FCW Insider: October 7, 2021

Feds could see relief as Public Service Loan Forgiveness gets a reboot

The program, meant to wipe the student debt of eligible public servants, has rejected the vast majority of applications it's received.

DOD personnel now subject to 'continuous vetting'

Defense and military personnel are now a part of an automated "continuous vetting" program that will flag concerning behavior or circumstances as part of the security clearance process.

DHS adds cyber requirements for transportation industry

The Transportation Security Agency and the Coast Guard are getting increased authority over industry cybersecurity.

Quick Hits

*** The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee reported favorably on three nominees to serve on the Merit Systems Protection Board on Wednesday. The board, which hears appeals on adverse federal employee employment determinations like disciplinary actions and firing, has been operating without a quorum for more than four years. The nominations now go to the Senate floor for a vote in the full Senate.

*** A report from the Data Foundation studying the role of chief data officers in the federal government found some significant improvements between 2020 and 2021. The chief data officer position was mandated in the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2019. Get more on this story in GCN.