FCW Insider: Aug. 4, 2021
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
Unions press SSA leaders for a new contract, workplace safety plan
Biden ousted top leaders at the Social Security Administration last month, but some union officials say more personnel change is needed further down the ladder.
National Cyber Director backs new Bureau of Cyber Statistics
The White House is still considering whether to support the Cyberspace Solarium Commission's recommendation to establish a Bureau of Cyber Statistics, National Cyber Director Chris Inglis said on Monday, while stressing the urgent need for the federal government to begin assessing and publishing data on cybersecurity incidents.
HHS looks to reset labor relations
Some federal agencies are leveraging a Biden administration executive order to change the tone of labor-management relations but unions say a few departments aren't taking the order to heart.
Navy aims to tackle cross-domain data sharing in Project Overmatch
The Navy is hoping to clear network and data hurdles at the tactical edge with its answer to Joint All Domain Command and Control.
ICYMI: New report details America's water infrastructure cyber vulnerabilities
Water utilities across the country are plagued by a lack of cybersecurity funding and qualified personnel, a ThreatLocker report warns, as officials work to create new guidelines on securing critical infrastructure.
Quick Hits
*** The Pentagon announced that Gregory Kausner, has been named to assume the duties of undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment – the Defense Department's top acquisition official. Kausner has been serving as deputy undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment since January. Paul Cramer is taking over as acting deputy. Michael Brown, director of the Defense Innovation Unit, was nominated for the job but withdrew from consideration in July.
*** The National Institutes of Health extended the deadline to submit bids on its $50 billion CIO-SP4 contract vehicle until Aug. 20.
*** A new report from the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee points to systemic flaws in the U.S. government's cybersecurity posture, including the absence of a single point of accountability and weaknesses in the principal cybersecurity screening technology used to safeguard federal networks.