Author Archive
Natalie Alms
Staff Writer

Natalie Alms is a staff writer at FCW covering federal technology policy, service delivery, customer experience and the government's tech workforce. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and has written for the Salisbury (N.C.) Post. Connect with Natalie on Twitter at @AlmsNatalie.
CXO Briefing
Biden Signs Bill Creating Federal Cybersecurity Rotational Program
Certain cyber and IT federal employees will be able to rotate to other agencies under a new law signed Tuesday.
- By Natalie Alms
IT Modernization
TMF Looks to Measure More Than Just Cost Savings
The board of the Technology Modernization Fund is looking to support projects that impact the public through improved customer experience, Executive Director Raylene Yung said Thursday.
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
Tech Trade Group Seeks Bumps to TMF, Agency-Based IT Funds
FedRAMP funding and budget to support zero trust initiatives at civilian agencies are also on the appropriations wish-list of the Alliance for Digital Innovation.
- By Natalie Alms
Cybersecurity
Solarium Successor Wants the White House to Lead on Cyber Workforce Strategy
One recommendation: establish cyber excepted service authorities, like the Department of Homeland Security's newly launched cyber hiring initiative, government-wide.
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
After 7 Years, DHS's New Cyber Talent System Boasts Just One Hire
Officials at the Department of Homeland Security say that change management efforts will help scale the Cybersecurity Talent Management System
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
Federal CIO: The Tech is 'The Easy Part' of Improving CX
Blockers to implementing service improvements frequently center around policy and process requirements, top tech officials said at the Code for America Summit on Tuesday.
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
ICE Has Assembled a 'Surveillance Dragnet' with Facial Recognition and Data, Report Says
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has used facial recognition to search through the driver's license photos of one in three adults in the U.S., according to a new report by Georgetown Law's Center on Privacy and Technology.
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
Senate Bill to Train Acquisition Workforce on AI gets House Counterpart
The AI Training Act, which passed the Senate last December now has a House companion from Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and James Comer (R-Ky.).
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
IRS Leader Explains Why the IRS Went to ID.me
The agency needs to be able to identity proof online users at a certain level to be able to offer a full menu of online services, Rettig told lawmakers.
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
White House Looks to Focus Service Delivery Around 'Life Events'
The Biden administration is fleshing out a plan to organize government services around the needs of Americans and not around agency org charts.
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
SSA Beta Launches Redesigned Website
The Social Security Administration is collecting feedback on a website redesign before using it to replace the agency's current website later this year. A major goal: making it all less confusing.
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
IRS Marks the Annual Tax Filing Deadline With a Plea for More Funding
Chronic underfunding has hurt the tax agency's ability to modernize, says a top official, who wrote that the U.S. tax system "is a tax system where ripped paper returns are literally pieced together with scotch tape."
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
OPM Unveils New Toolkit for Agencies to Hire Cyber Talent
A new resource hub from the Office of Personnel Management outlines what benefits agencies might be able to offer to fill cyber positions.
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
Inglis Says He Won't 'Dictate' Cyber Workforce Policy
National Cyber Director Chris Inglis said that part of his job in the cybersecurity workforce arena will be ensuring that the roles of different agencies are coordinated.
- By Natalie Alms
Policy
New bill takes aim at veterans records backlog
Some of the new bill's provisions had previously been included in the House version of the Build Back Better reconciliation bill.
- By Natalie Alms
IT Modernization
Login.gov plans to scale up without facial recognition tech – for now
The General Services Administration isn't ruling out using biometrics in its Login.gov service, but the agency has concerns about equity and accessibility.
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
TMF Announces Two New Awards
The U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission and the Selective Service System are in line for IT modernization funding boosts.
- By Natalie Alms
IT Modernization
IRS announces new office focusing on taxpayer experience
One of several lines of effort at the IRS to improve customer experience is digital services, which will include efforts ranging from digital signatures to expanded online payment options.
- By Natalie Alms
CXO Briefing
Cost Overruns and Delays for OPM's Trust Fund Modernization
OPM is working to modernize the legacy financial system that manages retirement, health benefits and life insurance programs, but it's behind schedule and over budget.
- By Natalie Alms
IT Modernization
IRS will pivot to GSA's Login.gov after this tax season
The tax agency is modifying its use of the ID.me identity proofing service for the current tax season, but plans to switch to the federal government's homegrown solution after the 2022 filing deadline.
- By Natalie Alms