Policy
Lawmakers Demand Details on NSA’s Sweeping Phone Surveillance Operations
The Call Detail Record program, which scoops up the phone records of millions of Americans, is set to expire at the end of 2019.
Digital Government
OPM Nominee Defends Tenure at Labor Authority, Commits to Working with Lawmakers on GSA Merger
Dale Cabaniss dismissed her record-low employee morale scores at FLRA as backlash to efforts to make the agency “more fair” and effective.
Digital Government
Why Uber and Lyft Drivers Are Striking
Uber and Lyft drivers plan to protest and picket this week. From companies, they want better wages and working conditions. From cities, they want regulations.
Policy
Contractors Advise Lawmakers on How to Reduce Pain During the Next Shutdown
House Democrats’ field hearing spotlights suffering from the most recent lapse in appropriations as message to colleagues.
Emerging Tech
White House Unveils Joint Committee to Invigorate U.S. Research Communities
Co-chairs from across federal agencies will work together on policy-making insights.
Modernization
The Pentagon’s Software Buying Has Been Outdated Since 1987
The Defense Department needs to rethink how it buys and develops software, according to Defense Innovation Board report.
Modernization
Watchdog: OPM CIO Isn’t Exercising Enough Authority Over IT Budgets
Department IT leadership was given significant budgetary authority under FITARA, but the government’s human resources department hasn’t been applying them properly, according to the inspector general.
Policy
Instagram and Facebook Ban Far-Right Extremists
Alex Jones, Infowars, Milo Yiannopoulos, Paul Joseph Watson, Laura Loomer, Paul Nehlen, and Louis Farrakhan have all been removed from the platforms.
Policy
Shifting the Pentagon’s Employee Training to OPM Could Save Millions
The move also establishes the Defense Department as a petri dish for OPM to obtain more data on how employees learn and where more training is needed.
Policy
Senate Reintroduces Federal Agency Customer Experience Act
The bill, which cleared the Senate in 2017 and the House in 2018, again has House sponsors.
Ideas
The End of Cyberspace
Internet theorists and companies once declared themselves free of nations and governance, but that’s all over now.
Modernization
GSA Unveils Key Tenets of Governmentwide E-Commerce Pilot
The implementation plan outlines three major policies that will inform their initial version of the portal, which is scheduled to launch in late 2019.
Cybersecurity
Trump Signs Executive Order to Boost Federal Cyber Workforce
Initiatives include cyber aptitude assessments for agency insiders and a President’s Cup cybersecurity competition.
Policy
As Feds Expand Guest Worker Visas, Many Companies Say More Still Needed
Competition is stiff for businesses seeking H-2B visas. And the worker shortages have been felt all over the country, in a range of industries.
Digital Government
Lawmakers Voice Bipartisan Concern Over 'Chaos' at Homeland Security
Top watchdogs also say turnover is hurting the department.
Cybersecurity
CISA Cuts Deadline For Patching Critical Weaknesses In Half
A new binding operational directive requires agencies to patch critical vulnerabilities in just over two weeks.
Cybersecurity
Senate Passes Bill to Allow Cyber Talent to Rotate Through Agencies
The bipartisan legislation would allow certain cybersecurity-related personnel to rotate across various federal agencies.
Artificial Intelligence
White House Kicks Off Effort to Develop Artificial Intelligence Standards
The administration wants public feedback to help shape the National Institute of Standards and Technology-led effort.
Ideas
The Government Wants To Teach Drones Some New Tricks
Recent Army contracts focus on the skies while DARPA is focused on underground efforts.
Digital Government