Digital Government
More Than a Dozen IG Vacancies Await Nominees from Biden
The positions are critical to ensure ethical, effective operations at a time when agencies are disbursing billions of dollars in pandemic relief.
People
VA watchdog cautions on pandemic hires
Temporary waivers to speed hiring at VA medical facilities have helped fill workforce gaps, but the agency's Inspector General warns on security risks of putting off certain security checks.
Acquisition
New House task force focuses on supply chain vulnerabilities
Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), co-chair of the Defense Critical Supply Chain Task Force, said "sometimes the marketplace just doesn't get it right and we, without intending to, create real national security vulnerabilities for ourselves."
Cybersecurity
Air Force Only Service to Develop Cybersecurity Requirements for Weapon Systems Contracts, GAO Says
The audit found the Defense Department has improved weapon systems cybersecurity in recent years, but detailed requirements must make it into contracts.
Digital Government
Air Force Academy IT in dire need of upgrades, superintendent says
Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, the Air Force Academy’s superintendent, told Congress the academy’s accreditation was threatened by legacy IT.
Digital Government
Cybersecurity and IT Remain Top Concerns on GAO’s High-Risk List
Agencies showed some slight progress on IT issues, though cybersecurity took a step backward in the latest report.
Cybersecurity
When water utilities get hacked, who should they call?
In the wake of a cybersecurity breach at a public water system, lawmakers have begun questioning what rules are in place to govern those facilities' cybersecurity and what changes may be necessary.
Digital Government
IG: ‘Tens of Billions’ in Fraudulent Unemployment Claims in 2020
A Labor Department Inspector General memo suggests a massive uptick in fraudulent unemployment claims brought on by COVID-19.
People
Flat defense budget, cost-savings push seems likely for 2022
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the chairman for the Senate Armed Services Committee, said military services should look for cost-savings and where reinvestments can be made.
Cybersecurity
CIA nominee: Cyber threats are 'ever greater risk' for U.S. society
William Burns, the president's nominee to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, said the SolarWinds attack was a "harsh wake-up call" about the country’s vulnerabilities in both critical infrastructure and supply chains.
Digital Government
Billions went to fraudulent unemployment claims in 2020, IG memo reports
Fraudulent unemployment benefit claims since March could end up costing tens of billions of dollars, the memo says.
Digital Government
Democratic Lawmakers Call Out TV Companies Over Misinformation Spread
The pair asked cable, satellite and streaming TV companies about conspiracy-related content ahead of a Feb. 24 hearing.
Acquisition
GAO: DOD has to get a handle on future services spending
As the Defense Department looks to buy more services, it's going to need to come up with action plans to better account for spending in future years, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report.
Cybersecurity
GSA Could Be Vulnerable to Security Threats From ‘Trusted Insiders’
Watchdog finds gaps in a program meant to protect personnel, facilities, operations and resources.
People
Lawmakers press OPM, CDC for vaccine allocations for federal employees
A group of Capital region Democrats want the Office of Personnel Management and the Centers for Disease Control to make the inoculation of federal employees a federal process.
Cybersecurity
CISA eyes changes to combat future supply chain hacks
The acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency today said his agency is looking various changes to protect federal networks in the wake of the massive breach discovered late last year.
Cybersecurity
Warner seeks answers from FBI, EPA on Florida water utility breach
The top lawmaker on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today sent a letter to the agencies asking for a clearer picture of how hackers attempted to poison a Florida community's water supply and what is being done to prevent a future attack.
Digital Government
Consumer Product Safety Commission Employees Want to Telework at Least Twice Per Week Post-Pandemic
Commission staff and leadership report higher productivity during mass telework and more benefits than drawbacks.
Modernization
Pentagon watchdog flags cyber issues in DEOS, JRSS
The Defense Department's testing and evaluation body has serious cybersecurity concerns when it comes to using commercial cloud offerings and the embattled Joint Regional Security Stacks effort.
Cybersecurity