Cybersecurity
UN cybercrime convention will ‘legitimize’ authoritarian nations’ cyber behavior, senators warn
The proposed treaty has ignited debate among officials, as it may offer adversaries a stronger voice in international discussions about cybersecurity and surveillance.
Digital Government
Lawmakers want DOJ to create national human trafficking database
A new bipartisan House bill would incentivize law enforcement agencies to provide county-specific data on cases of human trafficking.
Digital Government
Bipartisan Senate duo seeks to push IRS customer service forward
The tax agency is already working on some of the items in the bill — like improving online accounts.
Digital Government
Lawmakers want government to promote use of digital IDs
Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., told Nextgov/FCW that he’s hoping to get his Improving Digital Identity Act included in the House AI Task Force’s list of recommended policy proposals.
Modernization
VA officials say they can finish the digital GI Bill platform without more delays, cost overruns
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said the Department of Veterans Affairs is “batting zero” when it comes to finishing major IT modernization projects on time and within budget.
Cybersecurity
New bill seeks to mandate healthcare cybersecurity standards
The proposed legislation, which has the backing of the Department of Health and Human Services, would require the health agency to set and enforce cybersecurity standards for healthcare providers, clearinghouses and other industry players.
Policy
Congress averts a shutdown, setting up a lame duck fight in December
A stopgap funding bill is heading to Biden's desk as Congress staves off a pre-election shutdown.
Cybersecurity
House lawmakers question CrowdStrike exec over July IT outage
A major area of scrutiny was whether CrowdStrike’s flagship endpoint tool needed computer kernel access.
Exclusive
Modernization
TMF at the tipping point
The government’s revolving fund to help agencies jumpstart IT modernization and cybersecurity projects is at a “critical juncture,” in terms of funding and congressional support, according to the General Services Administration, which administers the fund.
Exclusive
Acquisition
House lawmaker presses DOD to exclude Chinese display companies from military contracts
BOE Technology Group and Tianma Microelectronics would be added to the DOD’s 1260H restriction list.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
House bill pitches interagency task force to counter Chinese hacking threats
CISA and FBI leadership would oversee the group, aimed at coordinating federal efforts to stop Chinese cyber intruders from breaching critical infrastructure and other key systems.
Artificial Intelligence
House bill looks to expand Energy’s AI research and development
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., said the bipartisan proposal would “position the Department of Energy to develop high-performance platforms, responsibly cultivate training data and improve energy efficiency to support safe AI innovation.”
Digital Government
CX bill passes Senate committee
The proposal is one of many that moved through House and Senate committees this week, including a transparency bill that brings additional congressional oversight to the General Services Administration.
Modernization
Agencies score record number of A's on latest FITARA scorecard
GAO Information Technology and Cybersecurity Director Carol Harris said the biannual review has saved the government a total of roughly $31.4 billion since it first began in 2005.
Artificial Intelligence
House of Representatives adopts baseline policy for AI use
The framework developed by the Committee on House Administration and Office of the Chief Administrative Officer is meant to be built upon as artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities evolve.
Digital Government
Veterans Crisis Line looks to balance anonymity with location tools
Matthew Miller, the executive director of VA’s office of suicide prevention, said crisis line responders “want to be very careful how much we pursue information from the veteran, unless it's absolutely necessary to provide them with the highest quality care.”
Cybersecurity
As elections loom, key US cyber policy goals still unfinished, Cyber Solarium report says
Incomplete tasks include creating a cyber national guard system, a real-time cyber threat sharing platform, and a national plan for restoring economic functions after a cyber disaster.
Artificial Intelligence
Senate Dems ask OMB for more regulations, support to mitigate algorithm bias
Sens. Ed Markey and Chuck Schumer are seeking updated guidance and organizational structures to prevent artificial intelligence from discrimination.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
House China hawks look to curb Transportation Department’s LiDAR purchases
Cybersecurity experts say foreign adversaries’ LiDAR can open backdoors into military systems and other sensitive equipment.
Cybersecurity