to support election security, despite efforts by some Democrats to maintain the funding.
Cybersecurity
New CDM bill aims for flexibility, newer tech
Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) introduced legislation designed to give the Department of Homeland Security more flexibility to implement and share a key cybersecurity program with partner agencies.
People
Dems on Trump reorg: 'Where's the data?'
Democrats in the Senate are reluctant to support the Trump administration's reorganization plan before OMB provides the underlying analysis used to justify claims it would lead to smoother governance.
Digital Government
Appeals court rules in tech standards case
A federal appeals court has overturned a decision that granted private industry organizations control over the use and publication of technical standards they developed after such standards have been incorporated into U.S. law.
Modernization