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. […]
Pentagon’s FY 2027 Budget Request Cuts R&D Funding Despite Overall Increase
The Trump administration has requested a record-breaking $1.5 trillion defense-spending plan for fiscal year (FY) 2027, but within that big ticket request, Pentagon research and development (R&D) efforts funding would decline. […]
Microsoft Expands Copilot Agents Across Government Clouds
Microsoft announced on April 2 that it is expanding its Copilot capabilities for the U.S. government, including rolling out new Analyst and Researcher agents across the Government Community Cloud (GCC). […]
NSF Cuts Put Spotlight on Another Risk: Selling the Value of US Science
With newly proposed funding cuts to the National Science Foundation (NSF), leaders in government and industry agreed that the United States is struggling to clearly communicate the value of its research investments and translate them into real-world capabilities fast enough. […]
Army Releases Final Solicitation for $50B MAPS Contract
After several rounds of updates, the U.S. Army released the final solicitation for its Marketplace for Acquisition of Professional Services (MAPS) contract on Wednesday, setting the stage for vendors to bid on a 10-year, $50 billion multiple award contract. […]
White House Seeks $4.24B for VA EHRM as 26 New Deployments Are Planned in 2027
The White House is requesting $4.24 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2027 funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program, as the department plans to deploy the system to 26 additional sites that year. […]
Report Finds Surge in Political Appointees as Career SES Ranks Drop 30% Under Trump
The Trump administration has significantly reshaped the federal workforce, installing political appointees at an unprecedented pace while sharply reducing the ranks of career senior leadership, according to a new report. […]
Feds Struggle to Scale AI Amid Legacy Tech, Skills Gaps, Survey Finds
Federal agencies are facing significant barriers to scaling artificial intelligence technologies due to outdated IT systems, workforce shortages, and governance challenges despite widespread interest in implementing the technology, according to a new survey from Ernst & Young LLP (EY). […]
FCC Seeks Insight on Spectrum, Licensing Reforms to Boost U.S. Drone Industry
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on April 1 issued a public notice seeking comment on potential spectrum, licensing, and regulatory changes to accelerate U.S. drone development. Comments are due May 1 and reply comments are due May 18. […]
Chandra Donelson to Step Down as Space Force CDAO
Chandra Donelson, the U.S. Space Force’s chief data and artificial intelligence (AI) officer (CDAO), announced she plans to step down from her role, according to a LinkedIn post made earlier today. […]
GAO: AI-Fueled Technologies Raise New Privacy, Safety, and Space Law Questions
Innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies may lead to major advancements in neural brain implants, robotics, and systems aimed at removing space junk in the next decade – but they will also come with new policy implications. […]
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?
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