Cybersecurity

New bill would expand SBA cyber training

The bipartisan bill, introduced in both the House and Senate, seeks to expand cybersecurity training to help protect small businesses from digital threats.

Cybersecurity

IG: Infosec weaknesses remain at VA

The 2016 FISMA report shows VA still struggling to secure its networks and data, despite making strides on eliminating vulnerabilities.

Digital Government

Trump budget includes OMB bump, but cuts IT policy spend

The White House's budget proposal for fiscal year 2018 hacks civilian spending to offset proposed defense increases, but it includes a slight uptick in funding for OMB to fund management priorities.

Cybersecurity

Senate Dem wants answers on reported Booz Allen leak

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) wants answers from Booz Allen Hamilton about its security posture and ability to manage sensitive intelligence data.

Cybersecurity

CIO: HHS faces 500 million hack attempts per week

Department of Health and Human Services CIO Beth Killoran estimates that the department faces "500 million cyber hack attempts each week" and cautioned that number is only going to go up.

Digital Government

White House tasks tech CEOs with fixing federal IT

The new American Technology Council convened high-ranking tech executives at the White House to surface solutions that can improve federal IT and digital services.

Cybersecurity

Senators: Reorg plans must balance workforce cuts against mission success

Agencies expect to hit the first deadline set by the White House's plan to restructure government and reduce the size of the workforce, but lawmakers want to make sure their efforts don't come at the expense of effective operations.

People

House Dems push back on Trump's pension cuts for feds

In a letter addressed to the House's speaker and minority leader, Democratic lawmakers rebuked the White House for proposed cuts to the federal workforce in the fiscal year 2018 budget request.

Digital Government

Trump tech office reaches out to feds

The White House's Matt Lira describes weekly meetings to forge and foster collaboration across siloed tech groups.

People

COOs can make government work better -- if they're hired

Agency chief operating officers can take the lead in improving government efficiency, according to a new report.

Modernization

FedRAMP trimming approval time, officials say

The time for cloud services to clear the Federal Risk Authorization and Management Program has been significantly accelerated.

People

How digital service teams fit in the new administration

Digital service teams hope their clout and support from the administration can break through decades-old cultural barriers and empower the federal IT workforce at large.

People

FITARA progress stalls on scorecard 4.0

After steady improvement on previous scorecards, agency progress on Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act implementation stalled on the fourth round.

Digital Government

COVFEFE the typo becomes COVFEFE the bill

Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) riffed on a recent Twitter meme with legislation that would expand the Presidential Records Act to explicitly include social media posts as documentary material.

People

Trump to create new council, office to fast-track infrastructure projects

President Trump aims to speed the federal permitting process for infrastructure projects and make it more transparent for project managers and the public.

People

White House official chided for violating Hatch Act

White House Social Media Director Dan Scavino Jr. was chided by an federal watchdog for stumping against a sitting congressman, a violation of the Hatch Act.

People

Gowdy given oversight gavel

The Republican Steering Committee has selected Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) to be the next chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Cybersecurity

U.S. faces challenges tracking cryptocurrencies

Improved IT systems, new training and updated legislation are needed to track the use of virtual currencies by ransomware crooks and terrorists, according to a U.S. official.

Digital Government

Senators not sold on privatizing air traffic control

President Trump's plan to privatize air traffic control operations is getting a cool reception from senators on both sides of the aisle.

Modernization

DHS chief doubles down on critical infrastructure designation for voting systems

In the wake of a leaked intelligence document describing Russian attempts to hack voting systems, DHS Secretary John Kelly reiterated his support for providing election systems with federal protection.