Modernization
Pandemic oversight begins to take shape
The Pandemic Response Accountability Council will look at IT challenges, safety measures and funding oversight.
Modernization
Navy’s $7.7B IT Services Contract Clears Three Protests
The Navy’s massive NGEN IT management contract is full steam ahead four months after being awarded.
Modernization
Perspecta's NGEN protest denied
The Government Accountability Office has denied Perspecta’s challenge of the $7.7 billion Navy NGEN award that went to Leidos.
People
Union heads urge caution as DHS looks to resume normal operations
As the Department of Homeland Security considers the process of resuming normal operations, unions representing agency employees are calling on agency leadership to ensure that personnel have adequate resources to protect against exposure to COVID-19.
Digital Government
House Pushes IGs to Investigate Federal Agency Reopenings
IGs may have more work to do regarding the government’s coronavirus response.
Digital Government
House Dems want the Fed to open their digital banking services
Months after IRS began doling out stimulus checks, tens of millions of Americans have yet to receive their share. Experts are calling for better tech and expanded access to the banking system.
People
Fired State Department IG cites 'bullying' from senior officials
Steve Linick told lawmakers that he didn't know why he was dismissed from his post, but many Democrats say investigations of Secretary Mike Pompeo played a role.
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers want answers on Juniper backdoors
Members of Congress are pressing Juniper's CEO for details of an internal probe into how modified code for a compromised NSA encryption algorithm wound up in the company's firewall products.
Digital Government
GAO Provides Inspector General Reform Guidance to Congress
Among many recommendations, the Congressional watchdog suggested IGs only be removed for just cause.
Digital Government
Watchdog: VA Needs To Include More Specialists in Electronic Health Record Decisions
A new audit found Veterans Affairs’ EHR Councils were set up well and are doing good work, but need better outreach and communication to reach key stakeholders.
Digital Government
CBP Has Seized Nearly 900,000 Counterfeit and Unsafe COVID-19 Supplies
Customs officers have picked up hundreds of thousands of unapproved test kits, unproven medicines and substandard protective equipment.
Cybersecurity
Sen. Hassan digs into agency IT plans
The push comes, the New Hampshire Democrat explained, because of technology weaknesses exposed in the federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Modernization
HUD Employees Saw Few Disruptions In Shift to Mass Telework, Says IG
The COVID-19 pandemic upended some paper-based processes and led to some network bandwidth issues, but the department has weathered the transition well, the watchdog reports.
Cybersecurity
Auditors Call on OMB to Ensure Agencies Coordinate on State Cybersecurity Requirements
State officials say duplicative and fragmented requests are sapping their resources.
Cybersecurity
Government’s Annual Cyber Report Shows Improvements Across the Board
Agencies received lower scores for not holding contractors responsible for privacy requirements.
Modernization
GAO plans review of telework tech
The congressional watchdog plans to examine agency lessons learned from the rapid rollout of telework tools as part of pandemic response.
Cybersecurity
Privacy report outlines scope, limitations of ICE facial recognition
According to a recently released privacy assessment, Immigration and Customs Enforcement systems are linked to a network of image databases across the country, and future trainings are being eyed to combat abuse and misuse.
Ideas
Scaling AI: 3 Reasons Why Explainability Matters
In highly regulated industries, explainable AI is increasingly essential for leaders to ensure trust in, and govern, their enterprise AI applications.
Digital Government
Senators Make Bipartisan Push to Expedite Hiring for Workers to Oversee Pandemic Response
Measure would ensure special investigator has proper resources in light of Trump's recent IG firing spree, senator says.
Cybersecurity