Digital Government

Trump Removes Acting Pentagon IG Slated to Lead Pandemic Oversight

Only current IGs may serve in the new position created by Congress to oversee the government's coronavirus relief effort.

Digital Government

New White House Guidance Says Agencies Should ‘Minimize Face-to-Face Interactions’

The Office of Management and Budget said the government must continue to operate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Digital Government

Senator Calls on Administration to Offer Flexibilities on Security Clearance Adjudications for Coronavirus

Sen. Warner wants to ensure that coronavirus financial hardships don’t negatively impact intelligence community employees and contractors.

Digital Government

OPM and Defense Dept. Issue Guidelines for Civilian Employees on Coronavirus

New memos spell out expanded telework flexibilities, leave policies, alternative work schedules and more.

Digital Government

Senators Call on OPM to Ensure Feds and Contractors Are Protected as Coronavirus Spreads

The lawmakers pushed for expanding telework and preventing agencies from imposing disciplinary actions or pay cuts that could impede health precautions.

Digital Government

New Bill Would Strengthen Protections for Whistleblowers Who Expose Classified Information

The legislation would make it so that a narrower group of people could be prosecuted for revealing such information.  

Digital Government

Bill Would Require Frequent Congressional Testimony from Acting Defense and National Security Officials

Trump administration's acting officials "limit congressional oversight of our national security," the measure's sponsor says. 

Digital Government

DHS to Waive Contracting Regulations to Speed Up Border Wall Construction

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf is using a 2005 law to override certain requirements.

Cybersecurity

White House Budget Gives Election Agency More Funding, But Expert Says It's Not Enough

"A budget should be doubling down on funding [election-related] institutions," the observer argued. 

Artificial Intelligence

Report: Federal Agencies Must Be 'Better Connected, More Collaborative'

Agencies need to work together and with the private sector to improve how they manage IT systems, data and their workforces, researchers say.  

Digital Government

GSA Praised for Progress on Contracting Schedule Consolidation

Compared to a 2015 merger, “phase two [of the current process] far exceeds the expectations,” said one observer.

Digital Government

White House Budget Office Wants to Know How You Would Make Contracting More Efficient

The federal government is looking to reduce cost and time of procurements, like the private sector.

Cybersecurity

White House Seeks to Revise Federal Grants Process to Reflect New Priorities

The changes would reduce the reporting burden on grant recipients, among other things.

Digital Government

Defense Pledges to Do a Better Job of Sharing Security Information With Overseas Contractors 

The State Department has yet to respond to an industry association letter expressing concern over contractor safety. 

Modernization

EPA Could Save Taxpayers Thousands of Dollars Through Stronger Oversight of Mobile Phones

The agency “missed an opportunity” to better use $12,000 spent over two years on unnecessary voice and data services, watchdog finds.

Cybersecurity

New Funding for Election Security Assistance Doesn’t Go Far Enough, Experts Say

Ahead of the 2020 presidential election, Congress appropriated $425 million for states to help secure election infrastructure.

Cybersecurity

Watchdog: OPM is At Risk of Not Being Able to Restore IT Systems Post-Disaster

The massive 2015 data breaches that exposed personal information of current and former federal employees are the subject of an ongoing lawsuit.