Digital Government
HUD Must Improve Data Collection Methods to Ensure Accurate Homelessness Count, Audit Says
Estimates of the homeless population are likely undercounts.
Cybersecurity
Number of Foreign Companies Within Defense Supply Chain Grew Over Past Decade, Report Says
Reliance on foreign suppliers in the defense industrial base rose—notably in packaged software and IT services—even as calls for reshoring increase, according to a new report.
Policy
CBP Shifts to Enterprise Approach to Manage Phone Searches at U.S. Borders
The agency uses metadata to create a system of record for electronic device searches but agents may be able to access information irrelevant to their cases.
Cybersecurity
Pentagon Wants Contractor Feedback on Rule Change that Bans Certain Chinese Firms
A provision of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act banning agencies from contracting with companies doing business with Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE now takes effect.
Digital Government
Education Department Testing Tool to Make Data Collection Requests Easier
The pilot tool will undergo testing using real information requests at the Education Department and other statistical agencies but will later be available to other agencies.
Cybersecurity
GAO to Suggest More than 100 Ways to Secure Federal IT Supply Chains
An upcoming GAO report will provide recommendations for civilian federal agencies to secure their global supply chains.
Modernization
Agencies Off-Pace to Switch to New Telecom Contract Before Cutoff Date, GAO Says
The latest FITARA scorecard showed what percentage of operations have moved off old infrastructure contracts—and the numbers aren’t good.
Digital Government
Bill Calls for ‘Mile-by-Mile’ Assessment of Tech Needs at the Southern Border
Rep. Xochitl Small Torres on Wednesday introduced the Southwest Border Security Technology Improvement Act in the House, a bipartisan bill that’s already moving through the Senate.
Artificial Intelligence
Report Recommends Doubling Federal Funding for AI Research
A new report from Reps. Will Hurd, R-Texas, and Robin Kelly, D-Ill., calls for increased funding and stronger federal leadership on artificial intelligence development.
Cybersecurity
Using Automated Security Protocols Reduce the Cost of Data Breaches, Report Says
U.S. agencies lead in adopting security automation and orchestration, an expert said.
Policy
Democratic Senators Join Industry Groups in Calls to Extend CARES Act Funding Authority for Contractors
Industry groups are asking for an extension for the authority to reimburse defense contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Modernization
5 Ways the FITARA Scorecard May Evolve
Ten scorecards later, lawmakers and experts are looking for new ways to update the metrics on which agencies are graded.
Modernization
Most Agencies Are C-Students on 10th FITARA Scorecard
The latest FITARA scorecard marked a milestone since the first report in 2015—no agency received a D or an F grade. But fewer agencies improved grades this time around.
Modernization
USDA Unveils Fresh Round of Farmers.gov Updates
New features on the Farmers.gov portal include a dashboard to help farmers track H-2A related application decisions in real time.
Digital Government
National Data Service Should be Created Within the National Science Foundation, Data Foundation Says
The service could serve a central point for agencies—and state governments—to share data.
Artificial Intelligence
Facial Recognition Algorithms Struggle to Detect Faces Under Masks, NIST Study Finds
A new study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology found facial recognition algorithms developed pre-pandemic struggle to identify masked faces.
Digital Government
HUD IG Warns Agencies to Watch Out for Bidding Fraud
Procurement officials should be on alert for anticompetitive bidding scheme and possible collusion, the agency’s inspector general says.
Cybersecurity
DISA to Release Zero-Trust Model This Year
Vice Adm. Nancy Norton said the Defense Department must take a data-centric approach to protecting its networks.
Digital Government
Contact Tracing Demonstrates Need for National Privacy Laws, Lawmaker Says
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers said the technology being developed to aid the fight against coronavirus proves the need for a standardized privacy framework.
Artificial Intelligence
4 Senators Introduce Bill with New Tools to Compete Against China
The bill includes major tech proposals, calling for more investment and closer partnerships with allies.
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