People
House, Senate Dems push bill to prevent the next Schedule F
The latest legislative proposal to block presidents from unilaterally stripping federal workers of their civil service protections creates additional barriers to reclassifying employees.
Defense
Inflation, workforce issues challenge defense contractors amid security pivot
The defense industrial base is facing workforce and inflationary headwinds just as the U.S. is refocusing its strategic lens on competition with China and Russia.
Digital Government
White House looks to shore up public trust in government websites
Federal agencies need to use 'memorable' and succinct domain names for government websites, per guidance issued on Wednesday.
Modernization
House panel presses FAA to speed up modernization
Members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure pressed an FAA official on what it would take for the agency to modernize faster, including its plans to update a system that caused a nationwide ground stop last month.
Cybersecurity
Government watchdog warns on cyber weakness
The federal government has not yet addressed nearly 150 recommendations previously issued by the Government Accountability Office to help strengthen national cybersecurity, according to a new report.
People
Congressional Democrats propose an 8.7% pay raise for feds in 2024
The annually introduced bill would provide a 4.7% across-the-board increase in basic pay and an average 4% increase to locality pay.
Cybersecurity
Fourth time around for vulnerability disclosure bill
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) is taking yet another stab at getting the executive branch to tell Congress more about its process of disclosing (or stockpiling) zero-day bugs.
Defense
Defense industry decries possible GOP-led spending cuts
Trade group letter begs lawmakers to avoid another sequestration deal.
Digital Government
New funding flexibility could help extend the reach of the Federal Citizen Services Fund
The new pass-the-hat style funding tool could be tapped to fund cross-agency work.
People
New ranking member could shake up a key Senate oversight committee
The libertarian-leaning Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has often butted heads with his own party and the opposing one, denounced federal spending and questioned agency authorities.
Policy
House Republicans are looking to cut agencies or specific feds' pay by reviving the 'Holman Rule'
The new Congress already has its eyes set on slashing funding at some agencies, and eliminating others altogether.
Ideas
Shifting left on day one
An IT modernization bill currently moving in Congress would be improved by a focus on building security into software from the very start of the development lifecycle.
Cybersecurity
Warner calls TikTok an 'enormous threat'
The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said the U.S. regulators have a "huge mountain to climb" when it comes to reducing risks from the massively popular, China-owned social media app.
Acquisition
Software inventory bill could move in the lame duck session
House lawmakers introduced a companion bill to bipartisan Senate legislation designed to improve the efficiency of federal agency software management.
Acquisition
4 things for contractors to watch on Capitol Hill now and into 2023
Professional Services Council president and CEO David Berteau rates the chances of Congress passing a fiscal 2023 appropriations package and looks at the possible fallout of the midterm elections on contract spending.
Cybersecurity
Deadline looms for plan to restart economy in case of major cyberattack
Lawmakers have been urging the Biden administration to develop a strategy first mandated in the Fiscal 2021 NDAA.
Digital Government
Lawmaker, Twitter chief spar over fake account
Should federal agencies with verified Twitter accounts be concerned about rapid changes roiling the social network?
Ideas
Enhancing the FITARA scorecard
Opportunities exist to enhance the FITARA scorecard to ensure its continued relevance and to keep pace with technology changes.
Acquisition
IOT cyber rule covering federal buyers about to take effect
A December deadline looms for agencies to implement cybersecurity requirements for Internet of Things devices.
Policy