Digital Government

National intelligence strategy calls for new partnerships to harness emerging technologies

Federal agencies must collaborate with private sector partners and allies to better understand the implications of emerging technologies, according to the new strategy.

Cybersecurity

DHS cyber review board to examine China-linked cyberattacks of Microsoft 

The Cyber Safety Review Board will assess how a hacking group reportedly linked to China leveraged a vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Online to access government emails. 

Cybersecurity

White House looks to shore up open source software security

The Office of the National Cyber Director wants software providers to "contribute back to the security of the open source software they depend upon."

Cybersecurity

White House plan to secure schools from cyber threats ‘may not go far enough,’ experts say

As families across the country prepare for the back-to-school season, federal officials are preparing for increased cyberattacks targeting the nation’s education system.

Acquisition

Space agencies are reforming acquisition to accelerate commercial tech integration

The nation’s space agencies are leveraging new procurement techniques to get their hands on critical emerging technologies and maintain U.S. competitiveness.

Cybersecurity

White House launches new cybersecurity campaign to safeguard schools

The administration and its private sector partners announced a slate of new initiatives on Monday aimed at protecting the nation’s school systems and their digital infrastructure.

Digital Government

Government contractors grapple with enforcement challenges of TikTok ban

Industry groups are raising censorship and privacy concerns over a ban of popular social media app TikTok on devices used by government contractors. 

Cybersecurity

Report reveals 'sudden surge' in cyberattacks targeting government agencies

Cyberattacks impacting government agencies and the public sector spiked by 40% in recent months, according to a new report. 

Cybersecurity

House panel probes China-linked email hacks

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating how the State and Commerce departments responded to a cyberattack that successfully gained access to unclassified government email accounts of top-level officials.

Emerging Tech

DOD ‘years behind’ private sector in utilizing AI for cybersecurity, official says

The Pentagon is lagging behind industry in leveraging artificial intelligence to bolster cybersecurity, according to an official from the Defense Information Systems Agency.

Cybersecurity

Cyber workforce strategy requires buy-in across sectors, experts say

The new strategy released this week looks to address longstanding challenges in the cyber workforce – but it will require extensive cooperation from the private sector and academia to be successful, experts told Nextgov/FCW. 

Digital Government

US is falling behind in global digital leadership, report says

The loss of influence comes amid rising domestic anti-tech sentiments in Congress and across multiple White House administrations, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation said in a report released Monday.

Cybersecurity

US power grid faces escalating cyber threats, infrastructure experts warn

The power grid is experiencing heightened threats from foreign adversaries and domestic extremist groups that can pose devastating consequences for the nation’s supply of electricity, experts told a House subcommittee on Tuesday. 

Acquisition

Federal agencies set small business contracting record even as opportunities decrease

The total number of federal contracting dollars geared for small businesses hit an all-time high in fiscal 2022, but the actual number of contracts set aside for those companies continued a nearly decade-long decline.  

Digital Government

New bill aims to simplify federal grant applications, boost funding for underserved communities

The Streamlining Federal Grants Act was introduced by a bipartisan trio of senators to build upon a 2019 law.

Cybersecurity

Experts warn of financial challenges and gaps in cyber implementation plan 

From a crucial lack of federal funding to longstanding issues with the cyber workforce, experts told Nextgov/FCW that the new cybersecurity implementation plan features major “financial potholes.”

Cybersecurity

New White House cyber implementation plan looks to ramp up resilience

The plan, released Thursday morning, includes more than 65 “high-impact initiatives” that federal agencies will be tasked with executing to achieve the objectives outlined in the national cybersecurity strategy.

Cybersecurity

State Department email accounts hit in China-linked cyberattack

A China-based cybercriminal known as Storm-0558 gained access to unclassified U.S. government email accounts using forged authentication tokens according to a report released by Microsoft.

Cybersecurity

Trade groups press White House for national cyber director nomination

A coalition of industry stakeholders is urging the Biden administration to nominate a national cyber director by the end of the month in a new letter sent to the White House Wednesday. 

Emerging Tech

Space Race 2.0: How the government is rapidly adopting next-gen space tech

From humankind’s first-ever lunar space station to an unmanned test-bed for emerging technologies that lives in space, the government is using innovative techniques to buy and build the next generation of space technology.