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.

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

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

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.

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

House passes agency software licensing bill

Saving on software licensing appears to also be on the radar of the new DOGE caucus.