People

Democrats to offer four bills to reopen much of government

On day 18 of the partial government shutdown, Majority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) unveiled the House Democrats' plan to reopen government, calling the need to end the shutdown a top priority.

Cybersecurity

Shutdown showdown shifts back to the Senate

Lawmakers are hurtling toward a partial government shutdown on Friday, as Trump and House conservatives dig in on wall funding.

Cybersecurity

House and Senate agree on CR through Feb. 8

It's still not clear if President Trump will agree to punt a confrontation on funding for the border wall until February, when Democrats control the House of Representatives.

People

HUD names new CIO

In a week filled with high-level IT comings and goings, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has picked a new top tech official.

Modernization

Dam cyber: Interior IG closes out audit of hydroelectric control systems

In a follow-up to a June report, auditors did not discover additional vulnerabilities in the Interior Department's management of five hydroelectric dams.

People

IG: Interior failed to document SES reassignments

The Department of Interior recently reassigned about 10 percent of its senior executives without much advance planning and without documenting its reasons for doing so, according to the agency inspector general.

Cybersecurity

IG: Interior unprepared for cyber threats

The Department of Interior’s watchdog found the agency's incident response program to be inadequate, citing network users visits to malware-plagued websites.

Cybersecurity

Congress questions cancelled shared service effort

A House panel wonders if DHS' third try at financial shared services yielded anything worthwhile.

Digital Government

House panel nudges Trump over IGs

The chairman and ranking member of a key oversight committee want the Trump administration to find candidates for 11 open inspector general posts.

Cybersecurity

Trump's 2018 budget plan hacks civilian spending for defense, homeland

As promised, a budget blueprint from the Trump administration prioritizes military and homeland security spending, and pays for increases with dramatic cuts to civilian agencies.

Modernization

IG: Interior risks exposing sensitive data

Deficient IT security controls at a core data center put the Department of Interior at risk of exposing sensitive and personally identifiable information.

Modernization

Interior making plans in case EIS falls short

The Department of the Interior is prepping to backfill its telecommunications needs in case GSA's planned Enterprise Infrastructure Services contract can't serve the agency's far-flung operations.

Digital Government

When 'social gov' goes quiet

Agency Twitter posts have dropped off markedly since Inauguration Day.

Cybersecurity

How agencies use social media to recruit the next workforce

Government agencies are looking to social media to directly engage with broad audiences, and believe that greater access to the cool aspects of government work can recruit the next workforce.

Acquisition

GAO sustains protest in National Guard IT contract

The government watchdog upheld the protest of a 2015 IT services contract, because the contracting agency failed to consider a conflict of interest and pricing problems.

Cybersecurity

Interior CDM effort 'immature,' says watchdog report

The Interior Department's inspector general said the agency's cybersecurity efforts need more work.

Modernization

USGS expands sensor network to track monster hurricane

The USGS is building out a sensor network in states where Hurricane Matthew is expected to have its biggest impact, to help weather and emergency officials monitor the storm's vital signs in real time.

Cybersecurity

IG: Interior needs to tighten computer security

A new report says the Interior Department needs to strengthen user access controls and mobile encryption.

Digital Government

What feds must do to get a handle on water data

Water resources are being stretched thin in drought-riddled parts of the U.S., but the government doesn't have the data it needs to monitor consumption and plan for the future.

Digital Government

Interior seeks to 'geofence' wildfires

The Interior Department has unveiled a prototype app to keep private drones from interfering with aerial firefighting efforts.