FCW Insider: March 11, 2021
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
CISA: No federal agencies compromised by Exchange hack so far
Two seniors officials at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency told House lawmakers today the attacks in recent months demonstrate the fact the federal government "must raise our game" in cybersecurity.
House passes Rescue package with TMF funding
The $1.9 trillion bill is aimed at Americans suffering financial hardships from the pandemic, but in the federal IT community, the bill will be remembered for the dramatic expansion of the Technology Modernization Fund.
New House task force focuses on supply chain vulnerabilities
Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), co-chair of the Defense Critical Supply Chain Task Force, said "sometimes the marketplace just doesn't get it right and we, without intending to, create real national security vulnerabilities for ourselves."
Quick Hits
*** Two Senate committees voted on Wednesday to advance the nomination of President Joe Biden's pick for deputy director at the Office of Management and Budget, Shalanda Young. Her nomination for the somewhat sleepy post of OMB deputy director has assumed new urgency in since Neera Tanden, Biden's pick for OMB director, dropped out of the running after Senate opposition.
If confirmed, the Biden administration plans for Young to serve as acting director of OMB, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain said in an interview with Punchbowl News on Tuesday that Young herself is a "very serious candidate" for the top position at OMB and "definitely under consideration."
No Republicans on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted against advancing Young's nomination. The Senate Budget Committee vote of 14-8 to approve Young's nomination was more bipartisan.
*** The Government Accountability Office found in a new report that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has fallen behind on its three-phase plan intended to transform its predecessor, a single program office within the Department of Homeland Security, into a full-fledged government agency. Its "transformation" initiative was scheduled to be finished by late last year, but the agency has only finished 37 of 94 tasks as of February 2021, according to GAO.