Cybersecurity

Kaine: Congress is nearsighted on privacy

Congress has "fundamentally surrendered" the public's expectations of privacy in their legislative approach to cybersecurity, according to a prominent U.S. senator.

Cybersecurity

CIO Scott pushes $3.1B IT fund as Congress probes legacy tech

Agencies have spent almost $23 billion on legacy IT over the past three years, according to reports to Congress. Is a revolving fund the answer?

Cybersecurity

DHS intel shop needs to work on privacy protection, says watchdog

The Office of Intelligence and Analysis at DHS office needs to buff its info handling skills, according to an inspector general report.

Cybersecurity

State IG: Broadcasters need tighter controls over user accounts

The Broadcasting Board of Governors isn't retiring inactive employee accounts quickly enough, according to an agency watchdog.

Digital Government

Senators seek to block expanded hacking powers for FBI

The Justice Department says greater authority is necessary to pursue anonymous criminals, but some senators oppose what they say is an encroachment on Americans' digital rights.

Digital Government

Senators want details on new background check bureau

Two Democrats with oversight responsibilities are asking OPM for specifics about its transition and reorganization plans for a new bureau formed to handle background checks.

Cybersecurity

Senator asks Fed about SWIFT heist

Hackers are stealing millions by cracking weak links in SWIFT's interbank money transfer system, and Sen. Tom Carper wants to know what the Fed and others are doing about it.

Digital Government

Some improvement, but no A’s, on FITARA scorecard 2.0

In the second round of FITARA grades, many agencies improved but none managed to get top IT management marks.

Digital Government

Is census 2020 running out of runway?

As the timeline shortens, House overseers are demanding that the CIO-less Census Bureau prove it is on track to get the technology and leadership ready for the 2020 headcount.

Digital Government

18F: Slack Incident Wasn’t a ‘Data Breach'

The tech team responded to the IG report saying a security vulnerability within Slack was fixed, and that data wasn’t exposed.

People

How to stay off the High Risk List

The IBM Center for the Business of Government shares some ideas for staying off the Government Accountability Office's high-profile watch list.

Digital Government

IGs press Senate on records access

A group of inspectors general appealed to congressional leaders to change a Justice Department order they say is preventing them from carrying out their oversight duties.

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.

Digital Government

New USPS legislation won't touch tech, probably

Lawmakers are exploring their options for an agency in dire need of aid.

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.