Digital Government
States aren't shifting voting tech, despite ballot security concerns
Despite heightened scrutiny following the 2016 elections, a new study found virtually no difference in adoption of upgraded voting equipment or use of paper ballots.
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers lose patience with NBIB over clearance backlog
Senators expressed deep frustration about the government's lack of progress reducing the backlog of 700,000 pending security clearance requests, with some threatening to overhaul the process completely.
Cybersecurity
Federal networks susceptible to router hacks, DHS says
A newly released report and binding operational directive dating back to 2016 reveals alarm from DHS about network infrastructure security.
Cybersecurity
White House names deputy undersecretary for DOD R&E
Lisa Porter, the executive vice president of CIA venture arm In-Q-Tel and director of IQT Labs, would help run the Pentagon's newly reorganized IT and R&D operations.
Cybersecurity
CERTs warn on botnets, kernel bugs
Separate cybersecurity alerts from DHS indicate new botnet attack vectors and updates the list of industrial control system vendors facing Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities.
People
Meet the 7 leaders who will be steering modernization dollars
The Office of Management and Budget announced the first members of the Technology Modernization Fund Board.
Cybersecurity
Rogers: CyberCom lacks authority, resources to defend all of cyberspace
The outgoing NSA and U.S. Cyber Command chief told lawmakers CyberCom is not sitting on its hands when it comes to potential Russian cyber interference, but it lacks the authority to do more absent additional presidential direction.
Cybersecurity
What does the House retirement wave mean for tech?
More than a few committee chairs and members with cyber and technology policy chops are leaving Congress. Will it matter to the govtech space?
Cybersecurity
SEC moves to quash insider trading on cyber breach news
The Securities and Exchange Commission released new guidance on how publicly traded companies should handle data breach disclosures.
Cybersecurity
IG: DHS still can't account for expired PIV cards
The Department of Homeland Security still lacks effective protocols to ensure old contractors don't retain access to their facilities and systems.
Cybersecurity
Russian troll farm indictment could boost social media legislation
The indictment of 13 Russian nationals accused of online and offline activity designed to interfere with the 2016 election may boost the fortunes of a bill to strengthen disclosure rules around online political ads.
Cybersecurity
Inconclusive encryption report straddles ongoing policy debate
By design, a long-awaited report on encryption from the National Academies of Sciences lacks hard conclusions or recommendations to settle the "going dark" debate.
Cybersecurity
How vulnerable are contractors when it comes to data breaches?
A survey of more than 1,200 public sector contractors found that healthcare, defense and IT contractors lead vendors in reported incidents since 2016.
Cybersecurity
Wyden grills FBI chief on encryption
Following an exchange with the FBI director over encryption standards, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released a letter from four experts arguing that "responsible encryption" is not possible.
Cybersecurity
Intel chiefs: No direction from Trump on election security
At a Senate hearing, three intelligence chiefs acknowledged the White House has not specifically directed them to dedicate resources towards securing election infrastructure, but told lawmakers they are still focused on addressing the issue.
Digital Government
Trump budget stresses modernization, cyber
The administration rolls out a $210 million IT modernization fund and puts cybersecurity front and center in its $4.4 trillion budget request.
Cybersecurity
New CLOUD Act splits industry, civil liberty orgs
Major tech companies are on board with a newly proposed bill that would give the U.S. and select nations greater access to cross-border data, but digital privacy advocates are sounding the alarm.
Cybersecurity
Christopher Krebs picked to lead NPPD
The current acting undersecretary brings both federal and private sector cybersecurity expertise to a position that is becoming increasingly important to the DHS mission.
Cybersecurity
DHS reauthorization remains a heavy lift in Senate
A Senate hearing on reauthorizing the Department of Homeland Security made some headway, but long-running jurisdictional disputes threatened to once again derail the process.
Cybersecurity