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Emerging Tech
FCC rule grants drone operators spectrum access for navigation
The agency said assigning spectrum access in the 5GHz band is an initial step toward integrating drones into the National Airspace System.
Digital Government
Cost of VA’s Digital GI Bill has nearly doubled amid delays and contract challenges
The agency’s Office of Inspector General said in a new report that initial contract requirements for the Digital GI Bill platform “were unclear and included unrealistic expectations.”
Digital Government
AI can help FOIA offices combat onslaught of bot-powered requests, report says
According to a report from software firm OPEXUS, 93% of FOIA officers believe “AI has a key role to play in helping to review, sort and deduplicate requests.”
Acquisition
DOJ suit claims Georgia Tech ‘knowingly failed’ to meet cyber standards for DOD contracts
The Justice Department has joined onto a whistleblower lawsuit filed by two senior staffers on Georgia Tech’s cybersecurity compliance team that was filed in 2022.
Digital Government
VA should offer more support for Veterans Crisis Line personnel, watchdog says
VA’s Office of Inspector General found that the Veterans Crisis Line successfully prepared for the launch of the streamlined “988 then press 1” call option for those in crisis but strained supervisors’ ability to guide responders.
Cybersecurity
FAA proposes new cyber rules for airplanes and aviation equipment
The rules are designed to combat cybersecurity threats targeting aircraft, engines and networks aviation systems.
Cybersecurity
US agencies conclude Iran was behind hack targeting Trump campaign
The FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said they have “observed increasingly aggressive Iranian activity during this election cycle.”
Digital Government
VA hopes new antifraud tools will help veterans identify, report common scams
Veterans lost $350 million in scams targeting former service members in 2023, according to a government report.
Policy
House lawmakers press Meta over illicit drug ads
In a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, lawmakers said they were “continuously concerned that Meta is not up to the task” of keeping ads for illegal drugs off of its sites.
Cybersecurity
Compromised DNC credentials found on Telegram bot, cyber firm says
Security researchers with ZeroFox identified stolen login information from Democratic-aligned accounts ahead of the party’s presidential nominating convention, but noted that some records “were previously observed in private threat actor-operated repositories.”
Cybersecurity
House lawmakers join effort to remove flagged Chinese tech from telecom networks
The companion proposal to a Senate bill would allocate an additional $3 billion to the Federal Communications Commission to help fund its ‘rip and replace’ reimbursement program.
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Emerging Tech
VA launches new platform to help veterans identify and report scams
Scammers have increasingly targeted veterans and their beneficiaries, particularly after the PACT Act expanded benefits and health services for retired service members.
Digital Government
Lawmakers look to extend COVID-19 telehealth med exemption for veterans
A bipartisan House bill would allow VA clinicians to prescribe veterans with controlled medications through the targeted extension of a pandemic-era waiver.
People
DARPA hires Twitter whistleblower to serve as its CIO
Peiter “Mudge” Zatko — the former security head of then-Twitter who alleged that the platform was overlooking critical security flaws — will be returning to DARPA after almost a decade away in the private sector.
Policy
Bipartisan bill pushes DHS to review terrorist risks from foreign-based mobile apps
The legislative proposal calls out several China- and Russia-tied apps for particular attention.
Defense
Air Force seeks secure cloud app to manage flights for govt VIPs
The new tool is critical “due to significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities identified in the existing scheduling system,” the branch says in a notice for industry.
People
Lawmakers look to clarify electronic medical device use in secure facilities
A Senate bill would charge an “Electronic Medical Device Governance Board” with reviewing agencies’ policies regarding the use of digital healthcare instruments in highly-classified facilities.
Modernization
VA launches revamped burn pit registry with automatic enrollment
The upgraded database of veterans exposed to toxic pollutants and trash burn pits came after “extensive feedback” showed the platform was difficult for many retired service members to navigate.
Artificial Intelligence
Congressional agencies report progress on AI adoption
The House Administration Committee said in the new report that it is also focused “on applying the House’s AI guardrails to the acquisitions process.”
Artificial Intelligence
Generative AI tool is deployed aboard the International Space Station
Booz Allen’s large language model application was uploaded to the space station’s national lab as part of “a forward-leaning payload experiment,” according to the firm.
