FCW Insider: March 3
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
Customs and Border Protection is adding private property ownership information including contact details for landowners as a data layer on their geospatial mapping app called eGIS. The move comes as CBP attempts to negotiate with thousands of local landowners for access rights for building surveillance towers as well as acquiring real estate to build the border wall. Mark Rockwell has the story.
Outgoing Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) said that he hopes appropriators will see the wisdom in giving the Defense Department more flexibility in their technology and research funds. Lauren C. Williams has more.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) joined several Democratic colleagues in opposing a policy that could spell doom for civilian unions at DOD. Lia Russell reports.
The Office of Personnel Management is overhauling assessments used to identify cybersecurity talent for government agencies. New assessments look to measure cognitive and interpersonal competencies as well as technical ability. Lia explains.
Quick Hits
*** Former New York Mayor, billionaire and Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Bloomberg is proposing to bring the 311 phone service he pioneered as Gotham's chief executive to the national scene. In New York, NYC311 gave residents a one-stop telephone service to make and track non-emergency service requests. The service has been rolled out in other U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C.
"President Trump has spent three years undermining our government's basic functions and our ability to respond to a crisis. I will change that -- including through a national 311 hotline that gives Americans instant access to critical information and resources," Bloomberg said in a March 2 statement.
*** Two senators allege that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has cut critical staff such as attorneys and field investigators who are needed to assessment claims of workplace harassment and discrimination. Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote to EEOC Chair Janet Dhillon demanding an explanation for the staff reductions, which come despite instructions from Congress to use a funding increase to address personnel gaps.