Smarter Gov Tech, Stronger MerITocracy

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. […]

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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. […]

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CBP, Adobe, SSA Officials Headline Service to the Citizen Award Winners

The Service to the Citizen Awards Program has announced its 2025 award winners that include senior officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Social Security Administration, and Adobe – among many others from Federal and state government and the private sector. […]

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FDA: Cybersecurity Must be Core to Medical Device Design

Amid rising cyberattacks on healthcare systems, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging medical device makers to build cybersecurity into devices from the start as part of new guidance that outlines protections across the entire product lifecycle.  […]

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DoD to Launch New Joint Counter-Drone Task Force

The Department of Defense (DoD) plans to establish a new joint interagency task force to confront the growing threats of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — more commonly known as drones. […]

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New FCC Policy Plan Aims to Speed Broadband Infrastructure Expansion

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr on July 2 unveiled his Build America Agenda that aims to have the agency pursue action on a number of fronts to pave the way for service providers to build out more fiber-based networks that provide high-speed broadband services.   […]

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MeriTalk Q&A: Illumio’s Gary Barlet Sizes Up SLG Cyber Outlook

With a March presidential executive order putting some breathing room between the Federal government and states on cybersecurity protections – and state and local governments hoping for a second go-round of funding from Congress under the 2021 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) – we checked in with Gary Barlet, Illumio’s public sector chief technology officer, for his read on the new landscape. […]

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VA Not Prioritizing Accessibility When Purchasing IT Systems, IG Says

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is not ensuring the IT systems it purchases meet accessibility standards required by law, according to a new report from the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG). […]

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Space Force Pushes Back Launch of First MEO Missile Warning Satellites

The U.S. Space Force has delayed the inaugural launch of its next-generation missile warning satellites in medium-Earth orbit (MEO) from late 2026 to spring 2027, citing supply chain delays and technical hurdles, a senior official confirmed this week. […]

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White House Nominates Ryan Cote as VA CIO

President Donald Trump has nominated Ryan Cote to become the assistant secretary for information and technology and chief information officer (CIO) at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the White House announced on Tuesday. […]

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DoD Cutting Off Weather Satellite Data by End of July

The U.S. Navy’s Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) will stop processing and distributing data by the end of July from a decades-old military weather satellite program that has provided crucial environmental intelligence, a spokesperson confirmed to MeriTalk. […]

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Senate Drops Workforce, State Cyber, Open RAN Items in Budget Blizzard

Now that the Senate has pushed its version of reconciliation funding over the finish line amid a blizzard of changes to the bill, here’s a look at a few workforce and tech items that either failed to make the final version of the legislation, or were beaten back on the funding front during the process.   […]

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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.

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