Digital Government

Census Bureau changes course on key 2020 question

The move comes despite statistical research supporting an internal Census recommendation to combine two key questions to improve response rates.

People

Anne Altman to chair Siemens Government Tech board

The longtime federal business leader for IBM will succeed retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

Modernization

Security clearance process deemed 'high-risk' by GAO

The Government Accountability Office has added the governmentwide security clearance process to its list of government programs most in need of reform.

Digital Government

GAO to investigate bot-driven net neutrality comments

The congressional watchdog looks to take on the FCC's electronic filing system and the possible widespread of use bots to flood the system.

People

Do ethics norms still matter in the workforce?

Government ethics experts worry that perceived ethical lapses at top of the administration are influencing everyday feds.

People

Even short shutdowns complicate federal hiring

With two government shutdowns in recent memory -- and a third looming -- the disruptions of federal operations make an already-protracted federal hiring process even more challenging.

Digital Government

Census prep suffers under a CR or a shutdown

Experts say unprecedented budget problems are affecting preparation for the 2020 population count, and even brief funding disruption could jeopardize readiness.

Cybersecurity

Senate hears from IC nominees as spy authority renewal is set to pass

President Trump’s nominees for two key intelligence community oversight roles offered support of section 702 reauthorization during a smooth confirmation hearing.

Modernization

HHS looks to infrastructure, shared services for modernization

The Department of Health and Human Services is looking to expand its use of shared services, revamp its IT infrastructure and incorporate artificial intelligence as part of its modernization plan.

People

Connolly, Schatz push to give feds a pay raise

Bill would improve upon the 1.9 percent pay increase the president proposed for civilian employees.

Cybersecurity

House passes vulnerability disclosure oversight bill

The House of Representatives passed a bill requiring the Department of Homeland Security to inform Congress about how it makes vulnerability disclosure decisions.

Cybersecurity

Federal financial managers skeptical about reorg, survey says

Members of the federal financial community have doubts the Trump administration's plan to reorganize the federal government while slashing civilian budgets will make agency operations more efficient.

People

Can AI help simplify federal acquisition?

For all the mystery still surrounding the future of artificial intelligence, some early governmental uses could help federal workers and contractors navigate acquisition regulations to make federal purchasing less complex.

Digital Government

Digital fellowship program is back and growing for 2018

Building off last year's successful debut, the student-initiated Civic Digital Fellowship is back at more agencies, with more fellowship slots.

Cybersecurity

Hurd, Monaco, Rometty to chair think tank's new cyber group

A D.C.-based think tank is launching a new cybersecurity strategy group to be led by the chair of the House's key IT panel and an Obama administration security adviser.

People

OPM extends pay freeze for senior ranks

The Office of Personnel Management is extending a pay freeze for senior political officials — at least until Congress passes appropriations legislation.

Cybersecurity

DATA Act review finds errors in $2 billion of DHS transactions

An oversight report found $1.9 billion in DHS transactions could not be linked to their corresponding award-level transactions for Q2 of FY2017, but the agency is pushing back on the findings.

Digital Government

How cross-agency collaboration could improve tech oversight

By working across agency lines, watchdogs could improve tech, cybersecurity and financial oversight governmentwide, but greater resources and authorities may also be needed, according to a new report.

People

Census enters 2018 facing more questions than answers

After a 2017 filled with uncertainty and slipped deadlines, the Census Bureau faces a critical 2018 that could make or break the constitutionally mandated count.

Digital Government

Hurd dishes on MGT's future

Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) discusses the prospects of the MGT Act's centralized modernization fund actually getting funded for fiscal year 2018 and how agencies can maximize the working capital funds.