Digital Government
VA’s compliance with accessibility requirements still lacking, watchdog says
The Department of Veterans Affairs “did not effectively manage website accessibility to ensure Section 508 compliance,” according to an audit conducted by the department’s Office of Inspector General.
Defense
Experts expect some support for small businesses facing CMMC compliance
The Pentagon’s draft CMMC rule doesn’t exempt small firms from the security standards for defense contractors and subcontractors, but that doesn’t mean they won’t receive any help meeting the requirements.
Digital Government
Senators call for Transportation to offer ‘accessible, mobile-friendly’ service animal form
Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., called the paperwork that disabled Americans need to complete before traveling with their service animals “poorly designed and needlessly difficult to complete.”
Cybersecurity
CISA needs better collaboration with the EPA and water sector, watchdog says
CISA had “inconsistent collaboration” with relevant stakeholders due to a lack of formal mechanisms, according to the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General.
Cybersecurity
State's cyber bureau has ‘raised the U.S. profile on cyber globally,’ watchdog says
The Government Accountability Office said the creation of the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy in 2022 has “helped to better position State to achieve its cyber diplomacy goals.”
Artificial Intelligence
House lawmakers join push for agencies to disclose public-impacting AI uses
A group of House members from both parties rolled out companion legislation to a Senate bill that would require agencies to notify individuals when they are engaging with AI tools.
Cybersecurity
Agencies’ FISMA implementation is still ‘mostly ineffective,’ watchdog says
The Government Accountability Office found that less than half of surveyed federal agencies had compliant security programs and called for improved performance metrics.
Defense
DOD’s AI adoption efforts are starting to pay off, Pentagon official says
The Defense Department considers emerging technologies at “the center of how we think about planning for what the future of the military should look,” according to the head of the Pentagon’s Force Development and Emerging Capabilities office.
Artificial Intelligence
New AI tools spawn fears of greater 2024 election threats, survey finds
State and local officials are increasingly concerned about the possibility for AI tools to spread disinformation and power phishing attacks during the 2024 election cycle.
Cybersecurity
Space Force is crafting in-house cyber teams but sees need for closer work with USCYBERCOM
U.S. Cyber Command has been “an incredible partner” to the Space Force but does not currently have any personnel from the military branch within its ranks, a top official said.
Defense
Pentagon updates digital engineering guidance
The Pentagon’s new guidance for implementing digital engineering into defense systems covers the development and sustainment of weapons systems, software, business systems and the acquisition of services.
People
GSA announces new role to lead cloud strategy, governmentwide tech initiatives
Eric Mill, who served as a senior advisor to the federal chief information officer within the Office of Management and Budget, will now manage GSA’s cloud security strategy.
Artificial Intelligence
Bill sets transparency standards for AI models, including use of copyrighted material
New House legislation would direct the Federal Trade Commission to establish standards for “making publicly available information about the training data and algorithms used in artificial intelligence foundation models.”
Modernization
How USPTO built a culture of trust in its automation efforts
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s use of automation has helped officials quickly address identified security vulnerabilities and software bugs, an agency official said.
Modernization
Ongoing ‘reset’ looks to put VA’s EHR deployment back on track
An agency spokesperson said VA is "committed to resuming the system rollout" but performance and productivity goals need to be hit before additional deployments are rescheduled.
Cybersecurity
FDA and CISA need to update cyber agreement for medical devices, watchdog says
The Government Accountability Office said medical devices are not commonly hacked but still called them “a source of cybersecurity concern warranting significant attention.”
Cybersecurity
Pentagon issues proposed CMMC rule
The long-anticipated draft rule, which will be officially published on Dec. 26, outlines proposed updates to DOD’s cybersecurity requirements for defense contractors and subcontractors who handle sensitive military data.
Emerging Tech
How agencies will leverage virtual reality, generative AI over the next 2 years
A new Deloitte report forecasts that “spatial computing and the industrial metaverse” will have growing applications for state and federal organizations and said that “investigating these technologies can help agencies get a leg up on the future.”
Artificial Intelligence
Who is an AI worker? The Pentagon needs a better definition, GAO says
The Pentagon “can't fully identify who is part of its AI workforce or which positions require personnel with AI skills,” according to a new congressional watchdog report.
Cybersecurity
NDAA provision looks to close cybersecurity gaps in nuclear weapons systems
The requirement included in the fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill follows a 2022 GAO report that found the National Nuclear Security Administration did not fully implement “foundational cybersecurity risk practices.”
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