Digital Government

Raytheon, Palantir win $876M battlefield tech contract

After years of protests and legal wrangling, Palantir is finally part of the Army's battlefield intel analytics system.

Acquisition

VA goes all in on APIs

The agency's new Lighthouse project looks to nurture a community of developers to build apps incorporating VA data.

People

OPM puts agencies on notice about hiring politicals for civil service jobs

The federal government's HR agency put up a caution flag about hiring former political appointees for career jobs, as Congress weighs in on the practice of current politicals "burrowing in" to the civil service.

Digital Government

CMS launches API for Medicare claims data

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is flipping the switch on a service that lets Medicare beneficiaries more easily download and share their health data.

Digital Government

GSA takes the lead on making federal websites mobile friendly

Agencies need to start paying attention soon, because the Connective Government Act will require all new sites to optimize for mobile users.

Modernization

Could SCOTUS break the cloud?

In oral arguments on a critical data access case, the Supreme Court justices examined whether a 1986 communications privacy statute can be adapted to cloud computing.

Modernization

Cloud vendors eye key Supreme Court case

Microsoft is defending a case involving a 1986 law that will have consequences for cloud vendors and law enforcement no matter how it turns out.

People

Raj Shah exits DIUx

After almost two years at the helm of the Pentagon's innovation shop, Raj Shah is returning to the private sector.

People

VA chief to reimburse for wife's travel, tickets

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin is looking to put a highly charged oversight report behind him as he presses for his 2019 budget request.

People

IG rips VA chief over travel, tickets

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin is in the crosshairs of an inspector general report, which alleges he improperly accepted government travel for his wife and free tickets to Wimbledon over the course of an offiical 10-day trip to Europe.

Digital Government

VA wants new budget line for commercial health record

The Trump administration plans to establish a $1.2 billion account for modernizing electronic health record management at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Digital Government

Congress votes to end overnight shutdown

The Senate and House voted to pass a two-year topline budget agreement and a six-week continuing resolution. after a brief overnight appropriations lapse after midnight Feb. 8.

Digital Government

New stopgap funding bill faces Senate opposition

A House plan to keep the government open past Feb. 8 faces an uphill climb in the Senate.

Digital Government

Is another shutdown coming?

Congress is facing another appropriations deadline Feb. 8, and a fifth stopgap funding bill is likely necessary, assuming it can pass.

Digital Government

Will feds get to read the Nunes memo?

A move by Republicans to publicly release a classified memo could have unintended consequences for federal employees.

People

Oversight Chairman Gowdy won't seek reelection

After a short stint holding the House Oversight and Government Reform gavel, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) announced plans to leave Congress.

People

Trump: Expand VA's firing authority governmentwide

In his State of the Union, President Trump touted the Department of Veterans Affairs' use of new power to terminate low-performing employees, and wants Congress to expand the measure to cover all agencies.

Digital Government

Global fitness tracker data exposes IoT policy gap

Thanks to data from fitness trackers, jogging routes of service members are providing a virtual atlas of sensitive military installations and forward operational bases around the world.

People

Trump picks federal CIO

Ernst & Young's Suzette Kent is the administration's choice to serve as CIO and lead the Office of E-Government at OMB.

People

Connolly doubts full funding deal is possible by Feb. 8

A Democratic supporter of the continuing resolution currently funding the government says that there's too much to do and not enough time to do it before the measure expires.