Digital Government

VA Extends Delay of EHR Rollout Until June 2023 to Address ‘Outstanding Issues’

The Department of Veterans Affairs said additional time is needed to streamline deployment of its new electronic health record system to “make sure it is functioning optimally for veterans.”

Cybersecurity

Lessons from China’s Cyberattack Strategy Can Help CISOs Better Manage Threats, Report Says

A new report from Booz Allen Hamilton analyzed more than a dozen Chinese-sponsored cyberattacks over the past decade.

Cybersecurity

Malicious Emails Surged for Election Workers in 2 Battleground States Ahead of Primaries

Research conducted by cybersecurity firm Trellix found that county election workers in Arizona and Pennsylvania saw an increase in phishing schemes ahead of their primary elections.

Policy

Social Media Content Regulation Requires G7 Consensus, Think Tank Says

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation said a U.S.-led forum could develop “a set of voluntary, consensus-based guidelines” for social media platforms to use when moderating user-generated content.

Digital Government

CISA Names Acting Head of National Risk Management Center to Permanent Role

Mona Harrington, who previously served as the executive director of the Election Assistance Commission, has been the acting assistant director of CISA’s NRMC since March. 

Policy

FCC Moves to Limit the Number of Spam and Scam Texts

The proposed rule out of the Federal Communications Commission notes such messages should be blocked “at the network level.”

Digital Government

Oversight of DOD Special Operations Forces Requires Better Data, Watchdog Says

Current data collected by U.S. Special Operations Command lacked both consistency and transparency, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Cybersecurity

CISA and FBI Say Malicious Cyber Activity is Unlikely to Compromise Election Infrastructure

The joint public service announcement said “extensive safeguards in place” make it difficult for bad actors to interfere in upcoming midterm elections.

Cybersecurity

GAO: Communication Breakdowns Hurt Otherwise Positive View of Federal Ransomware Support

State, local, tribal and territorial governments have “generally positive views” of agencies’ ransomware assistance, but cited “inconsistent communication” from the FBI as a challenge.

Emerging Tech

Lockheed Martin, Verizon Demonstrate Capabilities of 5G-Enabled Drones for DOD

Recent tests showcase how multiple drones can conduct real-time transfers of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data to geolocate military targets.

Cybersecurity

Over Half of Operating Systems at VA Medical Center in Texas are Outdated, Watchdog Finds

An audit conducted by the VA’s Office of Inspector General found unaddressed security vulnerabilities and deficient devices at the Harlingen VA Health Care Center.

Cybersecurity

Watchdog Identifies Multiple Security Deficiencies at VA Medical Center in Louisiana

The VA’s Office of Inspector General found “critical and high-risk vulnerabilities on 37% of the devices” at the Louisiana-based medical center.

Digital Government

VA ‘Moving Toward Full Compliance’ With Geospatial Data Law, Watchdog Finds

The VA’s Office of Inspector General found said the agency is noncompliant with three of the law’s requirements but is currently in the process of addressing its deficiencies.

Digital Government

Senate Confirms New White House Science and Tech Advisor in Historic Vote

Dr. Arati Prabhakar is the first woman, immigrant or person of color to serve as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Modernization

VA Official Has 'Deep Concerns' About Agency's EHR Deployment

But leadership at the agency pushed back against projected cost overruns and delays moving forward.

Modernization

Acquisition Failures at VA Lead to Congressional Calls for Enhanced Oversight

Republican leaders on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee want the VA to halt major purchases until a new binding acquisition management framework is implemented.

Cybersecurity

Combating Foreign Malign Influence Requires Enhanced Information Sharing

Experts advised the intelligence community to have “more holistic conversations” with the public about the threat landscape.

Policy

Climate Change Poses Threat to U.S. National Security, GAO Says

The Government Accountability Office said federal agencies need to “increase their resilience” to climate risks that endanger technologies like radar sites and the electric grid. 

Cybersecurity

White House Announces $1B in Cyber Funding for State and Local Governments

The four-year grant program, included in last year’s infrastructure law, will help states and local communities “strengthen their cyber resilience.”

Cybersecurity

Social Media’s National Security Implications Draw Lawmaker Scrutiny

Senate Homeland Security Committee members grilled social media executives about their content moderation practices and ties to foreign adversaries.