FCW Insider: Dec. 8
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
House lawmakers push for veto-proof majority on defense bill
Lawmakers are counting on strong support to pass the 2021 defense authorization bill under threat of presidential veto, but concede that anything is possible.
NSA warns on Russian hackers stealing data through VMware flaw
The National Security Agency says a vulnerability in software used by federal agencies is being exploited by Russia-sponsored actors.
Microsoft to launch top secret cloud
The company is waiting on government accreditation for the new top secret regions.
Quick Hits
*** House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced that a one-week continuing resolution would be needed to give lawmakers more time to negotiate a fiscal year 2021 funding agreement. The House is planning to vote on a new CR on Dec. 9 to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the week. The current stopgap bill keeping the lights on expires Dec. 11.
*** President Donald Trump signed the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 into law on Dec. 4. The legislation, which has been in the works for several years, is designed to leverage the purchasing power of the federal government to help set a cybersecurity baseline for IOT devices.
*** The U.S. Space Force is getting its version of the Air Force's acquisition innovation hub AFWERX. Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, said Dec. 7 that the "SpaceWERX" will more closely align technology innovation and acquisition efforts for the growing service and will be housed at the Space and Missile Systems Center at the Los Angeles Air Force Base/Aerospace Campus.
*** Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) will become the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee in the next Congress, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced Dec. 3. Current ranking member Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) is retiring. Rogers is now the ranking member for the Committee on Homeland Security and sits on the HASC's Strategic Forces Subcommittee, which he previously chaired. He also served on the Readiness Subcommittee.