Nextgov

There’s One Less Option for Agencies Now on GSA’s Next-Gen Telecom Contract

With last year’s acquisition of Level 3 by CenturyLink, the companies’ offerings on the Enterprise Infrastructure Services contract have been consolidated.

Nextgov

Security Clearances Won’t Get in the Way of Responding to Election Cyber Threats, Officials Say

One intel leader urged a “just get it done, we’ll worry about the consequences later” approach to countering threats on Election Day.

Nextgov

IG: Incompatible Tech Added to Family Separation Policy Chaos

The agencies tracking parents and children separated at the border had to email data and compile spreadsheets, an auditor found.

Tech

Trump Is Not Texting You

What should be a routine, required national test of the wireless emergency alert system has become a crucible for public distrust.

Nextgov

DHS Restructures Research Office to Meet Emerging Threats Head On

The new structure will also keep the office from working on projects that will never see the light of day.

Management

Understanding Blockchain’s Promise for Government

The technology can help government drive improved performance and economic activity.

Nextgov

FBI Director Implores Corporate Boards to Join Cyber Fight

Companies should amp up protections and be wary of deals that expose U.S. intellectual property, FBI Director Chris Wray says.

Nextgov

12 Companies Tapped For Phase II of Agriculture’s Centers of Excellence Journey

The real work begins as a dozen companies sign on to implement the modernization strategies developed in the first phase of the program.

Nextgov

Defense Agencies Want a Help Desk Vendor That’s Just the Right Size

The new back-office support services will be split into virtualized and on-premise help desks.

Nextgov

By the Numbers: Federal Agencies Face Uneven Struggle Hiring Young Tech Talent

At one civilian agency, IT pros over 60 years old outnumber their under 30 colleagues 19 to one.

Nextgov

Border Agency Didn’t Secure Drone Surveillance Video, Photos for 2 Years

An auditor’s report found major security and privacy deficiencies in Customs and Border Protection’s drone surveillance program.

Nextgov

Social Security Administration CIO Needs Stronger Authority, Watchdog says

The agency’s top tech official weighs in on budget and information security processes but has little role in other mandated responsibilities.

Nextgov

How the U.S. Can Advance Artificial Intelligence Without Spending a Dime

Funding AI research is still critical, but experts say there are other things the government can do to speed up innovation.

Nextgov

Hackers Report Cites ‘Staggering’ Vulnerabilities in U.S. Voting Systems

The report from DEF CON’s Voting Village found one bug that alone could flip the Electoral College. Another has gone unfixed for 11 years.

Nextgov

GSA Awards $2.5 Billion Payroll and Work Scheduling Contract

The award is part of GSA’s NewPay Initiative aimed at making payroll and scheduling more user-friendly.

Nextgov

House Oversight Forwards Bills to Improve Gov Websites, Formalize CIO and CISO Roles

The 21st Century Idea Act would mandate dot-gov improvements including allowing e-signatures for citizen services.

Nextgov

Homeland Security Wrestles with Defending a Disappearing Network Perimeter

Homeland Security and administration officials are working on an update to the Trusted Internet Connection policy and keeping it tech-agnostic.

Oversight

House Passes Bill to Standardize, Centralize Grant Data

Without machine-readable reports, waste will continue, lawmaker says.

Tech

DHS Aims to Replace Slow, Outdated Bioterror-Detection System

A new plan to draw on big data and distributed sensors will replace a 2003 system that can take up to 39 hours to detect a threat.