Artificial Intelligence

Pentagon’s Top Science Official Adds to Tech-Breakthrough Wishlist

Heidi Shyu, research and development undersecretary, said she went looking for tech areas to trim—and found that some vital ones had been overlooked.

Artificial Intelligence

The Air Force’s First Software Chief Stepped Down—But He Won’t Be Quiet

Nicolas Chaillan briefed Nextgov on his government exit, what’s to come, and why he believes the U.S. should ban TikTok.

Cybersecurity

OMB Gives Agencies Three Months to Help CISA Monitor Networked Devices

The memo adds heft to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s longstanding push for more visibility into federal networks.

Cybersecurity

Biden Signs School Cybersecurity Bill

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will study the cyber risks facing elementary and secondary schools and develop recommendations to assist schools in facing those risks.

Emerging Tech

White House Wants to Know How Biometrics Like Facial Recognition Are Being Used

A request for comments is polling governments and the private sector on the full breadth of uses, whether it’s IDing faces or predicting malintent.

Digital Government

CIA Creates China Center To Shift To Great Power Competition

“It’s taking the top slot from the counterterrorism mission over the past 20 years,” said John Doyon, executive vice president of INSA.

Digital Government

OPM’s Telework Initiatives Dovetail with Climate Change Planning

The agency announced a program to connect leaders from the private and nonprofit sectors with federal agencies to address climate change.

Cybersecurity

CISA Finalizes Guidance for Securing Federal Networks for Remote Users

The latest guidance is the third of four use cases to be released as part of the Trusted Internet Connection 3.0 initiative.

Cybersecurity

Federal CISO Considers Including Technology Modernization in Cybersecurity Metrics

Chris De Rusha is also thinking about how to use the Technology Modernization Fund to create a new shared services program for zero-trust implementation.

Digital Government

VA Officials and Lawmakers Have (Different) Issues With Push to Collect More Veteran Data

Republicans worried collection of religious, sexual and gender information would violate veterans’ privacy; agency officials said they already collect that data. 

Digital Government

Survey: 46% of U.S. Organizations Will Institute Vaccine Mandates

Tech companies are among those taking the lead following federal guidance on vaccine mandates.

Cybersecurity

DOJ Announces Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team

The group will include cybersecurity and anti-money laundering experts looking to crack down on ransomware and other criminal efforts. 

Cybersecurity

Senate Committee Passes Major FISMA Changes—Including a New Definition of ‘Major Incident’ 

The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee also passed an incident reporting bill with increased liability protections for companies, drawing praise from industry.  

Cybersecurity

DOJ to Hit Government Contractors with ‘Very Hefty Fines’ If They Fail to Disclose Data Breaches

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco promised to use an existing law to go after contractors that don't follow required cybersecurity standards.

Cybersecurity

Deputy National Security Adviser Lays Out Goals for Upcoming 30 Nation Meeting on Ransomware

Top cyber officials highlighted the importance of defensive measures as lawmakers move on related initiatives, including a bill to identify systemically important critical infrastructure.

Digital Government

The Latest on Agencies’ Return-to-Office Plans

A look at agencies’ various approaches to getting employees back to their worksites; this list will be updated periodically.

Digital Government

Students Can Now Earn up to $72,000 Annually, Federal HR Director Says

OPM Director Kiran Ahuja said the federal government is looking to overhaul internships, telling students “we need more of you and your colleagues coming into the federal government.”

Digital Government

Lawmakers Introduce Smattering of Bills to Avoid Future Shutdowns

The last-minute action to keep federal agencies open past Sept. 30 has spurred a flurry of legislation aimed at automatically funding federal programs in the face of congressional inaction.