Management

A Cybersecurity Agency Has Hired Its First 'Chief People Officer'

NASA's Elizabeth Kolmstetter will be charged with aligning talent recruitment efforts at the cybersecurity agency during an increasingly tight labor market.

Tech

No ‘Specific or Credible’ Cyber Threats Affected Integrity of Midterms, CISA Says

Despite “a handful” of DDoS attacks targeting state and local election websites and some technical glitches affecting voting equipment, CISA says it saw “no activity” that should undermine faith in the results of the midterm elections.

Workforce

How Existing Policy Can Help Fill the Cyber Workforce Gap

There's still time to retool the Cyber Talent Management System at DHS to create a cadre of cyber specialists to fill key roles at federal civilian agencies.

Pay & Benefits

OPM's Ahuja Gets an Earful from Agencies Over Enhanced Pay for Cyber Talent

The director of the Office of Personnel Management is navigating the intense competition among federal agencies for in-demand cybersecurity workers.

Management

A Defense Policy Bill Amendment Would Establish a Veteran-Focused Cyber Training Program

A provision included in House and Senate legislation authorizing Defense Department spending for fiscal year 2023 would allow veterans and military spouses to receive cyber training “at no cost.”

Pay & Benefits

TSP’s Recordkeeper Transition Created an Opportunity for Hackers to Steal Accounts, a Victim Says

Over the summer, a hacker was able to claim a VA psychologist’s TSP online account access and filed a nearly $100,000 hardship withdrawal.

Tech

CISA and FBI Say Malicious Cyber Activity is Unlikely to Compromise Election Infrastructure

The joint public service announcement said “extensive safeguards in place” make it difficult for bad actors to interfere in upcoming midterm elections.

Tech

New Report Shows Significant Improvement in Consumer Cyber Hygiene

Senior administration officials and cybersecurity leaders marking Cybersecurity Awareness Month weighed in on a consumer survey examining how behaviors have changed over the last three years.

Workforce

Can Apprenticeships Help Address the Cyber Workforce Gap?

The push comes as part of the Labor Department's cybersecurity apprenticeship sprint, which it launched with the Commerce Department over the summer.

Oversight

Watchdog Identifies Multiple Security Deficiencies at VA Medical Center in Louisiana

The VA’s Office of Inspector General found “critical and high-risk vulnerabilities on 37% of the devices” at the Louisiana-based medical center.

Oversight

The Labor Department Evolves Its Efforts to Help States Deliver Unemployment Insurance

A pilot project meant to give the federal government a more central role in unemployment insurance delivery, is raising questions inside the Department of Labor and in Congress about the role of identity verification and enforcement authority over states in the system.

Tech

A Cyber Workforce Strategy is Coming From the White House, Along With an Implementation Body to Make Sure it Works

The Office of the National Cyber Director has a workforce plan in development that looks to address public sector and private sector gaps in the cybersecurity profession.

Workforce

The White House's Cyber Office Seeks a Workforce Lead

National Cyber Director Chris Inglis said Wednesday that the cyber workforce problem is a top priority.

Oversight

CFPB Warns Firms On Poor Cyber Hygiene

The agency says that bad password and data management and other practices can expose companies to legal consequences.

Management

A Much-Hyped Effort to Help DHS Land Cyber Talent is Slow to Make Hires

So far about four hires have been made under the Cybersecurity Talent Management System, with the agency hoping to make offers to 150 new cyber specialists by the end of September.

Tech

Former CISA Chief Wants a New, Cross-Cutting New Agency to Lead Federal Cyber

Chris Krebs wants to establish a new agency to focus on privacy, data and cyber risks facing the U.S., or to pull the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency from under the Department of Homeland Security.

Tech

Text Messages Are Federal Records and Must Be Saved, DoD Orders

After news that Jan. 6 insurrection-related texts were wiped from former Pentagon officials’ phones, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks ordered data on department devices must be retained.