Digital Government

Pentagon Behind in Taking Action on Watchdog’s Recommendations

GAO tells lawmakers Defense’s 67 percent rate of acting on auditors’ advice trails the rest of government.

People

House to probe legality of making feds work during shutdowns

A House panel is probing the legal gray area of excepted operations during a lapse in appropriations.

Modernization

VA’s Health Record Overhaul Could Get Even More Expensive, Officials Say

The agency’s acting deputy secretary called the project’s $16 billion price-tag “an educated guess.”

Digital Government

GPO Has No Disaster Recovery Plan for Its Tech, Watchdog Says

If its IT infrastructure is taken offline, the agency could lose access to critical data.

Digital Government

Enzi wants answers on Census IT costs

Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), head of the Senate Budget Committee, is worried about growing Census IT costs and staffing challenges.

Cybersecurity

Red team hackers crack MHS Genesis

The $5.5 billion commercial health record system is "not survivable in a cyber-contested environment," according to an internal Pentagon report.

Acquisition

Final census test to include citizenship question

The Census Bureau is including a controversial question about respondent citizenship on its final test, while courts decide its ultimate fate.

Cybersecurity

Cyber red teams find DOD systems tougher to crack

A Pentagon watchdog noted improvements in cyber capabilities but worried that adversaries are improving their attacks faster than defenders are shoring up their systems.

Policy

Freshman Lawmaker Will Oversee VA’s Multibillion-dollar EHR Overhaul

Rep. Susie Lee will lead the House Veterans Affairs Technology Modernization subcommittee.

Modernization

Citing cyber risk, Pentagon watchdog wants to pause JRSS

A new report from the Defense Department's operational test and evaluation director says the Joint Regional Security Stacks program is undermanned and should be halted until security issues are resolved.

Modernization

Poor Leadership Set Back VA Data Center Consolidation Efforts, Watchdog Says

The agency failed to report an estimated 860 data centers, which violates FITARA requirements, auditors said.

Cybersecurity

Lawmaker: Congress Needs Fewer Committees with Cyber Oversight

Cybersecurity legislation won’t get anywhere if too many groups are weighing in, said Rep. Jim Langevin.

Acquisition

What's next for procurement after the shutdown?

Acquisition agencies are prepared for, but not necessarily expecting, a surge in post-shutdown buying.

Acquisition

Connolly: Federal IT won't get lost in House Oversight

While the House Committee on Oversight and Reform plans hard hitting probes of the Trump administration, the panel isn't abandoning tech and federal IT priorities.

Digital Government

GAO expands and elevates tech assessment

In response to a demand from lawmakers, the Government Accountability Office is launching a new team to provide technology expertise to Congress.

Acquisition

Judge in JEDI case limits documents, witnesses

Oracle's push to crack open Amazon's bid to run the DOD's $10 billion cloud program and hear from former Amazon employees was rejected by a judge.

Cybersecurity

Patriot Act updates lurk for Congress

The upcoming expiration of a handful of key provisions in the Patriot Act at the end of the year could set up another battle in Congress over the size and scope of U.S. surveillance authorities.

Cybersecurity

DHS faces immediate and long-term problems from the shutdown

The shutdown is having lasting effects on the mission at the Department of Homeland Security, with some effects more evident than others, according to ex-agency officials.

People

House Dems shutter IT panel

The IT Subcommittee of the Oversight and Reform committee is being folded into Government Operations under Rep. Gerry Connolly.