Digital Government
VA should offer more support for Veterans Crisis Line personnel, watchdog says
VA’s Office of Inspector General found that the Veterans Crisis Line successfully prepared for the launch of the streamlined “988 then press 1” call option for those in crisis but strained supervisors’ ability to guide responders.
Energy Department wants to use AI to speed up permitting
The hope is that helping feds dive into historical environmental documents creates efficiencies and better outcomes.
VA hopes new antifraud tools will help veterans identify, report common scams
Veterans lost $350 million in scams targeting former service members in 2023, according to a government report.
SSA has a plan, but wants more funding to get it done
The 2024 agenda’s top priorities for the remainder of the year stem from over 5,000 recommendations from employees.
Teleworking feds are spending 60% of their time working in person, OMB says
In a congressionally mandated report, the Office of Management and Budget rebuffed many common complaints by congressional Republicans about the popular workplace flexibility.
United Nations approves controversial cybercrime treaty
Last week, the United Nations voted to adopt a new cybercrime convention applying to all member states, drawing ire from civil society groups over data privacy risks.
What should agencies consider for their remote work plans?
A new memo from OPM Acting Director Robert Shriver details specific factors agency leaders should consider when designing their remote work strategy for the federal workforce.
Lawmakers look to extend COVID-19 telehealth med exemption for veterans
A bipartisan House bill would allow VA clinicians to prescribe veterans with controlled medications through the targeted extension of a pandemic-era waiver.
IRS program to assist poor taxpayers rarely picks up the phone
TIGTA investigators were unable to leave a message at 16 local Taxpayer Advocate Service offices because their voicemail boxes were full.
Updated
Benefits.gov to shutter in September
The Labor Department’s benefits-focused website dates back to 2002.
Education says a new system will help borrowers — lawmakers aren’t so sure
“This new system lacks transparency,” four senators told the Department of Education.
Acting Secret Service head suggests that better tech could have thwarted would-be Trump assassin
Ronald Rowe Jr. told a Senate panel that additional cellular bandwidth and the use of counter-drone technology could have averted the attempted assassination of former President Trump.
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Senate Democrats push an accessibility refresh
A new bill would revamp the decades old law requiring the government be accessible online, where many agencies are still falling short
Malicious foreign actors exploit US entities to push disinformation, IC warns
Communications and marketing firms can be pulled in as unwitting collaborators, the intelligence officials noted in a Monday call.
The White House thinks better tech could speed up permitting
The White House’s Council on Environmental Quality says in a new, congressionally mandated report that better tech could help the permitting process, but it's unclear whether new efforts are in the offing.
OMB touts 'time tax' reductions for government services
Sam Berger, associate administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, spoke with Nextgov/FCW about progress made and what’s next.
VA pushes vets to Login-dot-gov or ID-dot-me for online access
VA said the change is estimated to affect approximately 3 million veterans, and phases out two legacy identity options currently supported by the agency for online access.
VA unable to collect over $665M in revenue because of tool suspension, OIG says
VA paused its use of a tool that consolidates community care data in February 2023 “after becoming aware of issues with its database code logic and of compromised stored data.”
SSA transitions online accounts to Login-dot-gov for sign in
The agency said the change will affect individuals who created “my Social Security” accounts through its website before September 18, 2021.
As GSA turns 75, one of its leading technologists reflects on the agency's mission
Ann Lewis, director of the Technology Transformation Services, talks implementation, money and more.
