Acquisition

OPM: Contractor's departure will not affect operations

Imperatis had been awarded a crucial contract to carry out the Shell modernization project for OPM. The firm has quit due to "financial distress," according to OPM.

Cybersecurity

Federal background checks could soon factor in social media

After years of planning, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence approved the incorporation of public social media feeds in security clearance investigations -- a move that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Digital Government

Watchdog: 18F's Slack security exposed GSA data

GSA's innovation shop 18F enabled unauthorized data access by linking Slack and Google Drives with an open login standard, according to an inspector general alert.

Cybersecurity

FDIC shakeup over 'major incident' revelations

The agency is scrambling to shore up its internal cybersecurity practices as watchdogs scrutinize a spate of unauthorized employee data extractions.

Cybersecurity

Watchdog: Treasury hitting the mark as cyber steward

In its mission to help protect the nation's critical financial infrastructure, the Treasury Department is covering the bases, according to a new audit report.

Cybersecurity

GAO: FEMA needs framework to improve IT systems

According to the Government Accountability Office, FEMA needs to develop a governing framework for the oversight and modernization of IT investments.

Acquisition

HPC boosters back FITARA exemption for national labs

At a Capitol Hill conference, high-performance computer operators and vendors said the powerful machines should not be categorized as garden-variety IT for the purposes of procurement.

Cybersecurity

Town halls aren't fixing DHS

Employees throughout the Homeland Security Department's diverse components are less engaged than feds in any other agency. Is it a leadership problem?

Digital Government

Can the Pentagon keep up with rivals in tech?

Leading Defense Department officials warned lawmakers that global rivals could be outpacing the U.S. when it comes to accelerating military technology development.

Modernization

Key IT bills show signs of strength in Congress

Two key IT modernization bills could move in Congress, despite the compressed legislative calendar and the politically charged election year.

Digital Government

Government only as transparent as its technology, advocates say

A FOIA advisory committee is recommending that government update fee guidelines and permit agencies to release documents via email.

Modernization

Lieu calls for House probe into mobile security flaw

A flaw in a common telephony protocol that allows hackers to eavesdrop on calls poses a threat to national security, said Rep. Ted Lieu.

Digital Government

GAO: Data problems could be costing feds billions

A new report attributes many federal agency redundancies to a failure to manage, or even collect, the right data.

Modernization

GAO says mostly good news on cloud contracts

Asked to examine cloud service agreements, GAO found room for improvement but said that overall, agencies are covering their bases.

Cybersecurity

Senators seek answers on TSA tech

Lawmakers quizzed the head of DHS' Science and Technology Directorate on the proposed $469.9 million R&D budget.

Cybersecurity

How should the Pentagon confront civil cyber emergencies?

Defense Department has plans for cooperating with civil authorities for myriad security situations, but lacks specific guidance when it comes to cyber incidents according to a government watchdog.

Cybersecurity

Watchdog: TSA needs to improve IT controls

An Inspector General audit identified three IT controls deficiencies within the Transportation Security Administration, which potentially compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the agency’s financial and operational data.

Cybersecurity

DHS: Over 300 incidents of ransomware on federal networks since June

Two prominent senators had asked the departments of Justice and Homeland Security about the spread of ransomware, which encrypts a computer user’s data until hackers are paid off, usually in the form of a difficult-to-trace crypto-currency.

Modernization

IG: DOD behind on data centers

Consolidating data centers to save money has been a signature initiative of Defense Department CIO Terry Halvorsen, but the DOD inspector general says the department is lagging.