Author Archive
Stamp: USPS honors women cryptologists of WWII
A new Postal Service stamp includes a cipher that can be used to crack a secret code.
Employee Policy
VA acquisition workforce are mostly satisfied, despite reported program issues
A large majority of acquisition staff at VA reported, in a recent GAO survey, that they are satisfied in their current positions. This news comes despite continuing issues with the VA’s acquisition programs.
Employee Policy
Archivist confirmation hearing turns to politics behind Mar-a-Lago search
Republicans seized on a traditionally "sleepy" confirmation process to draw attention to the National Archives and Records Administration's involvement in the FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
Employee Policy
White House seeks input on federal evidence agenda for LGBTQI+ equity
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wants to know about possible blind spots preventing agencies from understanding what disparities are impacting the LGBTQI+ community nationwide, from accessing healthcare to housing.
Employee Policy
NARA recovered more than 100 classified documents from Trump in January
The National Archives earlier this year recovered hundreds of pages of classified material from the president's home, including documents relating to special access programs—some of the nation's most closely held secrets.
Employee Policy
Former CISA chief wants new, cross-cutting agency to lead fed 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.
Employee Policy
Senate passes bill to root out conflicts of interest in federal contracting
The Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act sets new disclosure requirements and expands authorities for federal contracting officers.
Employee Policy
Lawmakers: DHS IG should ‘step aside’ from Secret Service probe
Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari failed to notify Congress about the Secret Service’s refusal to comply with his office’s investigation for months, top lawmakers said.
Small business contract awards hit record $154B
But fewer of those companies are entering the federal market or competing for the work, the Small Business Administration says.
State Dept. releases draft $10 billion plan to upgrade diplomatic tech
The "Evolve" solicitation is designed to revamp the technology products and services used by U.S. diplomats at home and abroad.
What federal acquisition personnel can do right now to support sustainability
Officials and government purchasing experts recently showed off tools and resources that feds who work in this field can use to make federal procurement and acquisitions more sustainable and energy efficient.
IG finds weak Commerce Department infosec program
The Department of Commerce routinely fails to implement crucial security assessment measures—and has failed to put in place an effective continuing monitoring program, according to a new IG report.
Employee Policy
CISA preps update to zero trust maturity model
CISA will update its zero trust maturity model to help agencies meet goals outlined in the cybersecurity executive order released last year, an official said Tuesday.
Citizen satisfaction with federal government services hits bottom
The American Customer Satisfaction Index 2021 Federal Government Report showed citizen satisfaction in a freefall over the last four years, with declines across all indicators
Employee Policy
Federal court blocks contractor vax mandate
A nationwide injunction from a federal court blocks the Biden administration from enforcing its vaccination mandate for the federal contract workforce.
Employee Policy
Fed government still in dark on ransomeware
Information on the majority of ransomware attacks targeting American companies and civilian agencies remains unreported to the Department of Homeland Security, a top cyber official told lawmakers.
Employee Policy
Funding hampers cyber EO compliance
A group of agency CIOs shared what they see as the biggest obstacles in meeting a series of aggressive deadlines and modernization goals of the Biden administration's sweeping cybersecurity executive order.
Employee Policy
How GSA is implementing the contractor vaccination mandate
The agency's Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) and Public Building Service are using automated tools to send out contract modifications "by the thousands," to add the vaccination mandate said one agency official. FAS started issuing mass modifications on Oct. 8. They're issuing about 3,000 modifications per day.
Employee Policy
CISA chief looks to new system for new talent
Despite increasing competition among the public and private sectors in hiring top cyber talent, CISA Director Jen Easterly said she has high hopes for a new personnel management system which reduces friction in hiring and offers new career paths.
Employee Policy