Tech-sector reaction to the White House’s sweeping cybersecurity executive order issued May 12 came in largely positive today, with security technology makers particularly applauding the urgency of the administration’s plans, the enterprise-wide view that the order takes for improving security, and its actions to hasten the movement of Federal agencies to cloud services. […]

Acting Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Brandon Wales said today the government is concerned that the nation is witnessing the prelude to broader-based cyber attacks, and he called on Congress to take action on legislation that would require reporting of cyber incidents to the Federal government. […]

If President Biden’s requested $6.5 billion to launch the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) receives approval from Congress in Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations legislation, the new agency will use such funding to “accelerate” transformational innovation in health research with a focus on diseases, according to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra. […]

Increased cloud service adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic has enabled the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to speed agency migration to new Continuous Diagnostic and Mitigation (CDM) Program dashboards. […]

Expanding and investing in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Pipeline Cybersecurity Initiative could address cybersecurity risks and prevent future cyberattacks on United States pipeline infrastructure, such as the recent Colonial Pipeline hack, according to Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y. […]

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is working on a “hardened” cloud environment that it can evaluate through pilots with Federal agencies, CISA Acting Director Brandon Wales told senators on May 11. […]

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is looking to publish by the end of June an internal AI Oversight framework that will be a first step in a “trust, but verify” development of AI solutions across the agency. […]

As Federal agencies and organizations are looking to make the move to zero trust security architectures, the Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) program should help guide that transformation, Sean Connelly, TIC program manager for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said May 12 at MeriTalk’s CDM Central: the Age of the Cyber Defender virtual conference. […]

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking to purchase another cloud-based fully integrated phenotyping field rover. […]

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, FedRAMP announced that it is now allowing remote testing of data centers. […]

Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program manager Kevin Cox delivered an upbeat assessment of the program’s progress in helping Federal agencies fortify their networks against cyber attacks at MeriTalk’s CDM Central: the Age of the Cyber Defenders virtual conference on May 12. […]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted the final rules to implement the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, which will help schools and libraries purchase the technology needed to close the homework gap. […]

The chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee said today they are interested in changing the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) to make sure that Congress gets timely notifications about major cyberattacks that have a national impact. […]

The Department of Homeland Security has named its next chief data officer (CDO), elevating senior advisor Mike Horton to the position. Horton took over in April, according to his LinkedIn, for Carlene Ileto, who had served as acting CDO since October 2020. […]

In a move to better serve individuals with hearing and speech disabilities, the General Services Administration (GSA) is transitioning to the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS), GSA announced May 10. […]

In a May 5 memo, the Department of Defense stated it needs improve the DoD Data Strategy’s focus areas by applying five “DoD Data Decrees.” […]

As the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into processes becomes more and more the norm, issues of privacy, bias, and accessibility all must be taken into account when considering what is ethical use of AI, a National Institute of Health (NIH) official said today. […]

The United States and the United Kingdom have issued a joint cyber advisory on Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) tactics, techniques, and procedures. […]

Reps. Andy Kim, D-N.J., and Joe Wilson, R-S.C., introduced bipartisan legislation on May 4 that would strengthen states’ cybersecurity readiness and allow governors to deploy their state’s National Guard to respond to cybersecurity threats. […]

The Treasury Department is seeking a tool to help trace cryptocurrency that may be linked to parties placed on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. […]

The United States Defense Digital Service (DDS) will change leadership next month, with Director Brett Goldstein stepping down in June and deputy director Katie Olson stepping in as acting director, DDS confirmed to MeriTalk today. […]

Numerous Federal agencies are springing into action in response to the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline Company, a major supplier of fuel to the northeastern U.S. that temporarily shut down pipeline operations after disclosing the attack on May 7. […]

The deputy commander of the Air Force’s information warfare command, known as the Sixteenth Air Force or Air Forces Cyber, is calling for the Air Force to automate its Cybersecurity Service Provider (CSSP) in order to remain one step ahead of adversaries. […]

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing a record number of citizens to interact with the Federal government, constituents are still worried about their data safety in interactions with the government and believe the government still needs to modernize its systems, according to a Carahsoft study released May 6. […]

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is looking to improve its airport screening technology – and its use of machine learning within that technology – in an effort to make the process easier and faster for travelers while enhancing security effectiveness. […]

Ensuring customers are happy is important, but Federal customer experience (CX) experts believe ensuring employees are happy is equally important. Federal experts say the same human-centered design framework can be applied to both CX and employee experience (EX) to give agencies a competitive advantage. […]

The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has recovered over $1.1 billion in funds paid through the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) that were initially granted based on false application information, SBA OIG said in a report released May 6. […]

Senior House Democrats are pressing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for action on implementing existing law that requires the Federal government to improve digital experience for citizens including modernizing the government’s public-facing websites. […]

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is keeping a close eye on the progress of the Defense Department’s (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program to improve the security of the defense industrial base (DIB) as CISA considers possible moves in the same direction on the civilian side of the Federal government. […]

Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing to discuss the disparities in broadband access and affordability across the country with Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., calling for government intervention to invest where the marketplace doesn’t support broadband. […]