Digital Government

Debt Defaults are Not Shutdowns, But Both Raise Money Fears

Question number one that companies in the government market want answered is how payments for their work on contracts will, or will not, happen in a debt default situation. No one knows for sure.

Policy

Congress Doesn’t Know How to Count the Number of National Security Professionals and That’s a Problem

Instead of addressing data security or IT policies around protecting classified information, Congress goes after numbers.

Cybersecurity

House Panel Advances Bills to Boost CISA’s Oversight of Open Source Software, Cyber Training

The two measures, which passed the committee with bipartisan support, would give CISA authority across DHS and the federal government.

Policy

Survey: 45% of Gov Employees May Walk if Agencies Reduce Remote Work Flexibility

The survey suggests more than half of government employees prefer to work for an agency that offers hybrid and remote flexibility.

Cybersecurity

Hack on Transportation Systems Exposes Employee Information

The Department of Transportation breach exposed the data of 237,000 current and former employees.

Artificial Intelligence

Senate Bill Looks to Train AI-Ready Workforce, Focus on Risk Mitigation

The bipartisan legislation, introduced last week, aims to help public sector employees catch up with advancing AI technologies.

Ideas

A Brief History of Debt Ceiling Crises and the Political Chaos They’ve Unleashed

There are political as well as economic risks to debt standoffs in Congress.

Policy

Feds Could Be Fired at Any Time for Any Reason, Under a Bill That Was Just Reintroduced

The bill also would abolish the Merit Systems Protection Board and threatens to reduce former federal employees’ retirement benefits if they file “frivolous” appeals of adverse personnel actions.

Artificial Intelligence

Biden Administration Examining How Companies Use AI to Surveil Employees

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is seeking public feedback on companies’ use of artificial intelligence and automated systems to monitor employees.

Artificial Intelligence

FTC Issues Warning About Generative AI Misuse

The agency noted that firms should not harm or deceive consumers with the new tools or get rid of staff in charge of artificial intelligence ethics.

Digital Government

Permanent Funding for VA’s Tech Training Program Heads to House Floor

VA’s VET-TEC pilot ran out of funding last week, but lawmakers on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee have approved bipartisan legislation that would permanently reauthorize the program.

Digital Government

Survey: 1 in 3 Government Workers Say Agencies Aren’t Fostering Employee Connection

The survey suggests increased emphasis on connection-building could increase talent retention efforts.

Artificial Intelligence

3 in 4 Americans Worry AI Will Take Their Jobs

A Forbes survey indicates Americans are growing more alarmed about artificial intelligence for a variety of reasons.

Digital Government

OPM’s Efforts to Spur Governmentwide Tech Hiring

The Office of Personnel Management is utilizing its authority to help federal agencies hire sorely needed tech talent.

Digital Government

Government, Industry and Academia Stress Need for Semiconductor Workers

The experts from each sector noted it is imperative for the U.S. to address this workforce challenge to meet the nation’s semiconductor needs and innovate.

Digital Government

VA’s New Cyber Apprenticeship Program Will Focus on Training for Underserved Veterans

The VA’s initiative, set to begin this summer, “is really designed to attract that diverse and inclusive cybersecurity talent,” a department official told Nextgov.

Policy

21-Year-Old Air Force IT Specialist Charged With Leaking Classified Security Documents

A team of Justice and FBI agents arrested 21-year-old Jack Teixeira in Massachusetts in connection with the widespread intel leak.

Digital Government

House Republicans to Biden: Outsource More Federal Jobs

Lawmakers say the administration is failing to provide data on which government positions can be performed by the private sector.

Policy

Paradigm Shift: Recruiting for Lifelong Careers or Public Service Stints

Both long- and short-term public servants can be beneficial for the government in technology and beyond.

Digital Government

How an Inclusive Work Environment Attracts, Retains Tech Workers

An inclusive IT staff helps Detroit close workforce gaps and bridge the digital divide.