People

EPA eliminates Trump workforce orders from labor contract

The Environmental Protection Agency rolled back the clock on portions of its collective bargaining agreement on official time, union office space, grievance procedures and more.

Digital Government

Biden taps 18F veteran Robin Carnahan to lead GSA

Robin Carnahan, formerly Missouri's secretary of state and the lead of state and local government practice at 18F, is the Biden administration's pick to lead the General Services Administration.

People

Connolly, Hice urge White House to fill MSPB slots

Appeals have been stalled at the Merit Systems Protection Board for more than four years, and leaders on the Government Operations subcommittee in the House want the White House to get moving on board nominations.

Digital Government

Google wins decade-old software case against Oracle

The Supreme Court ruled that Google was within its rights to copy and repurpose 11,500 lines of Java software code in the Android mobile operating system.

Digital Government

IRS plots $2.6B IT services consolidation

The tax agency plans to combine its modernization and sustainment contracts into a single task order on a governmentwide acquisition contract as it pushes ahead with the replacement of legacy systems.

Modernization

VA chief looks at spend, productivity on $16B health record modernization plan

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough told House lawmakers on Thursday that performance and joint execution were issues driving the 12-week "strategic review" of the Electronic Health Record Modernization program.

Modernization

VA plans 'strategic review' of $16B software program

New Veterans Affairs chief Denis McDonough announced a "strategic review" of the agency's Electronic Health Record Modernization program of up to 12 weeks.

Cybersecurity

House panel advances industrial control systems bill

New legislation puts the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in the center of federal response to threats to computerized industrial systems.

Cybersecurity

White House tees up cyber labeling policy

A 2020 law could provide some legal cover for executive orders regulating software and IoT cybersecurity, but new legislation could be required.

People

Biden signs Rescue bill, boosting TMF and adding pandemic leave for feds

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law on Thursday. In addition to a massive influx of funding to support Americans harmed by the economic fallout of the pandemic, there is funding available for IT modernization and provision to help the federal workforce cope with COVID-19.

Cybersecurity

House passes Rescue package with TMF funding

The $1.9 trillion bill is aimed at Americans suffering financial hardships from the pandemic, but in the federal IT community, the bill will be remembered for the dramatic expansion of the Technology Modernization Fund.

People

Martorana to take over as federal CIO

The OPM tech chief is moving to the White House to lead civilian federal IT policy.

Digital Government

TMF set to receive $1B infusion in COVID relief bill

Former federal IT leaders told FCW that the boost for the Technology Modernization Fund is welcome, but the big money may necessitate process changes.

Acquisition

Presidential Rank Awards are back

The Biden administration is bringing back the Presidential Rank Awards for 2021 after a one-year hiatus.

People

Tanden out as OMB director nominee

After weeks of controversy, the Biden administration's pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget withdrew her name from consideration.

People

OPM cautions feds on marijuana use

Past marijuana use is not disqualifying for applicants to federal jobs, but ongoing use in jurisdictions where pot has been legalized or decriminalized is still off limits, OPM states.

People

Manchin's opposition could sink OMB nominee

President Biden's pick of Neera Tanden's to head the Office of Management and Budget is in peril after a powerful centrist Democrat has announced his plan to vote no on the nomination.

Modernization

Watchdog: pause on VA's $16B electronic health records project might be needed

The Government Accountability Office wants the VA Secretary to postpone new installations of the Cerner electronic health record while the agency irons out the most serious system problems.

Digital Government

Accenture rebuffed again in Healthcare.gov protest

Accenture Federal Services lost yet another protest in its effort to hold on to a contract operating the Healthcare.gov exchange that connects health insurance applicants to coverage available under the Affordable Care Act.

Modernization

Oversight Dems push $9B TMF boost

President Biden included the massive uptick in the Technology Modernization Fund in his $1.9 trillion pandemic relief and recovery proposal, and key lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee are pushing to include the measure in legislation.