Modernization

The impact of JEDI delays

As the DOD's $10 billion cloud procurement winds through a protest lawsuit, the Pentagon's top tech officer said the delays could contribute to federation and sprawl.

Modernization

Judge issues stay in JEDI protest case

Oracle's lawsuit against the Department of Defense looking to stop its $10 billion cloud buy is being frozen temporarily while DOD probes conflict-of-interest allegations.

People

Trump taps Education adviser to lead OFPP

Michael Wooten, a senior advisor on acquisitions at the Federal Student Aid office, was nominated to lead the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

People

Shutdown still in play, White House says

With the clock running out on a continuing resolution funding multiple agencies, the White House and the Congress appear to be edging toward a deal -- but a lot can still go wrong.

Acquisition

House panel launches probe of outside influence on VA

Allegations of the shadowy influence of three Mar-a-Lago cronies of President Trump on the inner workings of the Department of Veterans Affairs has prompted a congressional probe.

Modernization

DOD and VA consider an electronic health record czar

Lawmakers remain impatient for a single point of accountability for related efforts by Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs to modernize electronic health records systems.

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.

People

Survey: Feds fear a second shutdown

More than half of respondents to a FCW survey said their agencies are recovering quickly from the shutdown, but even more worry about another lapse in appropriations.

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.

People

OMB recalls feds to work

The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo instructing agencies to reopen after a continuing resolution ending the 35-day shutdown was signed into law.

People

Shutdown ends with three-week stopgap deal

President Trump announced a deal with Congress to fund the government while negotiations for border security priorities take place.

Acquisition

Small biz left holding the bag on pre-shutdown work

Without the cash reserves and diverse portfolios of major contractors, small businesses with contracts at shuttered agencies are facing big problems.

People

Legislators look for new ways to pay feds

As furloughed feds and those working without pay face a second missed paycheck, some in Congress are looking for solutions outside of a funding deal.

Acquisition

Education reboots multibillion procurement after lawsuit

The government is looking to modernize and streamline the technology it uses for the processing and servicing of the $1.4 trillion loan portfolio guaranteed by the Education Department's Federal Student Aid office -– but it's taking a while.

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.

People

Month-long shutdown shows no signs of ending

Furloughed feds and those working without pay face a second payday without a check, as a bid for wall funding from the Trump White House appears dead on arrival in Congress.

Acquisition

IG: GSA ignored emoluments issue when reviewing Trump lease

A watchdog report asserts that General Services Administration lawyers gave possible emoluments clause violations the short shrift in a review of President Trump's hotel lease.

Acquisition

Rights groups urge top tech vendors to stop selling facial recognition systems to governments

Warning that facial recognition systems "exacerbate historical and existing bias" that hurts disadvantaged communities, a coalition of 85 civil rights groups asks Amazon, Google and Microsoft to stop selling the tech to governments worldwide.

Acquisition

DOD's health data exchange running on bridge contract

The system that allows the Department of Defense to share health data across multiple legacy platforms and with outside providers is running on a sole-source bridge contract while a bid protest is being resolved.