Digital Government
Trump’s Treasury pick pledges to keep IRS Direct File open this tax season
Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick for Treasury Secretary, said that he would have to study the long-term future of the tool. Republicans on Capitol Hill, however, have panned Direct File.
Digital Government
OMB issues OPEN Government Data Act guidance 6 years after its signing
The law requires agency data to be open by default.
Policy
OMB releases last-minute data center guidance
The memo stems from a law included in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.
Digital Government
‘Over half’ of federal websites got better in the past year, OMB official says
Metrics released by the Office of Management and Budget offer insight into how agencies are implementing the 21st Century IDEA Act.
Digital Government
IRS Direct File to open a week after Trump’s inauguration
Republicans on Capitol Hill have asked the incoming president to scrap the free tax filing service developed during the Biden administration.
People
Top Oversight Democrat says he’s open to collaborate with the DOGE
The new Department of Government Efficiency — which, despite the “department” referenced in its name, is an advisory effort, not a government department — has aims to trim the federal workforce and hunt efficiencies in tech and fraud reduction efforts.
Cybersecurity
Forthcoming executive order seeks to plug holes in federal cyber practices
The eleventh-hour cybersecurity executive action asks agencies to rethink software procurement, supply chains and AI, among other things.
Exclusive
Digital Government
Coming cyber executive order includes a push to mobile drivers licenses
The draft order does not, however, tackle the full breadth of actions that were expected from a promised identity executive order that has yet to materialize.
Digital Government
Agencies still struggle with online accessibility, GSA says
The landscape under Trump 2.0 isn’t clear, either.
Policy
Here are the tech bills the 118th Congress passed right before the new session
Some proposed tech legislation didn’t make it into law.
Digital Government
Unemployment isn’t recession-ready — but it’s getting better, says acting Labor secretary
Julie Su, the acting Department of Labor secretary, has often been scrutinized for her role in California during the pandemic. She sat down with Nextgov/FCW to talk about unemployment four years later.
Policy
SNAP reimbursements cut from Trump-backed spending proposal
Although the future of the Republican bill is uncertain, the stopgap measure released Thursday does not include reimbursements for people whose federal food benefits are skimmed.
Digital Government
SNAP theft reimbursements could end for many without congressional action by Friday
Senators are also urging the Agriculture Department to speed up its rulemaking around card security that could help prevent the problem.
Digital Government
SSA opens online application for core disability program
The online version of the form is limited to certain applicants.
Digital Government
OMB releases federal tech impact report as Biden admin winds down
Clare Martorana, the federal CIO, says she expects federal IT to stay bipartisan.
Digital Government
Republican lawmakers ask Trump to kill IRS Direct File
The new program intended to enable free, online tax filing directly with the government has garnered controversy and praise since its inception.
Digital Government
House passes SHARE IT Act aimed at custom code in government
Agencies could save money if they shared such code, lawmakers say.
Modernization
Ramaswamy cites legacy tech and fraud as early DOGE priorities
Department of Government Efficiency Co-Chair Vivek Ramaswamy called IT modernization “low-hanging fruit,” but reaping cost savings will take up-front investment — and time.
Digital Government
Trump signals new direction for IRS as he announces atypical plan to replace its leadership
The agency is mid-transformation thanks to an unprecedented cash infusion, but those efforts are now in doubt.
Acquisition