Digital Government
OIG: Beware of Fraud Ring Scamming Equipment by Posing as Federal Buyers
Their preferred way to swindle laptops, hard drives and smartphones is by fax.
Cybersecurity
IRS Still Has Dozens of Cyber Fixes to Make From Last Year
Numerous security deficiencies in the agency’s IT ecosystem could leave data on millions of taxpayers at risk, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Cybersecurity
Census Chief Assures Lawmakers IT and Cyber Risks are Under Control
But with less than a year until the 2020 count kicks off, the bureau still has little room for error, the Government Accountability Office warns.
Digital Government
High-Level Vacancies Are Weakening Agency Management and Oversight, Lawmaker Says
Rep. Gerry Connolly’s comments marked the release of a bipartisan report recommending ways agencies can deliver better on their missions.
Cybersecurity
NSA Isn’t Always Following Its Own Cybersecurity Policies, Watchdog Says
The NSA Inspector General found the agency has “room for improvement” in every IT security category outlined in FISMA.
Acquisition
Federal contractor sentenced
A federal contractor who also served as a Virginia state legislator was sentenced by a federal judge for defrauding the government to get small business contracts.
People
House Dems welcome watchdog probe of FBI building
The Department of Justice Inspector General is launching a probe into the decision to scuttle a longstanding plan to move FBI headquarters to a suburban location and allow commercial development on the current downtown site.
Modernization
Watchdog: Poor Oversight Put GSA’s $50B Telecom Transition Over Schedule, Over Budget
The agency hired contractors to help with a smooth transition but ended up spending lots of money for little movement.
Digital Government
CBP Approving ‘Potentially High-Risk’ People for Trusted Traveler Program
The Homeland Security Department Inspector General found officers aren’t properly vetting applicants for the Global Entry program or checking their status at ports of entry.
Modernization
National Archives Needs Better Handle on Agency Electronic Records, Says Watchdog
Challenges come from outdated technology, uncertain inventory of agencies.
Modernization
Lawmakers: OMB ‘Skirting the Intent of the Law’ With New Data Center Policy
The administration’s shift in focus to optimization, rather than closures, is not what lawmakers envisioned when they passed FITARA.
Cybersecurity
Agencies Are Leaving Sensitive Data Vulnerable to Hackers, Congress Says
Amid growing threats from China, Iran and Russia, most agencies are struggling to put in place even the most basic cybersecurity measures, according to congressional researchers.
Digital Government
People-First Policies Will Help Close the Government’s Skills Gap
Human capital strategies should be baked into long-term strategic plans, a GAO executive said.
Digital Government
Chinese drone maker tries to quell talk of data siphoning
DJI's U.S. operation tells lawmakers its technology is secure and is approved for use by state, local and federal agencies.
Digital Government
NASA Managers and Contractors Significantly Lowballed Space Mission Costs, Watchdog Found
Despite cost overruns and schedule delays, the space agency awarded Boeing and Lockheed Martin $200 million in performance awards, GAO noted.
Ideas
The Risk Management Framework Is Dead. Long Live the RMF.
A framework is just that: a frame of reference from which to adapt according to your needs and situation.
Acquisition
Defense bill calls for DOD to fast-track certain software buys
A provision in the defense bill moving through the House of Representatives calls for the Pentagon to authorize a new fast track for software acquisition, with an eye to upgrading vulnerable weapons systems.
Digital Government
Your personal data is too public for agencies to verify
The widespread loss and theft of data on Americans has made a once popular form of remote identity proofing obsolete, and agencies need to start looking into other options.
Modernization
NDAA pushes DOD-VA cooperation on health record modernization
The $20 billion health record modernization efforts at the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are going to be joined a little more closely under an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Cybersecurity