FCW Insider: Sept. 23

House passes stopgap spending bill

The current appropriations bills are set to expire on Oct. 1; the bill now goes to the Senate where it is expected to pass.

PIV security frays under the crush of telework

Adversaries are adapting to the shifting identity authentication gaps on federal and commercial networks created by the remote work environment, according to federal security experts.

GAO report calls for White House cyber director

Congress may have to step in to carve out a White House position charged with implementing protective cybersecurity measures.

Interior awards $482M EIS task order

The Department of the Interior signed another sizeable task order this month for telephone services under the General Services Administration's $50 billion, next-generation telecommunications contract.

Quick Hits

*** A joint alert from the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency cautions Americans to expect disinformation about the results of the 2020 elections from foreign malefactors on the internet and social media. The alert notes that the increased use of mail-in ballots because of COVID-19 precautions could lead to the election results taking days or weeks to tally, giving adversaries a window to sow disinformation.

*** The Defense Department used $1 billion in funds designated for coronavirus medical supplies to pay defense contractors, the Washington Post reported. DOD has previously indicated that it would need about $10 billion to cover added contracting costs caused by the pandemic.

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, reupped his opposition to giving the Defense Department more funds in a statement addressing the article, saying "the Pentagon's budget, which has continued to surge over time, is more than adequate to meet DOD's operational needs. It is alarming that they have not properly aligned their spending with strategic priorities and continue to ask for more."

*** The Department of State needs to involve other federal agencies in the creation of the new Bureau of Cyberspace Security and Emerging Technologies, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. The collaboration is needed to "avoid unnecessary fragmentation, overlap, and duplication of cyber diplomacy efforts" the report states.