Digital Government

OMB, GSA Will Review All Agency IT Spend Reporting Tools Before Purchase

Agencies will have to use GSA schedules to acquire their Technology Business Management tools.

Artificial Intelligence

OMB: How Can We Enhance Federal Data to Boost AI Research?

Artificial intelligence runs best on strong datasets and the White House wants the public to weigh in to improve both.

Modernization

Clock Starts on Naming Leaders, Beginning Work on Evidence Act

Agencies now have official guidance on how to meet the first phase of requirements under the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act.

Digital Government

Experts Say Federal Data Strategy Needs Leaders and Funding to Succeed

Stakeholders are pleased the government is poised to take action on the federal data strategy but had some management advice for the Office of Management and Budget.

Modernization

Modernization Fund Program Isn’t Recouping Overhead Costs Fast Enough

The Technology Modernization Fund is incurring millions more in overhead costs than it is recouping in administrative fees.

Digital Government

OMB Adds Customer Experience, Data Policy Updates to Annual Budget Guidance

The Office of Management and Budget released an update to Circular A-11, outlining how agencies should be thinking about their fiscal 2021 budget requests.

Modernization

Lawmakers: OMB ‘Skirting the Intent of the Law’ With New Data Center Policy

The administration’s shift in focus to optimization, rather than closures, is not what lawmakers envisioned when they passed FITARA.

Modernization

OMB Updates Data Center Optimization Initiative

The new policy bans agencies from budgeting resources toward new or expanded agency-owned data centers without permission from the Office of Management and Budget.

Emerging Tech

House Oversight Votes to Secure Connected Devices in Government

The committee approved legislation that would enforce basic security standards for the numerous internet-connected devices used at federal agencies.

Ideas

OMB’s New ID Policy Will Help Consumers Protect Their Identities Online

America should modernize our existing paper-based identification systems around a privacy-protecting, consumer-centric digital model.

Cybersecurity

OMB Chief: Contractors Need More Time to Cut Ties With Huawei, ZTE

Without the extension, there could be “a dramatic reduction” in the contractors that can legally do business with the government, according to acting OMB Director Russel Vought.

Digital Government

16 Things OMB Wants Agencies to Accomplish in the Data Strategy's First Year

Agencies and other stakeholders have until July 5 to comment on the draft action plan, which includes hard deliverables for all of government.

Digital Government

Commerce Asks for Feedback On Unreleased Data Strategy Action Plan

An agency leading development of the Federal Data Strategy wants input on the draft action plan, though it won’t be released until later this week, at the earliest.

Digital Government

Federal CIO Says OMB is ‘Working Aggressively’ on Automation Policy

The agency is tapping some of the government’s top scientific investigators to help produce the new strategy.

Policy

Senate Considers Bill to Modernize Constituent Services

The CASES Act is one of several customer experience-related bills Congress is considering.

Modernization

Government Offering Prizes for Best Ideas to Stand Up GEAR Center

Challenge.gov is offering up to $300,000 to teams or individuals who submit the best proposals.

Policy

Exclusive: What OMB’s New Shared Services Policy Will Mean for Modernization

A new class of shared services providers will manage a “marketplace” of offerings, meaning big changes for employees and modernization plans.