Acquisition

Government watchdog calls out TMF for low rate of cost recovery

The Government Accountability Office said its previous recommendations for the Technology Modernization Fund have not been followed, leading to unrecovered operating costs and unreliable proposal cost estimates for new projects.

Digital Government

White House elevates CX with executive order

A Biden administration executive order looks to use tech to simplify and reduce friction in citizen interactions with government programs and services.

People

Top House Republican pushes back on government telework

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) isn’t the only Republican lawmaker asking questions about the productivity of teleworking federal employees.

Cybersecurity

White House embeds cyber EO in FISMA reporting

Federal agencies will be reporting on zero-trust adoption and automation efforts in their annual cybersecurity reports to the Office of Management and Budget.

Acquisition

White House instructs agencies on contracting equity goals

The Biden administration detailed policy pivots needed to fulfill a commitment to steer $100 billion in federal contracting opportunities to small disadvantaged businesses over the next five years.

People

White House asks agencies to delay consequences for vaccine mandate violations

Agencies have the power to decide how to discipline unvaccinated feds, but the White House is encouraging them to go beyond education, counseling and letters of reprimand until after the holidays.

People

Biden to nominate Shalanda Young as OMB director

The Biden administration is looking to elevate the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget into the top job on a permanent basis.

People

Union complains of 'double standard' for fed and contractor vaccine mandates

The American Federation of Government employees is asking policymakers to put federal employees and contractors on the same clock when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

Cybersecurity

OMB official reviews progress six months after the cyber EO

A federal official overseeing the implementation of the cybersecurity executive order signed in May said many agencies have met its aggressive deadlines so far.

Cybersecurity

$500 million for TMF, other tech added to Build Back Better

Governmentwide technology modernization appropriations are back in the Biden administration's signature Build Back Better legislation, but the timing of a vote remains unclear.

Cybersecurity

Federal cyber leaders assess TMF awards

National Cyber Director Chris Inglis said he co-chaired a meeting with top federal cyber leaders this week to analyze current projects with investments from the Technology Modernization Fund.

Acquisition

White House: 'There's not a cliff here' when it comes to vaccine deadlines

For federal employees and contractors who don't hit vaccination deadlines, processes for remediation will kick in before more serious enforcement measure are taken, White House coronavirus coordinator Jeffrey Zients said.

People

TMF hiring new technical leads

The board of the $1 billion IT modernization fund was slogging through detailed project proposals in their spare time – now TMF is looking for help.

Acquisition

The growing importance of GWACs

One of the government's most popular methods for buying emerging technologies and critical IT services faces significant challenges in an ever-changing marketplace

Cybersecurity

The CISO reporting structure is broken

The commitment to managing cyber risk is a primary concern, but is often consolidated with IT priorities. This creates a conflict – does IT or security come out on top?

Acquisition

Is category management hurting small businesses?

Small business owners testified on Capitol Hill about getting squeezed by category management and contract bundling initiatives.

Cybersecurity

White House looks to step up endpoint monitoring

The Biden administration is requiring agencies to provide visibility into their endpoint detection and response efforts as part of the cybersecurity executive order.

Acquisition

TMF awards still come with payback plans

Federal CIO Clare Martorana said that while payback flexibility is now part of the Technology Management Fund playbook, agencies are projecting savings in their modernization plans.

Cybersecurity

Bipartisan FISMA update drops

Leaders of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee introduced legislation on Monday to update the Federal Information Security Modernization Act to clarify the role of CISA in defending federal networks.

Cybersecurity

Cyber EO compliance is a full-time job

Unified security controls, supply chain security, zero trust and smart procurement decisions are all pieces of the puzzle.