Route Fifty
With Covid Aid Approved, Counties Will Look to Infrastructure
A major public works package, which proved elusive during the Trump years, is the next priority county governments will press for on Capitol Hill.
Nextgov
DARPA Building Special Chips for Data Privacy Protection
Fully Homomorphic Encryption is considered the “holy grail” of encryption. But right now it takes too much compute power to be used widely.
Nextgov
CISA: No Federal Agencies Compromised Through Microsoft Exchange Servers
Investigations remain ongoing, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency leaders said at a hearing on modernizing the federal government’s approach to cybersecurity.
Route Fifty
Covid Relief Bill Will Infuse Billions into Local Economies
From $1,400 stimulus payments to $300-a-week unemployment benefits, the $1.9 trillion aid package gets cash to residents that can translate to stronger state and local tax revenues.
Route Fifty
Alaska Becomes First State to End Restrictions on Vaccine Eligibility
The governor's office said shots of the Covid-19 vaccine will now be available to all residents age 16 and older.
Nextgov
Biden Names Federal CIO to Lead Governmentwide Modernization Efforts
A familiar face from the U.S. Digital Service and Office of Personnel Management will serve as the next federal chief information officer.
Nextgov
Air Force Only Service to Develop Cybersecurity Requirements for Weapon Systems Contracts, GAO Says
The audit found the Defense Department has improved weapon systems cybersecurity in recent years, but detailed requirements must make it into contracts.
Nextgov
Critical Update: Let’s Talk About UFOs
What’s behind unidentified aerial phenomena observed by military officials? Are we alone in the universe? Nextgov asks some experts.
Route Fifty
The Best and Worst States of 2021
U.S. News & World Report published the latest edition of its Best States Rankings.
Route Fifty
Chicago Ballparks Will Reopen to Limited Number of Fans
The city will allow about 8,000 people to attend upcoming Cubs and White Sox baseball games.
Route Fifty
Additional State and Local Perks Make it Into Senate Covid Relief Bill
Extra money for counties with untaxable public land and provisions that allow localities to spend federal dollars on hazard pay for workers are included in the version approved over the weekend.
Route Fifty
States Look to Forgive Unemployment Overpayments
Missouri lawmakers advanced a bill that would waive the federal but not state portion of any mistakenly paid unemployment benefits.
Nextgov
HHS Aims to Accelerate Technologies for Combatting Lyme Disease
The often-overlooked illness radically disrupts hundreds of thousands of lives each year.
Route Fifty
Senate Covid Bill Adds Restrictions on State and Local Aid
The legislation would impose requirements on how states can use the money, and also redirect $10 billion that had been bound for cities and counties.
Route Fifty
The States Where The Most Confederate Symbols Were Removed Last Year
The Southern Poverty Law Center says nationwide over 160 monuments and other symbols came down from public spaces.
Nextgov
Biden’s Pick For Defense Policy Chief Outlines Cyber Deterrence Position
In a contentious nomination hearing, Colin Kahl called for a whole-of-government approach to technology.
Nextgov
DHS Launching Voluntary COVID-19 Contact Tracing Program
Employees will be able to self-report a positive diagnosis through the ServiceNow help desk and official contact tracers will follow up with anyone who might have been exposed.
Nextgov
CISA Orders Immediate Action on Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Servers
All agencies must report their status to CISA by noon on March 5.
Route Fifty
Biden Criticizes ‘Neanderthal Thinking’ as Two Governors Roll Back Mask Mandates
The Republican governors of Texas and Mississippi this week announced plans to ease public health restrictions, prompting the rebuke from the president.
Nextgov