Policy

USDA wraps equity commission, vows to continue work 

The department will likely have to contend with anti-DEI efforts as it pursues this goal.

Emerging Tech

GSA testing finds variations in the accuracy of digital ID verification tech

The preliminary results of a study that tested five different vendor solutions found some to be relatively accurate, while others were inaccurate or inequitable.

Exclusive Modernization

TMF at the tipping point

The government’s revolving fund to help agencies jumpstart IT modernization and cybersecurity projects is at a “critical juncture,” in terms of funding and congressional support, according to the General Services Administration, which administers the fund.

Digital Government

CX bill passes Senate committee

The proposal is one of many that moved through House and Senate committees this week, including a transparency bill that brings additional congressional oversight to the General Services Administration.

Digital Government

State Department goes big with online passport renewal

The latest pilot has been ongoing since June, but limited in scale. Now, Americans can renew online anytime.

People

Harris touts skills-based hiring for feds on the campaign trail

The move to skills-based hiring for federal government jobs has been ongoing under the Trump and Biden administrations.

Modernization

Lawmakers mull a fraud-focused scorecard for oversight

Agency watchdogs warned lawmakers that their centralized fraud analytics capacity could end next year without congressional action.

Digital Government

Why digital identity should be a priority for the next president

MITRE called for greater attention to identity issues after a series of workshops held with stakeholders about the importance of White House leadership.

Modernization

Inside the IRS push for digital transformation

IRS employees at an Austin, Texas processing center must still sort through heaps of paper documents. But digitization tools are being powered on to help.

Exclusive Modernization

IRS will stick with legacy processing system for the upcoming tax season

The IRS is waiting to switch away from the old Individual Master File “out of an abundance of caution,” despite hopes to potentially convert to the new one this year, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told Nextgov/FCW.

Cybersecurity

White House cyber czar launches new hiring sprint 

The federal government’s main occupational series for IT jobs saw 3,000 open positions in fiscal 2024.

People

Cori Zarek exits USDS

The deputy administrator of the U.S. Digital Service has left for a new job at Apolitical.

Digital Government

SSI to move core disability program application online

The initial rollout will be available to adults who have never married and are applying for Supplemental Security Income for the first time.

Digital Government

NIST releases new draft of digital identity proofing guidelines

Among the changes is a new identity proofing option that doesn’t use biometrics like facial recognition.

Digital Government

ICE struggles to track unaccompanied minors, oversight report says

The agency lacks automated systems to chart the path of underage migrants through the immigration system.

Digital Government

Energy Department wants to use AI to speed up permitting

The hope is that helping feds dive into historical environmental documents creates efficiencies and better outcomes.

Emerging Tech

DOD unveils new biodefense-focused supercomputer 

The new system is part of a collaboration with the Department of Energy-sponsored Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Digital Government

SSA has a plan, but wants more funding to get it done

The 2024 agenda’s top priorities for the remainder of the year stem from over 5,000 recommendations from employees.

Modernization

IRS is flying blind without plans to modernize legacy tech, watchdog says

This isn’t the first time the IRS has been called out by oversight officials for a lack of detailed technology planning.