Modernization

SSA restructures tech shop to center on the CIO

Be on the lookout for a vacancy announcement for the SSA CIO position.

Acquisition

Reorganizing government acquisition for the digital age

The General Services Administration recently reorganized its Federal Acquisition Service, eliminating its regional structure, a move its commissioner Sonny Hashmi says is already yielding positive results.

People

DHS aims to cut another 10M hours of paperwork

Within the newly formalized DHS Customer Experience Office, “our biggest challenge is that the demand far outstrips the supply,” said its leader, Dana Chisnell.

Artificial Intelligence

The people problem behind the government’s AI ambitions

As agencies move to fulfill requirements laid out in Biden’s AI executive order, workforce gaps remain “one of the biggest barriers” according to a White House official.

People

White House announces new acting cyber director, as nominee awaits Senate vote

Drenan Dudley, the deputy national cyber director for strategy and budget, will helm the ONCD until the Senate confirms a permanent leader.

People

Biden’s cyber director nominee clears Senate committee

As Biden’s pick for national cyber director — Harry Coker — makes his way through the Senate, the current acting director nears her last day.

Digital Government

Login-dot-gov is 'fraudulent,' says House Republican gunning to defund 18F

Texas Republican Pete Sessions said 18F “misled and lied to the government” about the credentialing service’s capabilities .

Digital Government

Labor Department calls on states to reevaluate unemployment benefit accessibility

Access to unemployment has been declining and differs drastically across demographic groups. The Labor Department is urging states and territories to do something about it in new guidance.

Digital Government

Labor Department to use TMF to build a retirement ‘lost and found’

The registry will enable people to search for private employment retirement, group health and other welfare benefit plans that still owe them benefits.

Breaking News People

IRS taps new CIO

The current acting CIO of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Rajiv Uppal, has been selected to take the top tech post post at the IRS — the latest in a series of leadership changes in the CIO shop at the tax agency in recent months.

Digital Government

OMB previews tech accessibility guidance

Federal Chief Information Officer Clare Martorana said coming guidance will focus both on external- and internal-facing government tech.

Digital Government

IRS hits key digitization goal months ahead of schedule

Although Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen plugged progress in IRS efforts to tame paper in the agency, she also emphasized that “playing politics with IRS funding is unacceptable.”

Digital Government

USDA hopes more data access will improve states’ SNAP delivery

The Agriculture Department is also working to help states address card skimming and other persistent problems in the SNAP program.

Cybersecurity

ICE’s ‘outdated and overly permissive’ device policy left the agency vulnerable, watchdog warns

A spring audit of agency mobile devices found several banned and outdated applications installed on personnel and contractor smartphones.

Artificial Intelligence

On the heels of Biden's executive order, agencies get White House directive on implementing AI

Agencies will be on the hook for tapping chief AI officers, adding risk management practices to AI like independent evaluations and more.

People

OPM head previews coming cyber and IT hiring flexibilities

The personnel agency is also gearing up to recruit AI workers into the government as part of a talent surge called for in the recent AI executive order.

Cybersecurity

The cyber workforce gap is growing

Despite a significant increase in the number of people entering the cyber field in 2023, demand is still far outpacing that supply.

Digital Government

CX proposal clears Senate committee

The legislation targets “high-impact” government services for streamlining and improvement.

Acquisition

White House looks to ramp up contract spending with small disadvantaged businesses

Last year, the federal government awarded small disadvantaged businesses over 11% of contracting dollars. Now, it’s aiming for 13%.

Digital Government

Are feds ready for FIDO?

The multifactor authentication standard is having a moment, but feds shouldn't expect to be able to ditch PIVs and CAC cards any time soon.