Policy

GAO Dings OMB on Performance Goals for Agencies’ IT Management

The federal CISO’s plan for getting agencies to focus on cybersecurity measures the administration considers most urgent did not go over so well in a shifting Congress.

Modernization

Thousands of US Telecom Workers Needed to Deploy Broadband, Watchdog Says

The Government Accountability Office found “mixed evidence” that there is a shortage of skilled workers needed to carry out broadband deployment efforts.

Digital Government

Watchdog: Data Officer Council Has Made Progress on Policy Efforts, But Work Remains

The Government Accountability Office found that the Council must follow its new detailed plan to fully meet statutory requirements.

Ideas

What Social Media Regulation Could Look Like: Think of Pipelines, Not Utilities

A potential preview of what social media regulation might look like.

Cybersecurity

GAO Highlights Interoperability Challenges With Zero Trust

A cybersecurity specialist from the watchdog is ready to dive into related policy implications, but says work on agencies’ implementation is the more immediate concern.

Digital Government

Lawmakers Intro Bill to Ban TikTok in U.S.

TikTok poses a national security threat, according to lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle.

Digital Government

Inspector General Reforms Could Be on the Horizon 

The negotiated version of the National Defense Authorization Act contains language to protect IGs from political interference and help them do their jobs better. 

Emerging Tech

GAO: Agencies Need to Conduct Cyber Risk Assessments of IoT, OT Devices in Critical Infrastructure Sectors

A Government Accountability Office report found that the agencies responsible for managing infrastructure in the healthcare and public health, energy and transportation sectors need to better assess their cyber risk mitigation strategies.

Digital Government

Lawmakers Discuss Crypto Regulatory Bill Following FTX Collapse

Members on the Senate Agriculture Committee consider applying classic market restrictions to the digital asset marketplace with financial regulators.

Digital Government

USDA ‘Did Not Establish Performance Goals’ For its Broadband Program, Watchdog Says

A report from the Government Accountability Office found that the Agriculture Department’s ReConnect program lacks set performance objectives and a detailed fraud mitigation framework.

Emerging Tech

Capitol Hill Presses Crypto Exchanges Post-FTX Bankruptcy

Lawmakers launch probes into financial details of cryptocurrency exchanges as federal regulators stay quiet on FTX investigations.

Digital Government

The Latest Improper Payment Numbers Are Here, But What Do They Mean?

The Office of Management and Budget published its annual governmentwide report on improper payments, but a fraud expert says they aren’t entirely reliable.

Policy

Transportation Needs to Share More Info on Connected Vehicle Strategy, Watchdog Says

The Department of Transportation is developing ways to use less spectrum in connected vehicles, following an FCC decision.

Cybersecurity

IG dings State Department's information security program in annual report

The State Department Office of the Inspector General says it found weaknesses in eight of nine domains in an audit of the department's information security program.

Cybersecurity

Offshore Drilling Operations Vulnerable to Cyberattacks, Watchdog Warns

The Government Accountability Office made a new case for improving the cybersecurity safeguards within offshore drilling and natural gas facilities. 

Cybersecurity

Secret Service’s Zero Trust Plan Must Account for OMB Guidance, Watchdog Says

The Secret Service’s plan for adopting a zero trust architecture model across the agency’s systems has not been updated since the Office of Management and Budget released new guidance in January.

Cybersecurity

DOD Must Enhance Cyber Incident Reporting and Sharing, Watchdog Says

The Government Accountability Office found that the Pentagon “lacks an accountable organization and consistent guidance” for documenting and sharing details about reported cyber incidents.

Cybersecurity

Breaches of personal data at DOD have doubled since 2015

A recent oversight report detailed that the Defense Department experienced nearly 1,900 breaches of personally identifiable information in 2021 and may need a better system for informing affected individuals.

Ideas

Enhancing the FITARA scorecard

Opportunities exist to enhance the FITARA scorecard to ensure its continued relevance and to keep pace with technology changes.