FCW Insider: April 5, 2021

The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.

Biden taps DIU head for top Pentagon acquisition post

President Joe Biden nominates three for senior defense posts, including Michael Brown, the head of Defense Innovation Unit.

SSA under pressure to reopen Trump-era union contract

The Social Security Administration is under fire from unions and congressional Democrats unhappy with the agency's pace in implementing the Biden administration's changes to labor-management relations, and many are seeking the ouster of the Trump-appointed agency heads.

CISA, FBI warn of hacking threat against Fortinet product

The advisory warns that an unattributed threat actor is using known vulnerabilities in a Fortinet security product to gain access to government and industry networks.

DOD should update emergency response plans to accommodate telework, IG says

Each component should also update its plan "to include revised assumptions regarding telework for personnel and the resources required to support the teleworking workforce," the IG wrote in an April 1 report.

Quick Hits

*** The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency want benchmarking information it can use to quantify the long-term utility of quantum computers. GCN has more on this story.

*** AT&T is incorporating 5G connectivity and tower-to-core encryption into the FirstNet public safety communications network. Read more in Washington Technology.