FCW Insider: May 10, 2021
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
OPM extends deadline on implementing Trump-era hiring policy
The Biden administration extended the deadline for federal agencies to implement portions of a Trump-era executive order aimed putting less reliance on educational attainment in federal hiring.
Lawmakers press White House for space acquisition chief
House appropriators lamented the absence of a dedicated space acquisition chief, challenging the new administration to make a nomination soon.
Commerce digs into supply chain security
The Commerce Department wants to establish a new office that will work across the federal government and partner with the private sector to "get ahead of supply chain resiliency issues," Secretary Gina Raimondo said Thursday
Granholm says cyber R&D is a priority at DOE
The agency chief said is refocusing the Energy Department's Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response on providing grid operators with threat intelligence and response capabilities.
Quick Hits
*** The government response to a ransomware attack on an energy company that led to the closure of a key natural gas pipeline on the East Coast is an "all hands on deck effort," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on the CBS program "Face the Nation" on May 9.
"Unfortunately, these sorts of attacks are becoming more frequent," Raimondo said of the attack on Colonial Pipeline's business systems. "They're here to stay and we have to work in partnership with businesses to secure- secure networks, to defend ourselves against these attacks."
Raimondo added that President Joe Biden was briefed on the attack.
*** The IRS rescinded an award in a $73 million analytics contract after a protest from two losing bidders, Washington Technology reports.
*** Government purchasers are reporting struggles in the acquisition and deployment of artificial intelligence solutions, according to a survey from KPMG. GCN has more.