Digital Government

18F pushes for an even more open 'open source' rule

"Open source by default" ought to apply not only to code developed by government agencies, but also to virtually all code that vendors supply the government, a developer with GSA's startup urged.

Digital Government

Final A-130 revisions due out this summer

A long-awaited revision of the principal federal IT policy document is due out this summer, according to the OMB official leading the rewrite.

People

Rung: Category management needs sustained vision

The top federal procurement official says the year-old category management initiatives have taken hold, but the acquisition community should take a longer view.

Cybersecurity

FISMA report shows pain, few gains

While the federal government made tangible progress last year, OMB’s annual report card detailed plenty of weaknesses and room for improvement.

Cybersecurity

CIO shuffle: Senior tech leaders detailed to OPM, OMB

Deputy CIOs at DHS and OMB detailed to temporary positions, as part of a move to fill an IT leadership gap at the Office of Personnel Management.

People

The soft spots in IT security? People and old tech

People and aging IT are enduring security risks -- but efforts are underway to better address both at federal agencies.

Digital Government

FOIA bill includes governmentwide online portal

Under the Senate-passed FOIA Improvement Act of 2015, OMB would take the lead in creating a one-stop online portal for FOIA requests across the federal government.

Cybersecurity

Crypto battle presents 'hard choices,' says federal CIO

Federal CIO Tony Scott favors strong encryption, but sees a place for "narrow exceptions" for law enforcement.

Acquisition

More federal open source appreciated, if it behaves

The tech industry welcomes more open-source software in the federal government, but with a few caveats.

Digital Government

FedRAMP takes agile BPA for a test drive

The cloud services vetting office wants to open its process to the public via a dashboard built under 18F's agile blanket purchase agreement.

Digital Government

Obama warns against 'absolutist' positions on encryption

The White House had said Obama would not weigh in on the Apple case, but he spoke at length on the issue of encryption in the first visit by a sitting president to the South by Southwest festival.

Digital Government

White House wants more sharable, reusable code

Federal CIO Tony Scott is pushing out a plan to allow custom code developed by or for the government to be shared across agencies, and in some cases released to the public.

Modernization

OMB tightens hold on data center policy

Superseding the 2010 memo on data center consolidation, a new draft guidance would elevate emphasis on cloud, shared services and savings.

Acquisition

Rung: Federal category managers are getting right to work

The 10 recently named federal category managers are meeting with industry and each other to hone buying oversight strategies.

People

OMB names category management leads

Ten newly-named managers will wrangle specific procurement categories.

Modernization

FedRAMP wants to overhaul cloud authorizations

FedRAMP's high baseline standards are on the back burner as the program focuses on slashing the amount of time it takes to complete authorizations.

People

OMB chief tries to sell appropriators on IT upgrades

OMB Director Shaun Donovan urged Congress to fund administration plans for modernizing federal IT and improving cybersecurity.

People

Does government need a FITARA for shared services?

With government efficiencies a priority and Congress looking for ideas that could avoid partisan gridlock, shared services legislation could have a window.

Modernization

FedRAMP and CDM offer a unified path to security in the cloud

By considering the link between the two programs, agencies can unite the dual demands of improving security and embracing the cloud.

Cybersecurity

Hurd sees promise in revolving IT fund but wants agencies to carry the ball

Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) welcomed the administration's cybersecurity budget and IT modernization efforts but said it is up to agencies to make the most of them.