Cybersecurity
CISA's Wales backs new response, recovery fund
Brandon Wales, acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the funding would go toward expanding CISA's incident response teams with additional contractors and developing new technologies to be used by those teams.
Acquisition
Lawmakers press White House for space acquisition chief
House appropriators lamented the absence of a dedicated space acquisition chief, challenging the new administration to make a nomination soon.
Modernization
Lawmakers Say It’s Past Time OMB Issued IDEA Act Guidance
After two years in limbo and a pandemic forcing more adoption of digital services, House lawmakers want to see real guidance issued in the next 45 days.
People
Impeachment witnesses talk public service
Four former government officials who played key roles in the first impeachment of former president Donald Trump discussed their experiences during a Public Service Recognition Week event.
Digital Government
Pentagon Watchdog to Examine How the U.S. Military Handles UFOs
The inspector general launched an evaluation into “actions regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena” just before a similar report is due to Congress.
Digital Government
Experts Examine Accountability, Transparency Improvements in Government
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing discussed recent proposals to strengthen the authority of inspectors general and place some limits on acting officials.
Modernization
GAO: Only 2 of the 10 Most Critical Legacy IT Systems Have Full Modernization Plans
The federal watchdog warned that eight of the most important mission-critical modernization efforts could fail without sufficient, documented plans.
People
Senate defense committee delays NDAA markup
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chairman for the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced that the committee would delay marking up the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act due to "uncertainty" in White House budget delivery.
Modernization
$2.1 billion in UI modernization comes with oversight
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh told a panel of House Appropriators that the agency's planned $2.1 billion investment in state unemployment systems needs oversight and monitoring, and metrics for measuring success.
Digital Government
Biden Nominee for Pentagon Weapons Buyer Under Investigation
Inspector General complaint alleges DIU Director Michael Brown’s agency used federal hiring tools to hire friends, but office says it’s competing for talent.
Modernization
Court will hear case against Trump on JEDI
The U.S. Court of Federal Claims denied a motion from the U.S. government to dismiss a complaint from Amazon Web Services alleging undue influence on the award of the $10 billion, 10-year cloud program JEDI to Microsoft.
Digital Government
Former CIO urges lawmakers to relax TMF paybacks
The $1 billion boost to the Technology Modernization Fund can help agencies, but some changes to strict payback rules will help CIO shops get started on much-needed modernization.
Digital Government
Treasury IG Details IRS’ COVID-19-Related Customer Experience Issues
Millions of taxpayers have had a hard time reaching the IRS during the pandemic.
Digital Government
Audit Finds Inconsistencies in How DOD Buys through Consortia
The Defense Department Office of Inspector General unveiled problems with other transaction agreements including tracking, security, fee negotiation and training.
Acquisition
Consortium OTAs suffer from lack of guidance, data, IG finds
The Defense Department's internal watchdog found a lack of data on other transaction awards made through consortiums.
Modernization
HASC chair calls for new incentives to reduce defense costs
Divesting of legacy systems to make way for new technologies is expensive and at the heart of the Defense Department's budget debate. But could new incentives for contractors make a difference?
Modernization
Commerce Watchdog Issues Alert on Major IT Modernization Project
In a management alert, the agency inspector general warned a 20-year, $341 million project is too focused on new technology instead of fixing business processes.
Modernization
Special Report: The Evolution of the FITARA Scorecard
An in-depth look at an important oversight tool Congress uses to track agencies’ modernization efforts.
Digital Government
House Dems back bill to put guardrails around IGs
The proposal would limit the power of the president to remove inspectors general to for cause reasons and outline exactly who can serve as an acting IG.
Modernization