Defense

Pentagon’s AI office awards Palantir a contract to create a data-sharing ecosystem

The Pentagon’s marketplace for quickly onboarding new tech solutions helped Palantir receive its contract in 30 days.

Digital Government

Tech sees steep cuts in House Republicans’ funding proposal

The Technology Modernization Fund would once again see zero contributions in FY25, though the U.S. Digital Service would get new authority to get reimbursements from agencies under the bill.

Cybersecurity

White House urges streamlined cyber rules following industry feedback

Private sector input from an August 2023 information request signals a need to harmonize cybersecurity regulations, said ONCD chief Harry Coker.

Cybersecurity

FTC-industry talks over possible Microsoft probe raised recent hacking incidents

Chinese and Russian cyber infiltrations into agencies’ Microsoft email systems came up in discussions over a possible antitrust investigation into the company, people familiar say.

Cybersecurity

Former NSA head feels ‘really good’ about election security come November

Paul Nakasone, the recently retired head of NSA and CYBERCOM, said the intelligence community has everything it needs to combat election interference attempts later this year.

Defense

Defense Digital Service directors tapped unauthorized tech without proper waivers, watchdog finds

The Pentagon’s Office of the Inspector General found that former Defense Digital Service heads had “exposed DOD information to additional cybersecurity risk and increased the risk of compromise.”

Ideas

Strategies for sustainable, low-carbon federal data centers

COMMENTARY | Reducing emissions and energy consumption will allow agencies to model best practices for allied nations while future-proofing infrastructure against exponential data demands.

Digital Government

HHS launches online tool to identify communities hit hardest by extreme heat

The heat and health index tool provides zip code level data to flag neighborhoods that are the most at risk of experiencing harmful health outcomes as a result of high temperatures.

Cybersecurity

NIST taps Analygence to help fix vulnerability database backlog

The standards agency has been unable to keep up with the inflow of system vulnerabilities being reported to its database.

Ideas

Why it's past time to modernize the FITARA scorecard

COMMENTARY | Another reset is needed to keep the FITARA scorecard relevant in driving IT management best practices across federal agencies

People

VA's tech training program for vets is up for renewal, but backers want more accountability

A provision in a recently introduced legislative package would extend VA’s VET-TEC training program through September 2026 while seeking to address employment disparities.

Defense

Across the Army, units lean into drone experimentation

In division after division, soldiers are learning to use a rising wave of robots and other unmanned systems.

Acquisition

Interior awards 7 seats on $2B cloud license contract

This second iteration of the program focuses on the development of a cloud-based production environment and application migration.

Cybersecurity

Senator calls for federal probes of UnitedHealth for negligent cyber practices

Hackers broke into Change Healthcare systems due to a lack of multifactor authentication.

Breaking News Digital Government

IRS makes Direct File permanent

The tool piloted during the recent tax season helped certain taxpayers file online with the government for free.

Emerging Tech

NOAA looks to sharpen solar storm forecasts with new satellite

The agency’s GOES-U satellite, scheduled to launch next month, will include an advanced instrument, called a compact coronagraph, to provide scientists with faster, more reliable data about solar storms.

Digital Government

DOD OIG-hosted Ukraine oversight webpage gets an upgrade

A group of inspectors general made three new changes to the site that provides transparency into ongoing federal operations in Ukraine.

Ideas

Overcoming technical debt and accelerating modernization

COMMENTARY | High performance in IT requires an ability to adapt, preparing the organization to seize future opportunities and tackle upcoming challenges efficiently.