FCW Insider: May 26

Exit Interview: Bill Zielinski

The General Services Administration can't be shy about getting up close with its federal customers about technology, as the EIS telecom transformation and other efforts move ahead, Zielinski told FCW's Mark Rockwell in an interview.

Pentagon's AI chief: lack of enterprise cloud 'has slowed us down'

The Joint Artificial Intelligence Center has been hampered by enterprise cloud program delays, but is pivoting with the Air Force's help. Lauren C. Williams has more.

Pandemic duties for National Guard include cyber help

The Maryland National Guard is doing its part to help hospitals and local government detect and deflect malicious online activity during the pandemic. Lauren reports.

Quick Hits

*** House Democrats announced on May 22 that they were introducing legislation that would protect inspectors general from political retaliation. President Donald Trump has fired or replaced IGs at the Departments of State, Transportation and Defense and in the intelligence community, moves many have linked to investigations involving Trump and his political allies.

The Inspector General Independence Act would require the White House to notify Congress of any firings of IGs and only allow an IG to be removed for one of 10 documented reasons such as neglect, malfeasance, permanent inability and abuse of power. The legislation is being sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), the chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee, House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and others on the Oversight panel.

*** Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), co-chair Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus and three colleagues all active on cybersecurity issued released a letter May 22 urging leadership to include funding for state and local IT modernization in subsequent COVID-19 relief packages. The bipartisan letter, which garnered 29 signatures including those of its sponsors, doesn’t include mention of any specific legislation or funding targets, but does urge congressional leaders to design funding with a set of principles in mind, including a push to managed services including cloud and a focus on shared services that include municipal governments in state systems. FCW reported on the letter earlier this month when it was circulating among members.