Modernization
House Passes Bill to Improve Government’s Digital Services
The IDEA Act would require agencies to upgrade their websites to meet basic security and usability standards, but lawmakers did make some changes.
Cybersecurity
Federal Employee Visited 9,000 Porn Sites in Less Than 7 Months, Auditor Found
The Interior Department inspector general released new details about the employee whose browsing habits allowed Russian malware onto government networks.
Modernization
To Improve Customer Experience, Start With Morale, Not Technology, Feds Say
Cultural factors, such as empowerment of staff, given greater weight than upgraded IT and bigger budgets.
Digital Government
GAO: CMS Doesn't Know if It's Receiving Accurate Medicaid Data
The agency needs to better guide states to ensure the nationwide data is reliable, the congressional watchdog said.
Artificial Intelligence
Congress Wants to Confront Facebook, Robocallers and Data-Throttlers
Lawmakers also encouraged the Pentagon to continue helping civilian agencies in cyber matters.
Cybersecurity
DHS Aims to ID Critical Functions to Protect from Cyberattacks by Year’s End
After the Homeland Security Department identifies the critical functions, it plans to map out all their dependencies.
Modernization
VA Officials Reluctant to Say When G.I. Benefit Delays Will Be Fixed
Lawmakers grilled Veterans Affairs Department officials about the IT issues that prevented tens of thousands of veterans from receiving education and housing stipends on time.
Cybersecurity
Election Security Tested
Federal agencies raced to secure vulnerable systems in time for the 2018 midterms, but the job’s not done.
Cybersecurity
DHS and Pentagon Memo Details Future Cyber Cooperation
The memorandum of understanding comes after the Defense Department prepared to help the Homeland Security Department repel Election Day cyberattacks.
Policy
White House Expects to Hold Steady on Tech Policies Despite House Flip
But House Democrats plan to fight for online privacy, net neutrality regulations.
Policy
How the Midterms Shake Up Tech Oversight
Democrats taking over the House mean new leadership and potentially restructured subcommittees.
Digital Government
What the Midterms Mean for National Security
House Democrats are poised to boost oversight of the Pentagon — and its commander-in-chief.
Digital Government
What Democrats Winning the House Means for Federal Employees
The (likely) next oversight chairman promises more accountability for the Trump administration.
Cybersecurity
Supply Chain Group Aims to Reduce Counterfeits in Federal Systems
The proposed acquisition rule will require only original manufacturers or vetted resellers supply some components.
Cybersecurity
FDIC Still Isn’t Protecting Its Sensitive Information, Audit Finds
The agency isn’t patching vulnerabilities quickly enough or fixing longstanding information security weaknesses.
Cybersecurity
Cyber Supply Chain Task Force to Meet Soon
The task force will be managed by Homeland Security Department’s new long-range cyber planning organization.
Modernization
Public Input on ‘Cloud Smart’ Policy Starts With a Basic Question: What Is Cloud?
Commenters suggested various parameters for what cloud computing in government should look like, but most agreed the draft document needs a better definition.
Policy
Proposed Rule Would Let Agencies Bypass OPM to Fill Critical IT Positions
Agency leaders would be able to determine if they face a critical shortage and issue the hiring authority without prior approval from the Office of Personnel Management.
Cybersecurity
It’s Time to Organize Volunteer Hackers, Think Tank Says
The Civilian Cyber Corps would be modeled on the Civil Air Patrol and volunteer firefighters.
Digital Government