Digital Government
Improving Transit Through Lyft and Uber? More Agencies Are Paying for Ride-Hailing Rides
Experts and transit leaders say that there could be real benefits to working with ride-hailing companies. But data is needed to assess how successful these programs really are.
Digital Government
President Trump Signs Taxpayer First Act
The law will force the IRS to improve its customer experience while providing tools to move faster in hiring.
Artificial Intelligence
Congress Wants DHS to Study Disruptive Deepfake Videos
Bills introduced in the House and Senate aim to combat the forged media through comprehensive research and technological assessments.
Digital Government
Justice Department Launches API for Foreign Lobbyist Data
The new online portal offers the public easier access to documents filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, the law that put Paul Manafort in jail.
Digital Government
CBP Approving ‘Potentially High-Risk’ People for Trusted Traveler Program
The Homeland Security Department Inspector General found officers aren’t properly vetting applicants for the Global Entry program or checking their status at ports of entry.
Digital Government
OPM Still Lacks Legal Analysis of Proposed Merger with GSA
Lawmakers in both parties expressed outrage at the lack of documents provided to support the Trump administration’s proposal.
Policy
Supreme Court Rejects ‘Contrived’ Defense of Citizenship Question on 2020 Census
The high court’s ruling called into question the Trump administration's justification for including the citizenship question but does not preclude the administration from asking residents whether or not they are citizens.
Policy
Congress Passes Bill That Forces IRS to Revamp Taxpayer Experience
The bill passed the House and Senate earlier this month and would usher in major changes to the way IRS engages with millions of customers.
Digital Government
Agencies Meet Small Business Contract Goals
Eight receive an A+ procurement rating, the Small Business Administration says.
Digital Government
House Approves 3.1% Pay Raise and Blocks OPM Furloughs, Merger
Lawmakers dealt the Trump administration’s proposal to merge OPM and GSA another setback.
Modernization
Lawmakers: OMB ‘Skirting the Intent of the Law’ With New Data Center Policy
The administration’s shift in focus to optimization, rather than closures, is not what lawmakers envisioned when they passed FITARA.
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers Grapple with Improving Election Security While Respecting States’ Rights
Experts say paper ballots are the way to go, but pushed back against efforts to federalize elections.
Artificial Intelligence
Non-Discriminatory AI Requires a Human Touch, Experts Say
Interdisciplinary teams that include social scientists can help curb bias, experts told Congress.
Digital Government
'People Are Crying When They Come Into Work:' Unions Protest OPM-GSA Merger
Lawmakers said they will try to amend an appropriations bill to block the acting OPM director from following through on her threat to lay off 150 agency employees.
Cybersecurity
Agencies Are Leaving Sensitive Data Vulnerable to Hackers, Congress Says
Amid growing threats from China, Iran and Russia, most agencies are struggling to put in place even the most basic cybersecurity measures, according to congressional researchers.
Modernization
OMB Updates Data Center Optimization Initiative
The new policy bans agencies from budgeting resources toward new or expanded agency-owned data centers without permission from the Office of Management and Budget.
Policy
Supreme Court to Hear Challenge on State Code Copyrights
Georgia holds a copyright for its annotated state code, which sells for $404, and sued to block a website from distributing free copies of the document.
Policy
White House Wants to Know How Tech Can Help Prevent Veteran Suicides
The Office of Science and Technology Policy is asking for the public to weigh in on its veteran suicide prevention strategy.
Policy