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. […]
Waterman Teases New ‘FedRAMP Cybersecurity Service’ for 2026
Pete Waterman, the director of the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), previewed on Thursday a new initiative he called the “FedRAMP Cybersecurity Service” as part of the federal cloud security program’s broader plans for 2026. […]
NCCoE Outlines New AI Agent, OT Cybersecurity Initiatives
The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) laid out plans Wednesday to study identity and authorization for software agents and improve operational technology (OT) cybersecurity asset management, according to a new planning document. […]
Biometrics to Power Future US Airport and Border Screening
U.S. travel security agencies are betting on biometrics to power the next generation of airport and border screening, senior officials said Wednesday. […]
Lawmakers Challenge TSA on Labor Rights as Agency Pushes Tech Overhaul
The acting head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Ha Nguyen McNeill, told lawmakers Wednesday that the agency wants expanded funding for security technology, and defended its efforts to eliminate collective bargaining rights for TSA employees. […]
ICE CIO Unveils Industry Push to Expand Immigrant Detention
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expanding its partnerships with industry with a focus on big data tools and mobile enforcement technology, as it plans to scale up immigration detention. […]
GSA Officially Appoints Michael Lynch as Deputy Administrator
The General Services Administration (GSA) officially appointed Michael Lynch as the agency’s next deputy administrator, effective Jan. 20. […]
Army Seeks Acoustic Tools to Detect Small Drones
The U.S. Army is seeking new acoustic detection technology to help warfighters identify and respond to small unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones. […]
Lawmakers Seek Answers on Golden Dome Funds
Lawmakers on Tuesday took steps to require greater transparency from the Pentagon over how it is spending funds provided for the Golden Dome missile-defense program, adding new oversight requirements to the fiscal year (FY) 2026 defense spending bill. […]
GSA Wants Input From Resellers to Improve Federal IT Procurement
The General Services Administration (GSA) issued a request for information (RFI) on Thursday for input on how to improve the federal procurement process, specifically as it relates to the acquisition of IT hardware and software through value-added resellers (VARs). […]
House Bill Targets Feds’ Downloads of Chinese Apps
New legislation introduced in the House would block the use of China-controlled apps on federal government devices. […]
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.
And, as Federal IT leaders work to meet demands of an “always-on” highly mobile government, we bring you the stories and breaking news on balancing productivity with security. Our government IT news includes how agencies manage advanced persistent threats, and the steps that help guard against socially engineered threats. We look at the latest trends in malware, spyware, ransomware, and spear phishing. And – how can Federal agencies protect data from tomorrow’s cyber threats?
The MeriTalk “Industry Insider” column, offers a weekly news roundup of contracts and other activity in the Federal IT industry. Check with MeriTalk daily for the government technology news you need to know, or subscribe to get the latest stories delivered directly to your inbox. You’ll stay up to date with interesting and timely Federal IT stories on cybersecurity, big data, data center modernization, cloud, mobile, and other developments in your community – from what’s next for the MGT Act to the highly anticipated Federal IT revolving capital fund, MeriTalk brings you the trends and breaking IT news to help you modernize, innovate, and transform public sector technology and the missions you support.