Digital Government

GSA announces $150M in Federal Citizen Services Fund projects

The Technology Transformation Services is using $150 million in the American Rescue Plan to fund 14 citizen-facing digital service projects.

Cybersecurity

CISA chief tees up cyber directives for the water and chemical sectors

CISA Director Jen Easterly said new directives for the water and chemical industries were coming soon in the wake of the passage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes cybersecurity requirements for public water systems.

Acquisition

Funding challenges hamper cyber EO compliance, CIOs say

A group of agency CIOs shared their biggest obstacles in meeting a series of aggressive deadlines and modernization goals of the Biden administration's sweeping cybersecurity executive order.

Cybersecurity

OMB official reviews progress six months after the cyber EO

A federal official overseeing the implementation of the cybersecurity executive order signed in May said many agencies have met its aggressive deadlines so far.

Cybersecurity

CISA orders civilian agencies to fix known flaws in six months

The binding operational directive issued Nov. 3 requires federal agencies to remediate known exploited vulnerabilities on their networks under specific timeframes is also intended to serve as guidance for the private sector and state and local governments.

Digital Government

GSA addresses plans for FBI headquarters at House hearing

GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan told lawmakers she was in contact with FBI Director Chris Wray about ongoing plans to build new headquarters for the bureau after the years-long plan was scrapped by the previous administration.

Cybersecurity

Senate Republicans seek IG probe of TSA pipeline directives

Republican leaders on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee are calling for an inspector general probe into how the Transportation Security Administration developed its first ever pipeline-specific security directives.

Cybersecurity

Federal cyber leaders assess TMF awards

National Cyber Director Chris Inglis said he co-chaired a meeting with top federal cyber leaders this week to analyze current projects with investments from the Technology Modernization Fund.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers examine TSA's growing role in cyber

Lawmakers on the Homeland Security Committee convened cybersecurity experts and key stakeholders from the transportation industry to discuss new rules in the works for the transportation sector.

Acquisition

Federal watchdog calls out transparency issues in pandemic spending

A committee established to ensure transparency around government spending related to COVID-19 found that federal agencies failed to provide clear reporting on how they were spending billions of dollars.

Acquisition

Senate funding bill zeros out TMF

It's a familiar story: The House looks to add to the Technology Modernization Fund while the Senate taps the brakes

Acquisition

The growing importance of GWACs

One of the government's most popular methods for buying emerging technologies and critical IT services faces significant challenges in an ever-changing marketplace

Digital Government

GSA looks to scale Login.gov with TMF award

The General Service Administration plans to scale up the Login.gov program to make digital identity verification a more equitable and secure practice after it was awarded nearly $187 million through the Technology Modernization Fund.

Acquisition

Is category management hurting small businesses?

Small business owners testified on Capitol Hill about getting squeezed by category management and contract bundling initiatives.

Cybersecurity

Clarke stresses cooperation as momentum builds on Capitol Hill behind breach disclosure legislation

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), chair of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation subcommittee, said building trust with critical infrastructure entities was fundamental to expanding information sharing between the public and private sectors.

Modernization

IT, supply chain figure in agency climate plans

Federal agencies release climate adaptation and resilience plans, many of which feature new initiatives to combat current and future risks to critical infrastructure and information technology.

Cybersecurity

CISA chief looks to new system to attract cyber talent

Despite increasing competition among the public and private sectors in hiring top cyber talent, CISA Director Jen Easterly said she has high hopes for a new personnel management system which reduces friction in hiring and offers new career paths.

Digital Government

Survey: Federal IT workers say agencies are lagging with digital transformations

In a survey, 88% of federal employees working full-time in technology or IT-focused roles say agencies have fallen behind on modernization plans, citing cultural resistance to change and the inability of contractors to quickly implement new initiatives.

Acquisition

White House orders federal contractors vaccinated by Dec. 8

New COVID-19 guidance directs federal contractors and subcontractors to make sure their employees are vaccinated — the latest in a series of new vaccine requirements the White House has been rolling out in recent weeks.

Modernization

GSA plans one-stop shop cloud marketplace

The General Services Administration is hoping to build a comprehensive framework and market contractual vehicle for agencies seeking cloud solutions, with a request for information set for release in the coming weeks.