Federal CIO Kent Announces Cyber Reskilling Academy
Federal CIO Suzette Kent this morning announced creation of the Federal Cyber Reskilling Academy–a joint effort of the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Education, and the Federal CIO Council Workforce Committee–to kickstart the Federal government’s efforts to address gaps in the Federal cybersecurity workforce and help retrain Federal employees. […]
Feds Reach IT Modernization Tipping Point
A new report from MeriTalk and the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) finds that Federal finance, IT, and procurement experts believe we’ve reached an IT modernization tipping point. […]
DHS Launches ICT Sector Supply Chain Risk Task Force
The Department of Homeland Security on Oct. 30 announced launch of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Supply Chain Risk Management Task Force, which the agency said is charged with developing “consensus recommendations” to identify and manage risk to the global ICT supply chain. […]
DHS’ Manfra Discusses FISMA Update, Impact to CDM
Jeanette Manfra, assistant secretary for the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications at the Department of Homeland Security, said today that the new update to Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) guidance will place even more accountability on department leaders and reflects an evolution in discussions between agencies and DHS. […]
Trump Bans Federal Agencies From Using Anthropic’s AI
President Donald Trump on Friday ordered all federal agencies to “IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology,” ending an ongoing dispute between the Pentagon and the artificial intelligence (AI) company. […]
Duncan: 2 Key Changes Pushing DOD Toward 2027 Zero Trust Finish Line
As the Department of Defense (DOD) – which the Trump administration has rebranded to the Department of War – pushes to meet its fiscal year 2027 zero trust deadline, two major shifts over the past year have reshaped how the DOD is getting there. […]
Forge a Cyber Strong Nation – Tomorrow at Zscaler Public Sector Summit 2026
On March 3, join leaders from across government, educational institutions, and industry for the 2026 Zscaler Public Sector Summit at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. to explore how Zero Trust Everywhere and AI-driven security approaches protect critical systems, safeguard sensitive data, and empower agencies to maintain trust in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. […]
From Crypto Inventories to Confidential Computing: Mapping the Road to Post-Quantum Readiness
Attackers don’t need a quantum computer to start winning with quantum. They just need time. That premise – that adversaries can siphon encrypted data today and hold it until tomorrow’s decryption becomes possible – framed the conversation in “Cybersecurity in Focus: Acting Today Against Tomorrow’s Threat,” a Red Hat Government Symposium session. […]
Wyden to Block Confirmation of NSA, CYBERCOM Nominee Rudd
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., plans to vote against Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd and put a hold on his nomination to lead the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), Wyden’s office confirmed to MeriTalk. […]
DOD Surpasses 1.1M AI Users, Preps New Model Rollouts
More than 1 million unique users across the Pentagon are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their daily workflows, and the department plans to launch several new AI models “very, very soon,” a senior defense official said on Thursday. […]
Data in Motion Becomes Critical Front in DOD’s Zero Trust Strategy
As the Pentagon advances its zero trust architecture, senior military and industry officials said on Thursday that securely moving data to and from the tactical edge is emerging as a central operational challenge. […]
Marine Corps to Expand Digital Transformation Teams
The U.S. Marine Corps plans to expand its Digital Transformation Teams (DTXs) as part of a four-phase effort to scale artificial intelligence (AI) across the service, according to a senior official. […]
Lee, Durbin Move to Tighten Surveillance Law Ahead of Deadline
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is leading a bipartisan congressional effort to reauthorize a legal provision with additional safeguards to prevent the government’s surveillance of Americans’ digital data without a warrant. […]
Gottumukkala Moves to New DHS Role, Andersen Named Acting CISA Director
Madhu Gottumukkala is departing as the interim leader of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), with current agency executive director for cybersecurity Nick Andersen stepping in as the agency’s acting director. […]
With 80 percent of every Federal IT dollar spent on life support for legacy systems, the Federal IT community is exploring new options to modernize and innovate – virtualization, cloud computing, Flash technology, software-defined options, shared services, and more. MeriTalk is staying close to the leaders on the front lines, bringing you new ideas and lessons learned.
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