Cybersecurity

Audit: HUD Doesn’t Ensure Sensitive Data It Shares Is Secure

A Government Accountability Office pointed to high turnover rates for top privacy and IT security officials as a reason for the agency's poor performance.

Cybersecurity

Acting DHS head offers alternative succession path

Chad Wolf, under fire in the courts and from watchdogs about the legal status of his appointment at the Department of Homeland Security, is offering an alternative explanation of his standing.

Cybersecurity

Treasury needs better cybersecurity tracking

The Government Accountability Office wants Treasury to do more to track the progress of financial services industry cybersecurity mitigation efforts.

Emerging Tech

GAO: Majority of Agencies Use Connected Devices But Hurdles Remain

Agencies frequently run into cybersecurity questions and interoperability issues when implementing the internet of things.

Cybersecurity

Interior IG Team Used Evil Twins and $200 Tech to Hack Department Wi-Fi Networks

A team of hackers was able to gain access to Interior networks using publicly available equipment, open source software and a backpack.

Modernization

VA taps CARES Act funds for IT

The Veterans Benefits Administration at the Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to reprogram about $250 million in COVID-19 emergency funding to modernize its troubled education benefits system.

Modernization

What to look for in DOD's coming spectrum strategy

Interoperability, integration and JADC2 are likely to figure into an updated electromagnetic spectrum strategy expected soon from the Department of Defense.

Digital Government

House Democrat Seeks to Hold IGs Accountable for Reviewing Agencies’ Reopenings

Most of the watchdog offices contacted by Rep. Connolly plan to conduct some form of review. 

Digital Government

GAO Issues Definitive List of Most Important Federal IT Acquisitions

The Government Accountability Office scored more than 100 federal IT projects and offered detailed breakdowns of the most “essential mission-critical IT acquisitions.”

Cybersecurity

Cyber Commission Suggests Reforms to Allow Flexible Pay, Hiring to Boost Workforce

Prospective federal employees might be turned off by cybersecurity jobs being classified as IT.

Modernization

GAO rounds up mission-critical IT projects

An overview of 16 key IT projects finds some common risks and pitfalls.

Modernization

CMMC reciprocity guidelines are still a work in progress

The Defense Department is hoping to begin rolling its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program later this year, but questions remain about how reciprocity with FedRAMP will be handled.

Digital Government

Pentagon, Defense Contractors Are Out Of Step On Tech Innovation, GAO Finds

The Pentagon wanted to fund ambitious research into future tech breakthroughs but contractors spend most of their money on safer bets, GAO has found.

Digital Government

The Government Is Failing to Notify Employees of COVID Cases in Their Buildings or Ensure Cleaning, IG Says

The approach is "threatening the health and safety of federal workers, contractors, building occupants and the public," lawmaker said.

Digital Government

Customs Deploying Biometric Tech at Ports Without Fully Addressing Privacy Requirements, GAO Finds

A new audit shows Customs and Border Protection isn’t providing enough transparency to travelers regarding facial recognition technology at ports.

Digital Government

Condensed Schedule and Counters Not Showing Up to Work Have Put the Census at Risk

Census has just a month to complete its count and GAO says it still faces significant challenges in collecting accurate data.

Digital Government

110,000 Americans Died Waiting for Social Security Disability Benefits in Last Decade 

Americans waited an average of more than two years for benefits decisions from the government during the past decade.

Digital Government

GAO: Federal Agencies Lag in Retaining Veteran Employees

Between fiscal 2014 and 2018, nearly 7% of veterans left federal service, compared with only 5% of non-veterans, the watchdog agency found.