• Teleworking DoD employees are once again a target in the latest spending legislation from House appropriators. A policy rider in the fiscal 2025 defense spending bill would block any funding from going toward the costs of teleworking or remote working for defense employees and contractors. The GOP-led appropriations committee advanced the spending bill last week. The telework measure, however, may be unlikely to make it into the final appropriations package for fiscal 2025. Democrats, with a Senate majority, have remained largely in favor of federal telework. They say it fosters better workforce recruitment and retention.
  (Fiscal 2025 Department of Defense appropriations bill - House Appropriations Committee)
• Early signs are pointing in the right direction after some recent federal workforce reforms. The Office of Personnel Management’s initiatives over the last couple of years have included banning the use of salary history in hiring, creating a portal for internship openings and broadening eligibility for the Pathways Program. Larger impacts of those changes are likely still further down the road. But there are already some initially positive indications, especially for early-career recruitment: “It’s going to take a little more time. I do think what we’re seeing, though, is a renewed and increased interest in federal job opportunities by early-career talent,” OPM Acting Director Rob Shriver said.
  (Early-career federal job openings seeing ‘renewed and increased’ interest, OPM’s Shriver says - Federal News Network)
• The Energy Department wants to secure the future electric grid from cyber threats. Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response (CESER) is working to set security expectations for using the cloud. Later this year, the CESER office will convene with big cloud service providers and the clean-energy sector to collaborate on cybersecurity requirements. The discussion comes amid growing threats to critical infrastructure, including the energy grid. Many renewable energy operators are relying on cloud computing for critical services.
  (Energy working with renewables industry, cloud providers on cyber requirements - Federal News Network)
• The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to keep aging and disabled vets living independently. The VA is looking at how smart-home technologies and wearables like smartwatches can flag when aging and disabled veterans are having a medical emergency in their homes. Joseph Ronzio, VA’s deputy chief health technology officer, said the department is also taking steps to ensure veterans have a say as to who gets this data, and how it may be used. “Everyone nowadays has some smartness in their home, whether it’s a speaker, whether it’s light switches, whether it’s different types of lights or other physical devices — cameras, motion detectors that leave a digital service," Ronzio said.
  (VA looking at ‘smart home’ tech to keep aging, disabled vets living independently - Federal News Network)
• The Army has taken over the role of the Combatant Command Support Agent for U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM). The Department of the Air Force has served in this role since 2017. The shift mainly happened because the primary location of CYBERCOM operations is at Fort Meade in Maryland, where the Army has a significant presence. About 350 Air Force civilian employees in U.S. Cyber Command became Army civilians as part of the reshuffle. The Army will now provide administrative and logistical support to CYBERCOM. Congress mandated the transition as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
  (Army becomes combatant command support agent for CYBERCOM - U.S. Army)
• The Defense Department has signed a $248 million deal with Duke Energy to deliver solar power to five military bases in the Carolinas over the next 15 years. The power will come from two newly-built solar arrays in South Carolina, and DoD has agreed to buy all the electricity those facilities can generate. Defense officials said the project helps meet the government’s energy sustainability goals, and – in combination with on-base microgrids – makes the five bases more resilient against disruptions to off-site power supplies.
  (DoD Announces Two Solar Projects to Supply Five Military Installations in the Carolinas With Clean Energy - Department of Defense)
• Three more agencies are getting nearly $30 million to accelerate their IT modernization projects. The governmentwide Technology Modernization Fund is granting $17 million to the Energy Department to update its human resources IT systems. The fund is also backing a Bureau of Indian Education project to modernize school websites for tribal communities. The Federal Election Commission is also getting funding to improve online services for political campaign filers.
  (Technology Modernization Fund announces investments to modernize tribal school websites, campaign finance software, federal HR system - General Services Administration)
• The Department of Transportation (DOT) is drafting a new cybersecurity strategy. Transportation officials told the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that the agency will finalize the plan by September. GAO said DOT needs a strong cyber risk management plan to address threats to its data and systems. The congressional auditor is also urging Transportation officials to take a closer look at their cyber workforce needs.
  (Priority open recommendations for Transportation Department - Government Accountability Office )
• The Space Force’s first chief technology and innovation officer, Lisa Costa, has officially retired from federal service. At the Space Force, Costa was responsible for developing strategies and policies that advanced science and technology efforts across the service. She also spearheaded the Unified Data Library project, a repository that collects space situational awareness data from military and commercial sources. Prior to her current role, she served as the chief information officer at U.S. Special Operations Command. There is no information yet as to where Costa will be working next.
  (Space Force’s chief technology and innovation officer retires from government service - LinkedIn)

The post Teleworking DoD employees targeted by House spending bill first appeared on Federal News Network.

• When it comes to speeding up the Defense Department’s acquisition processes for big weapons systems, things are headed in the wrong direction. That is one of the findings of the Government Accountability Office’s annual assessment of the Pentagon’s major procurements. GAO said on average, DoD’s major acquisition programs are taking 11 years to deliver their first capabilities — about three years longer than planned. The report also found slowdowns in DoD’s so-called “middle tier” of acquisition — a pathway that’s explicitly designed for speed.
  (Weapon Systems Annual Assessment - Government Accountability Office)
• The IRS is taking major strides to wean itself off paper. The IRS estimates more than 94% of individual taxpayers no longer need to send mail to the agency, and that 125 million pieces of correspondence can be submitted digitally each year. For taxpayers who still prefer filing paper tax returns, IRS is working on being able to digitize that paper return. “If you choose to send us the paper, we will process it. But we are ushering in some nice tools with the modernization," said Darnita Trower, the director of emerging programs and initiatives at the IRS. "We don't intend to have people continue keying in tax returns manually. We want to scan and extract that data,” Trower said.
  (IRS hit a ‘big milestone’ to wean itself off paper. What comes next? - Federal News Network)
• A National Science Foundation initiative aims to bring better data to the cyber workforce challenge. The Cybersecurity Workforce Data Initiative is out with a new report explaining how many official labor data sources do not fully account for cybersecurity work. That includes classifications used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Education Department. The initiative’s report recommends marrying up cyber workforce definitions with federal labor databases. And the initiative, led out of the NSF, is now preparing to potentially conduct a survey of the U.S. cyber workforce.
  (NSF initiative aims to bring better data to the cyber workforce challenge - Federal News Network)
• The Senate Armed Services Committee has greenlit a number of AI-related provisions in its version of the 2025 defense policy bill. The committee's version of the bill requires the Defense Department to initiate a pilot program that will assess the use of AI to improve DoD shipyards and manufacturing facilities operations. Lawmakers also want the Defense Department to develop a plan to ensure that the budgeting process for AI programs includes cost estimates for the full lifecycle of data management. The bill would also expand the duties of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer Governing Council.
  (Senate lawmakers pushing a number of AI-related provisions - Senate Armed Services Committee)
• Victims of identity theft are waiting nearly two years, on average, for the IRS to give them their tax refunds. In cases where a scammer stole someone’s identify to get that person's refund check, the IRS took about 22 months to complete those cases. The National Taxpayer Advocate said the COVID-19 pandemic drove up wait times when the IRS shut down processing centers. But, so far this year, wait times are not going back down to pre-pandemic levels.
  (Identity theft victims are waiting nearly two years to receive their tax refunds - National Taxpayer Advocate)
• The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency just ran the federal government’s first artificial intelligence tabletop exercises. It involved more than 50 AI experts from government and industry, who convened last week at a Microsoft facility in Reston, Virginia. The exercise simulated a cybersecurity incident on an AI-enabled system. The event will help shape an AI Security Incident Collaboration Playbook being developed by CISA’s Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative.
  (CISA, JCDC, government and industry partners conduct AI tabletop exercise - CISA)
• Senate lawmakers are seeking to limit funding available for the Defense Department's initiative designed to support cyber operations across the military services. It is known as the Joint Warfighting Cyber Architecture (JCWA). The Senate version of the defense policy bill is looking to restrict funding available for the effort until the commander of U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) provides a comprehensive plan to minimize work on the current JCWA. The Senate Armed Services committee also wants CYBERCOM to create a baseline plan for a more advanced version of JCWA. House and Senate leaders will begin negotiating the defense bill once the Senate clears its final version of the measure.
  (Senate seeks to limit funding for JCWA - Senate Armed Services Committee)
• The Biden Administration is contemplating a new acquisition policy that would clear up some confusion on when contractors have to follow the government’s rigorous cost-accounting standards. The Cost Accounting Standards Board is asking for public feedback on potential rules that would lay out exactly how those standards apply to indefinite delivery contracts. According to the Government Accountability Office, those types of agreements make up about half of federal contract spending, but there are not clear standards on when the cost accounting standards apply to them.
  (Whether and How to Amend CAS Rule - Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Cost Accounting Standards Board)

The post Major DoD acquisition programs taking too long, GAO says first appeared on Federal News Network.

• Senate Republicans are putting a hold on more than 40 of President Joe Biden’s nominees, half of whom are nominees to the federal bench. But the list includes former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, who Biden picked to serve on the Postal Service’s Board of Governors. Senators are also blocking New York real estate developer Jeff Gural’s nomination to serve as chairman of the Public Buildings Reform Board. Gural currently serves as a board member. The board is tasked with recommending underutilized federal buildings that agencies should sell.
  (Senate Conservatives Announce Sweeping Hold Policy On Biden Lawfare Nominees - Sen. Doc Marshall (R-Kan.))
• Some feds continue to see fraudulent deductions from their flexible spending accounts. Some employees saw fraudulent FSAFEDS deductions in their June 7 paychecks. Fraud in the FSAFEDS program was first reported in late May. The Office of Personnel Management still says it has no evidence that FSAFEDS systems have been breached. The fraud is thought to have impacted several hundred federal employees. OPM has paused enrollments in the FSAFEDS program to stem further instances of fraud.
  (Some feds continue to see fraudulent FSAFEDS deductions - Federal News Network )
• For the third time, the incumbent vendor for DoD's nearly $3 billion freight contract has lost a pre-award bid protest for the follow-on award to Defense Freight Transportation Services. Crowley Government Services has been challenging a part of the solicitation that would let the General Services Administration perform contract audits. The Government Accountability Office and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia had already declined to overturn that provision of the RFP. This month, the Court of Federal Claims did the same. Crowley also has an appeal pending on that issue — and others — before the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
  (Crowley Government Services v. the U.S. - Court of Federal Claims)
• President Joe Biden has nominated Army Maj. Gen. Paul Stanton to lead the Defense Information Systems Agency. If confirmed, Maj. Gen. Stanton will take over for Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner, who has been in the position since 2021. Stanton will also serve as the commander of the Joint Forces Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network located at Fort Meade, Maryland. Stanton currently serves as the commanding general of the Army Cyber Center of Excellence. Prior to his current role, Stanton served as the deputy director of operations at the U.S. Cyber Command and as the commander of the Army Cyber Protection Brigade.
  (Biden nominates next DISA director - DoD)
• The Republican-controlled House has cleared its version of the 2025 defense policy bill by a slim margin, despite Democratic opposition to provisions related to abortion access; diversity, equity and inclusion programs; and climate change efforts. Only three Republicans opposed the measure and six Democrats voted in favor of it. Meanwhile, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved its own version of the defense policy bill, which is $25 billion above budget caps. House and Senate leaders will begin negotiating the final version of the measure once the Senate clears its version of the bill.
  (House clears its version of NDAA - House Armed Services Committee)
• Brig. Gen. Camilla White is now leading the Army’s program executive office for combat support. She previously served as the deputy of the Army’s program executive officer for command, control and communications-tactical. Prior to that, White completed her assignment as the chief of staff to the Army assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology. White was promoted to the rank of brigadier general earlier this year, becoming the first African American woman to attain the position within the Army Acquisition Corps. White’s program executive office manages a wide range of equipment programs.
  (PEO C3T former deputy to take over PEO for combat support - PEO Combat Support & Combat Service Support)
• The Army is getting serious about moving its networks to the latest generation of internet protocol addressing. A new memo from Army CIO Leo Garciga is telling Army components that by the end of September, all new IT equipment will need to be IPv6-enabled before it is used on Army networks. Also, for any legacy gear that still can't support IPv6, officials will need to have a plan in place to retire those systems by the end of fiscal 2025. That schedule is in line with the Office of Management and Budget's 2020 IPv6 guidance, which called for 80% of government systems to be using IPv6 by 2025.
  (CIO Guidance for Army’s Transition to Internet Protocol Version 6 - U.S. Army)
• The National Security Agency has tapped Kristina Walter to serve as chief of its Cybersecurity Collaboration Center. Walter most recently led the NSA’s Future Ready Workforce Initiative. She is returning to the collaboration center, having previously led its work to secure defense industrial base networks. Walter will replace former chief Morgan Adamski, who was recently named executive director of U.S. Cyber Command.
  (NSA Announces Kristina Walter as the new Chief of Cybersecurity Collaboration Center - NSA)

The post GOP senators put hold on over 40 Biden nominees first appeared on Federal News Network.

• The spending bill to support the funding for the rest of the government is facing a 25% cut. House appropriators passed the Financial Services and General Government 2025 spending bill yesterday and it is 20% below the administration's request and 10% below this year's enacted levels. But Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said the reductions, especially those to the IRS of some $2 billion, will have a much bigger effect than any one agency's budget. "This bill funds every other bill you are going to consider or it funds paying the almost $900 billion to the debt." Hoyer said the cuts also mean federal workers could face hiring freezes, furloughs or layoffs, which will impact the services to citizens.
  (Markup Fiscal Year 2025 - House Appropriations Committee)
• A new report by the research organization RAND found that the majority of federal funding to assist military-to-civilian employment transitions goes toward educational benefits rather than helping service members and veterans find work. In 2019, four programs, including the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and DoD's Tuition Assistance Program, accounted for $13.5 billion out of $14.3 billion in total. Meanwhile, the DoD's Transition Assistance Program received $140 million in funding. But there is not enough evidence to support that federally funded employment transition programs are effective. The study also found that military-to-civilian transition programs have limited oversight.
  (Military-to-civilian transition programs focus on education rather than employment - RAND)
• The Department of Veterans Affairs is staying the course on plans to roll out a new Electronic Health Record. The VA extended its contract with Oracle-Cerner for another 11 months. Both parties agree to come back to the negotiating table each year to renew the multi-billion-dollar contract. The VA and Oracle-Cerner approved a one-month extension in May to continue contract talks. The Defense Department is done with its deployment of the same EHR. But only six VA sites are using it and further rollouts are on hold, as the VA addresses problems at those sites. The VA said it plans to resume go-lives in fiscal 2025.
  (VA awards second option period to Oracle Health in support of Federal Electronic Health Record modernization contract - Department of Veterans Affairs )
• A bill looking to expand fertility treatment coverage in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program has failed to advance to a floor vote. Senate Republicans effectively blocked the Right to IVF Act Thursday afternoon. The legislation, which Democrats introduced last week, did not reach the 60-vote threshold to advance to a floor vote. If passed, the bill would in part increase requirements for carriers in the FEHB program to provide more fertility treatment coverage to enrollees. Even after the bill failed, advocacy groups are calling on the Office of Personnel Management to take it upon itself to make the changes. They want OPM to heighten requirements for FEHB carriers to further cover in-vitro fertilization (IVF) — both medications and treatments.
  (Senate GOP blocks bill to expand IVF access as advocates call for better FEHB coverage - Federal News Network)
• The White House joins a chorus of opposition, including that of Army leadership, to the idea of creating a separate Army drone branch. The White House Office of Management and Budget said creating a separate drone corps will limit the service’s flexibility to deploy drone technology at scale. OMB also said the Army secretary already has the power to create new branches within the service and that creating a separate drone branch through legislation will hinder the Army’s ability to address current and future requirements.
  (White House joins chorus of opposition to Army drone branch idea - White House)
• Oversight processes at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission need some work, according to the Government Accountability Office. Agencies are responsible for managing their own EEO programs for federal workers. But GAO said the commission’s system for tracking those programs does not have guardrails for clearly identifying issues, or making sure decisions are timely. A lack of oversight can lead to challenges in figuring out whether agencies are EEO-compliant. GAO’s new report shows, for instance, that 16 agencies did not have anti-harassment policies in place. The EEOC said its working on enhancing and modernizing its oversight processes.
  (EEOC: Improved oversight processes needed to help agencies address deficiencies - Government Accountability Office)
• A major change to the General Services Administration's schedules program will make it easier for agencies to buy software more like the private sector. GSA will now let agencies pay upfront for software licenses through the schedules program. This change is specifically aimed at making it easier for agencies to buy cloud services, which has been hampered by the Advance Payment Statute, which originated in 1823. The interpretation of the statue required agencies to pay for services in the arrears. The update comes after GSA conducted research and gathered input from agency buyers and vendors last summer.
  (GSA updates rules for buying SaaS off the schedule program - GSA)
• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is one step closer to getting new leadership. President Joe Biden nominated Christy Goldsmith Romero, a commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, to lead the FDIC. The current FDIC Chairman says he will step down as soon as a successor is confirmed. An independent report commissioned by the FDIC recently substantiated claims of a toxic workplace culture.
  (Nominations sent to the Senate - White House)

The post Rep. Hoyer warns of ‘freezes, furloughs, layoffs’ first appeared on Federal News Network.

• The Social Security Administration is working quickly to try to dispel a false rumor about a payment increase on Social Security checks. As a result of a fake news article, SSA employees were inundated with phone calls earlier this month from beneficiaries who mistakenly thought they would be getting a $600 payment increase. SSA's phone lines received more than 463,000 calls in one day as a result of the rumor. SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley has confirmed that the benefit increase is false. There will not be another cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries until January 2025.
  (Dispelling false rumor of $600 Social Security payment increase - SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley)
• Agencies have a new tool to make acquisition research a little easier: The Procurement Co-Pilot tool. Contracting officers and program managers now have access to a host of data sources where they can review the prices paid on common products or find vendors across all categories and sizes that currently work with the government. GSA and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy launched the portal only for federal employees through the Acquisition Gateway. The Procurement Co-Pilot is one of several new data-driven tools that are a part of the administration's Better Contracting Initiative.
  (Procurement Co-Pilot tool officially open for business - GSA)
• Lawmakers are pressing the Coast Guard for more details about how it handled sexual assault cases. Last year, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee requested all documents related to Operation Fouled Anchor, the Coast Guard’s internal investigation of sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy. Lawmakers said the records provided to Congress are highly redacted and include a large number of duplicates. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan said she is working in good faith with the committee. The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is conducting its own investigation into the Guard’s handling of sexual assault cases.
  (Coast Guard ‘stonewalls’ Senate’s investigation of service’s sexual assault cases - Federal News Network)
• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is dealing with low employee morale, following reports of a toxic workplace environment. An independent report substantiates cases of stalking, harassment and homophobia at the FDIC, based on more than 500 complaints from employees. Jonathan McKernan, co-chair of a special committee FDIC created to oversee the report, said FDIC employees face significant headwinds to do their jobs. “Longer term, the state of affairs at the FDIC, if not fixed are going to be a real problem for retention and recruitment of new staff and that will be fatal to our ability to achieve our mission if we can't fix that," McKernan said.
  (‘Morale is bad’ across FDIC workforce after reports of toxic workplace culture - Federal News Network)
• A new bill looks to address a discrepancy in how Transportation Security Administration employees are compensated. The TSA Commuting Fairness Act would require the agency to study the feasibility of using cell phone data to allow employees to clock in when they reach the airport parking lot. Many TSA employees report not being compensated for the up-to-45 minute commute between the parking lot and airport checkpoints. The bill, introduced by Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-N.Y.), was passed by the House Homeland Security Committee yesterday.
  (Lawmakers advance DHS bills to ban Chinese batteries, help TSAers with commute - Federal News Network)
• Beyond looking to make spending cuts, House Republicans are eyeing several policy riders in next year’s spending bills. One policy rider tacked onto fiscal 2025 spending legislation aims to block environmental investments in the Thrift Savings Plan. The TSP board has already said that type of change would mean they would have to end the mutual fund window altogether. Another policy rider would add more reporting requirements on federal telework and office space. The GOP-led appropriations committee released its report language for several appropriations bills Wednesday afternoon. House appropriators plan to mark up those government spending bills later today.
  (Policy riders to watch as House appropriators mark up 2025 spending bills - Federal News Network)
• A record 53,000 women veterans enrolled in health care at the Department of Veterans Affairs over the past year. That is a 20% increase compared to the previous year. VA said those enrollments are driven by the PACT Act, which expands health care eligibility for service members exposed to toxic substances during their military service. Texas, Florida and California saw the most new enrollments. Women veterans are the VA’s fastest growing patient population.
  (More than 50,000 women veterans enrolled in VA health care over past 365 days, marking the largest enrollment year ever for women veterans - Department of Veterans Affairs )
• The Small Business Administration is keeping in place a COVID-19 moratorium on requiring companies in the 8(a) program to have an established office in a particular location before being awarded a construction contract. SBA said the suspension of the Bona Fide Place of Business requirement will remain in place through September 30, 2025. The reason for the extension, SBA said, is due to workforce shortages, cultural shifts in the workplace and trends favoring remote-work opportunities. SBA said these factors are making it increasingly difficult for small businesses to recruit and retain office-based employees.
  (SBA adds 15 months to 8(a) bona fide place of business moratorium - SBA)
• U.S. Space Command and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, along with allies and partners, are in the middle of a 10-day multinational exercise in the northwestern Pacific Ocean area called, "Valiant Shield." The exercise allows the military services and partner nations to prepare to rapidly respond to crises, from humanitarian and disaster-related to armed conflict. With the involvement of U.S. SPACECOM and U.S. Transportation Command, the exercise has expanded the multi-domain collaboration needed for large-scale operations. Running through June 18, this is the 10th Valiant Shield exercise.
  (SPACECOM, US Transportation Command participate in multinational exercise - U.S. Indo-Pacific Command USINDOPACOM)
• Phone scams are on the rise and now the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency says organizations should watch out for phone calls from scammers purporting to be CISA employees. CISA said its staff will never call and request cash, cryptocurrency or gift cards. If you believe you may have been the target of a CISA scammer, the agency said to take note of the number, hang up immediately and notify either CISA or law enforcement.
  ( Phone scammers impersonating CISA employees - CISA)

The post Rumors targeting Social Security recipients cause inundation of SSA phone lines first appeared on Federal News Network.

• Another survey is indicating that the public’s trust in government is continuing to decline, at less than 25% That’s down more than 10% since about a year ago, the Partnership for Public Service found in its latest survey. Those who believe the federal government is transparent has dropped from 21% to 15%. But there is one positive from the latest survey results, the Partnership said. A majority of the public agrees that an apolitical civil service is critical, and feds should be hired based on merit, not partisan loyalty. The survey results come in light of discussion over the possible return of Schedule F, which tried to make some career federal employees easier to fire at will during the Trump administration.
  (The state of public trust in government 2024 - Partnership for Public Service)
• The State Department will fill more of its leadership positions with career employees, if a new bill makes it through Congress. The State Department Integrity and Transparency Act requires no fewer than 75% of the department’s assistant secretaries come from its Senior Foreign Service or Senior Executive Service. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) is leading the bill, with backing from Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). They said other agencies like the Defense Department and the CIA are already following this model for filling leadership positions. The bill would also require the department to submit a report to Congress on the qualifications of nominees for assistant secretary positions. The department is already required to do that for ambassador nominees.
  (Kaine, Van Hollen, Merkley introduce bill to strengthen State Department workforce - Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.))
• The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is pushing the technology industry to adopt stronger security practices. CISA’s “secure by design” pledge has grown to 140 companies. Released by the agency in May, the pledge includes voluntary cybersecurity commitments, including expanding the use of multifactor authentication and reducing the reliance on default passwords. CISA Senior Adviser Lauren Zabierek said the goal is to get big-tech companies to be accountable for key cybersecurity practices. “We really think that this is such a key moment, because these companies are publicly taking ownership of their customers’ security outcomes,” Zabierek said.
  (CISA sees customers as key to ‘secure by design’ pledge - Federal News Network )
• The Department of the Air Force has launched a new generative AI tool that will assist airmen, guardians and civilian employees with coding and administrative tasks. The new tool is part of the Dark Saber software platform, an ecosystem where airmen experiment, develop and deploy their own applications and capabilities. The platform will allow the service to better understand practical applications of generative AI, run experiments, take note of problems and gather feedback from airmen and guardians. The service has not committed to any single model or technology vendor since it is too early in the process. The service will leverage this generative AI effort to inform future policy, acquisition and investment decisions.
  (Air Force launches GenAI platform for airmen, guardians - Federal News Network)
• The Defense Innovation Unit has tapped Maj. Gen. Steve Butow, the California Air National Guard commander, as the organization’s military deputy. Butow will be the second general or flag officer to hold the position. He joined the organization in 2015 as the West Coast military lead. Butow will now lead a team of service members in active and reserve components, along with their civilian colleagues, as the organization works to accelerate the adoption of commercial technology across the Defense Department. Maj. Gen. Butow will retain his position as the California Air National Guard commander.
  (DIU taps Maj. Gen. Butow as military deputy - Defense Innovation Unit)
• The Department of Homeland Security is aiming to reduce its time-to-hire by 10%. But right now, inconsistencies in DHS’ data on time-to-hire make it difficult to accurately record the information. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommends that DHS be transparent about any data limitations. And moving forward, DHS plans to update its data collection system by this July. DHS is also looking to change its hiring platform by the end of the year. If DHS makes good on those plans, GAO said it should improve both time-to-hire and the challenges in data reporting.
  (DHS hiring: Additional actions needed to enhance vetting processes across the department - Government Accountability Office)
• The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) said a new security rating scorecard will help improve the industrial security process. The scorecard is intended to streamline and simplify the security rating process. That is part of DCSA’s mission to ensure private companies can safeguard classified information. The new rating process was developed in conjunction with an industry working group. It will go into effect starting Oct. 1.
  (DCSA announces refinements to Security Rating Process for Industrial Security - DCSA)
• A bipartisan bill would require federal agencies to assess the risks of using artificial intelligence tools before deploying them. It is called the PREPARED for AI Act and would require government contracts to include, among other things, safety and security terms for data ownership, civil rights, privacy, and incident reporting. The bill would also require agencies to test and monitor potential risks before, during, and after they buy these tools. Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) are leading the bill, which they say builds on efforts that started under the Advancing American AI Act, which became law in 2022.
  (Peters and Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Ensure the Federal Government Safely and Responsibly Purchases and Uses Artificial Intelligence - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee )

The post Public’s trust in government continues decline, survey says first appeared on Federal News Network.

• The National Institute of Standards and Technology has a new project to help secure public benefits programs. NIST will adapt its digital identity guidelines to support public beneficiary programs, including those used to pay for food, housing and medical expenses. The agency is working with the Digital Benefits Network and the Center for Democracy and Technology on the two-year project. It comes amid concerns around fraud and cyber attacks on government benefits programs. NIST leaders said the goal is to balance access and security.
  (NIST launches collaborative research effort on digital identity to support secure delivery of public benefits - NIST)
• Agencies know more today about the security of their endpoint devices than ever before. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) spent tens of millions of dollars last year to install technology to protect agency device endpoints. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) told Congress in its annual Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) report, that 76 agencies have met the criteria to have at least 80% of all known endpoints covered by the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program. Of those 76 agencies, 36 are using CISA's Persistent Access Capability (PAC) tools to enable continuous threat hunting activities. CISA has now deployed more than 750,000 endpoint detection and response (EDR) licenses across 54 agencies since 2021.
  (76 agencies meet goal to protect majority of device end points - White House)
• The Marine Corps has launched a pilot program that will allow qualified civilians to enlist at ranks up to gunnery sergeant, if they have certain high-tech skills. The program’s initial focus is on military occupational specialties that have shortages. For the initial effort, the Corps is looking to fill cyberspace warfare operator and signals intelligence collection manager roles. Veterans or civilians with a degree in computer science, information systems, engineering or other related fields are encouraged to apply. Civilians will have to go through Marine Corps basic training to qualify. The Marine Corps Talent Acquisition program is a two-year pilot.
  (Marine Corps launches new pilot to hire cyber talent - Marines website)
• The Department of Veterans Affairs is giving veterans more options to get health care and benefits. In some cases, it takes just a few taps on their smartphones. VA’s flagship health-and-benefits app recently surpassed more than two million total downloads. It is also seeing more than a million monthly users. VA launched the app less than three years ago. The app allows veterans, among other things, to message their doctors, view upcoming health care appointments, and check the status of benefits claims. Charles Worthington, VA’s chief technology officer, said more and more veterans are looking to sign up for services right from their phones. “We wanted to ask ourselves, the question is this the best experience we can provide to smartphone users?”
  (How VA’s flagship app got to 2M downloads in less than 3 years - Federal News Network)
• The first-ever Acquisition and Sustainment Workforce Framework from the Defense Department outlines four pillars to improve how the military recruits, trains and retains contracting officers and other acquisition workers. The focus areas include acquisition innovation, making DoD an employer of choice, talent development, and continuous improvement of workforce policies, programs and processes. DoD said each pillar includes initiatives prioritized by Acquisition and Sustainment leadership that will be pursued and measured against specific metrics. The framework also details how DoD will recruit from non-traditional communities, promote industrial careers, increase apprenticeship programs, grow manufacturing and STEM skills, and upskill existing acquisition and sustainment workers.
  (DoD issues first-ever Acquisition and Sustainment Workforce Framework - Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment)
• The IRS is reducing underutilized office space, but still has plenty it doesn’t need. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration finds more than half of IRS buildings had a workstation occupancy rate of 50% or less. The watchdog said the IRS has not rolled out shared workstations for most employees, who frequently telework. Since fiscal 2018, the IRS has reduced its office space by about two million square feet. It holds more than 22 million square feet of office space across the country.
  (The IRS has reduced its overall space footprint; however, a significant amount of unneeded office space still remains - Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration)
• Agencies processed a record 1.1 million Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests last year, according to the Justice Department's summary of annual FOIA reports released this week. Agencies also received nearly 1.2 million FOIA requests in 2023, another record number. The Department of Homeland Security accounts for more than half of all FOIA requests received and processed every year. There was a slight improvement in the government-wide FOIA backlog, as it decreased by 2.8% to about 200,000 cases at the end of 2023.
  (Summary of fiscal 2023 annual FOIA reports published - DoJ)
• The Department of the Air Force is looking for its next chief data and artificial intelligence officer. The service’s CDAO will be responsible for advancing data and artificial intelligence efforts across the Air Force and Space Force. The candidate must possess executive-level knowledge and experience in enterprise data management, as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning strategy. Applications are due by June 18.
  (Air Force seeking its next CDAO - USAjobs.gov)

The post NIST’s new project for securing public benefits programs first appeared on Federal News Network.

• The number of cybersecurity incidents in 2023 grew by almost 10%. Agencies reported more than 32,000 cyber incidents to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in fiscal 2023. The latest Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) report to Congress from the Office of Management and Budget showed an increase from more than 29,000 cyber incidents from the year before. Of those 32,000 incidents, 38% — or more than 12,000 — were due to improper usage, which means someone violated an agency's acceptable use policy. The second biggest attack vector, once again, was email phishing, which saw more than a 50% increase in 2023 as compared to 2022. The good news, OMB said, is 99% of all incidents in 2023 were considered "unsubstantiated or inconsequential event[s]."
  (Most cyber events in 2023 were 'unsubstantiated or inconsequential,' OMB says - White House )
• Federal office space remains a top priority for the General Services Administration to address. GSA has started taking steps to address the challenge of federal office holdings. But the Government Accountability Office said GSA needs to make a full plan of action to help agencies fix their underutilization of office space. Managing office space post-pandemic has been on GAO’s list of the top priorities for GSA to address since 2022. GAO said its recommendations could help agencies make better post-pandemic decisions for potential changes to their real estate holdings.
  (Priority open recommendations: General Services Administration - Government Accountability Office)
• The House Armed Services Committee’s bipartisan proposal to require the Defense Department to study the establishment of a cyber force is bringing back a long-running debate over the U.S. Cyber Command’s organizational challenges. The measure in the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the 2025 defense policy bill seeks an independent study of establishing a separate armed force dedicated to cyber. If passed, the measure would require the Defense Department to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct the evaluation. The provision has a “prohibition against interference,” which prohibits the Defense Department’s personnel from interfering or exerting influence to alter the findings of the National Academy of Sciences. If passed, the Academy will have nine months to complete the study.
  (House lawmakers seek independent study on separate cyber force - Federal News Network)
• A new playbook will help agencies set up neurodiversity programs. The "Neurodiversity@Work Playbook Federal Edition" includes best practices and addresses key questions for agencies. The playbook was release in May by the University of Washington, MITRE and D.C.-based nonprofit Melwood. Its authors say the playbook can help agencies be more inclusive for people with autism and other neurodivergent conditions. It builds on pilot programs started by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
  (Federal neurodiversity playbook pushes inclusive hiring, retention practices - Federal News Network)
• New legislation in the House would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from buying batteries made by six Chinese companies. Sponsors of the bill said it will help decouple the U.S. supply chain from a geopolitical adversary. The ban would go into effect on October 1, 2027. China produces about 80% of the world’s batteries, including about 70% of all lithium-ion batteries. The new legislation would give the secretary of homeland security the power to waive the prohibition if there are no viable alternatives.
  (Chairman Giminez, Green, Plfuger, Moolenaar introduce bill to ban DHS from procuring batteries manufactured by six PRC-aligned companies - House Homeland Security Committee)
• The government’s inventory of federal retirement claims is at its lowest level in eight years. The Office of Personnel Management currently has about 14,000 pending claims from retiring feds. That is the lowest number that OPM has seen since May 2016. But it is still about 1,000 claims above OPM’s goal of having 13,000 claims in its hands at any given time. OPM also received slightly fewer new retirement claims during May than it did in April.
  (OPM retirement claims backlog at lowest level since May 2016 - Federal News Network)
• The Pentagon has a new series of “overlays” meant to help Defense components adopt zero trust approaches to cybersecurity. A new document published last week laid out how existing security controls — the National Institute of Standards and Technology 800-53 series DoD components already use — map onto the “pillars” DoD defined in its zero trust strategy last year. Defense officials said it is likely that most system owners have already implemented most of those controls, but the new overlays will help them identify the gaps between their current posture and zero trust.
  (DoD Zero Trust Overlay - Department of Defense)
• U.S. Cyber Command is standing up a new program executive office to support its Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture (JCWA). The command launched the effort five years ago to consolidate disparate systems across the military services into one single platform. The JCWA currently encompasses six programs of record across the military services. This year, the command is working to get more acquisition authority over program management shops within the services. CYBERCOM also wants to reduce redundancy, including reducing the number of software factories that are delivering capabilities for the JCWA.
  (CYBERCOM standing up new PEO, seeks to get more acquisition authority for JCWA - Federal News Network)
• The Energy Department has given agencies another tool to get federal buildings to reach net zero emissions by 2045. DoE recently published the National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building, which will become the standard for federal leases beginning in 2030. Through the new standards, agencies have criteria to determine that a building generates zero emissions from energy use in building operations. The new definition follows several other policy and standards efforts by DoE to meet the Biden administration's federal sustainability plan. In late April, the Energy Department also finalized a rule requiring agencies to phase out fossil-fuel usage in new federal building construction or major renovation by 2030.
  (Energy Dept. finalizes new net zero emissions standards for federal buildings - Energy.gov)

The post Agency cybersecurity incidents grew by almost 10% last year first appeared on Federal News Network.

• The Defense Innovation Unit and the Army are joining forces to ramp up the service’s nuclear power capabilities. The Army is looking to develop and test a prototype of a nuclear reactor as part of the service’s push to bring nuclear energy to its installations. The service is heavily dependent on off-site electricity providers to obtain energy and conduct its missions. If successful, these micro-reactor power plants could be operational by 2030. The Army’s effort along with the Air Force’s microreactor pilot are paving the way for deployments of nuclear power technology across military installations.
  (Army seeking to develop nuclear reactor prototype - Defense Innovation Unit)
• Former senior government officials are joining the growing calls against Schedule F. The former officials from the Bush administration said civil service reform is necessary, as is holding federal employees accountable. But they said Schedule F is not the answer. The now-revoked policy from the Trump administration aimed to reclassify feds to make them easier to fire. In a letter to House and Senate leadership this week, the former officials are calling on Congress to pass more protections for government workers in national security and law enforcement. The letter to lawmakers comes in light of former President Trump’s plans to revive a policy akin to Schedule F if he’s reelected.
  (Ensuring the accountability of the federal civil service: An urgent call to action - Former Bush administration officials)
• Nurses at the Department of Veterans Affairs are pointing to staffing shortages that are making it harder to treat veterans. The VA employs 122,000 nurses, which is the largest nursing workforce in the U.S. That is also a record high for the department. But the National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC) and National Nurses United (NNU) said the VA is leaving thousands of positions unfilled and spreading nurses thin. Irma Westmoreland is NNU’s vice president and a registered nurse who works at the VA medical center in Augusta, Georgia. She said VA nurses are being assigned more patients, which is contributing to burnout. “We feel that we are chronically understaffed in nursing, and that is erodes the patient care that we’re able to provide for our veterans," Westmoreland said.
  (VA touts its largest nursing workforce, but union says they're 'chronically understaffed' - Federal News Network)
• The Department of Housing and Urban Development has put the help wanted sign out for a new chief information officer. Beth Niblock, who has been CIO since July 2021, transitioned to a new role in May, the senior adviser for disaster management. One reason for the move is Niblock was a political appointee and HUD is moving the CIO's position back to a career job. The CIO job announcement closes June 13. Sairah Ijaz, who has been deputy CIO since March 2023, is the acting CIO until HUD hires a permanent career technology leader.
  (HUD searching for new CIO - USAjobs.gov)
• DoD's chief information officer is stepping down. John Sherman is moving on to a new role at Texas A&M University, where he will serve as dean of the Bush School of Government. Sherman has led the CIO's office since December 2021. Before that, he was the intelligence community's CIO. Defense officials said they still have not decided who will fill the DoD CIO role when Sherman departs at the end of this month.
  (DoD CIO John Sherman to step down at end of June - Federal News Network)
• Starting in August, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses will no longer be able to self-certify status for set-aside or sole source prime or subcontracts. The Small Business Administration's final rule issued yesterday requires companies to obtain approval through the SBA's Veteran Small Business Certification Program (VetCert). Without this certification, agencies and prime vendors will not receive socio-economic credit for contracting with these firms. Previously, SDVOSBs could self-certify they met the criteria, but Congress changed the requirements in the 2024 Defense authorization bill. The rule becomes effective August 5, but SBA is accepting comments through July 8 and reserves the right to withdraw the rule if it receives enough significant adverse concerns.
  (SBA takes self-certification for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses mostly off the table - Federal Register)
• Senate Democrats are heightening their push to create better access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments and medications. New legislation that the lawmakers introduced this week rolls together several previous bills aiming to expand the fertility treatments. Under the bill, there would be increased access to IVF coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, as well as coverage for veterans. The new bill comes in light of a growing push from federal employees to offer more fertility-related health benefits. The Senate is slated to vote on the Right to IVF Act next week.
  (Right to IVF Act - Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.))
• The Defense Department is continuing its push to consolidate its purchasing for wireless services. A new memo from the DoD CIO told all DoD components that they will need to use the Navy’s new “Spiral 4” wireless contract vehicle to buy their mobile services for employees in the continental U.S. The Navy awarded seven separate indefinite, delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts last month, including to the big three wireless providers. All together, those IDIQs are worth up to $2.7 billion over the next decade.
  (Memorandum for the Senior Pentagon Leadership - DoD)
• The Postal Service is putting the first of its custom-built, next-generation delivery vehicles to work. USPS received its first Next-Generation Delivery Vehicles from the manufacturer Oshkosh Defense. They are the first of about 60,000 custom vehicles USPS will buy over the coming years. Electric vehicles will make up at least 75% of the next-generation fleet. USPS is sending its first round of vehicles to a large facility in Athens, Georgia.
  (First NGDVs delivered to the Postal Service - National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association )
• The Marine Corps has opened a new center to focus on the future of war. The General Robert B. Neller Center for Wargaming and Analysis, named after the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps, will help the service develop capabilities through experimentation, doctrine and policy review, and science and technology examination. The center will be maintained by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and will feature next-generation technology, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. The center is located on the Marine Corps University campus near Washington, D.C.
  (Marine Corps opens up advanced wargaming center - DVIDS)

The post Army looks to bring nuclear energy to its installations first appeared on Federal News Network.

• An employee advocacy group is calling for better federal health care coverage of infertility treatments. The Department of Justice Gender Equality Network (DOJ GEN) said it is grateful for the steps taken so far. Carriers in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program already have new requirements to cover three medication cycles of in-vitro fertilization (IVF). But the advocacy group wants the Office of Personnel Management to take things a step further. DOJ GEN is now asking OPM to expand health carrier requirements to cover IVF treatments, on top of medications, for plan year 2025. DOJ GEN’s letter to OPM calling for the changes comes a few months ahead of this year’s Open Season for FEHB participants.
  (Letter to OPM on IVF coverage - DOJ GEN)
• Democrats are warning that proposed budget cuts could lead to some staff layoffs. A draft appropriations bill from House Republicans proposes a 10% spending decrease for fiscal 2025. But Democrats opposed to the budget reductions said they are concerned about the ability of some particular agencies to handle large budget cuts. “Our agencies often have smaller budgets, and thus less flexibility to deal with the cuts. Our agencies have to layoff staff, severely undermining their ability to function,” Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said. The fiscal 2025 spending bill now heads to the full committee for consideration. Members of a GOP-led subcommittee advanced the legislation along party lines Wednesday.
  (Democrats warn layoffs ahead as House GOP proposes agency spending cuts - Federal News Network)
• House appropriators will not support the Biden administration’s funding request for a new FBI headquarters building. The House Appropriations Committee’s 2025 general government spending bill rejects a plan to invest $3.5 billion to build a new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland. The bill also restricts the General Services Administration from spending any existing funds on the new headquarters. GSA had proposed the $3.5 billion investment as part of its 2025 budget request. The agency announced plans to replace the crumbling J. Edgar Hoover Building with a new headquarters in Greenbelt last November.
  (House appropriators reject GSA’s $3.5B plan for new FBI headquarters - Federal News Network)
• House Republicans have proposed defunding the IRS’ Direct File platform that allows households to file their federal tax returns online and for free. The GOP-led House Appropriations Committee is backing a spending bill that would cut IRS funding by nearly 18% and zero-out funding for Direct File. IRS enforcement would see the worst cuts in this proposal, with a $2 billion reduction in funding. Republican lawmakers have criticized the IRS for not seeking congressional approval to launch the Direct File pilot. But IRS said it has the authority to update the tools that taxpayers use to file their taxes. This year's IRS Direct File pilot program included 12 states. It plans to make the program permanent and has invited all 50 states and the District of Columbia to opt in.
  (House GOP propose defunding IRS Direct File, further budget cuts to enforcement - Federal News Network)
• The Space Force is accepting applications from Air Force Reservists in space-related career fields to become full-time Guardians. Beginning June 1, Air Force reservists can transfer to the Space Force under the Space Force Personnel Management Act. Officers in space and cyber operations, intelligence, developmental engineer, acquisition manager and scientist career fields are eligible to apply. Application windows for Air Force Reservists, who are interested in transferring to the Space Force in a part-time capacity, are expected to open in 2026.
  (Air Force reservists can apply to Space Force beginning June 1 - U.S. Space Force)
• Agencies now have an easier way to avoid buying products that use single-use plastic packaging. The General Services Administration is establishing a new specialty icon in its schedule ordering systems, including GSA Advantage, to help agencies identify products that are free from single-use plastic packaging. In a final rule to GSA's acquisition regulations published today, the agency is trying to incentivize vendors through marketing opportunities to move away from this type of packaging. GSA is making this change to the schedules program after receiving a recommendation from its Acquisition Policy Federal Advisory Committee, as a way to reduce this waste stream. GSA said it will issue implementation guidance to contracting offices in the coming weeks.
  (GSA helping agencies avoid products that use single-use plastic packaging - Federal Register)
• Quan Boatman is the new director of the Interior Business Center. Boatman has been IBC's deputy director since 2021 and replaces Bryon Adkins, who left to join the Farm Credit Administration in November. As director of IBC, Boatman will oversee the fee-for-service organization that offers acquisition, financial management and human resources systems and services to federal organizations. IBC provides shared services to support Interior Department offices and bureaus, as well as to over 150 other agencies. Prior to coming to IBC, Boatman worked at the General Services Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency overseeing governmentwide programs and initiatives.
  (Interior Business Center promotes Boatman to new leadership role - Interior Department)
• The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee is calling for stronger cybersecurity regulations in the healthcare sector. Sen Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said the Department of Health and Human Services should mandate minimum cyber standards for big health institutions. In a letter to HHS, Wyden said lax cyber practices have allowed hackers to steal sensitive patient data and shut down parts of the healthcare system. Wyden’s letter comes as lawmakers consider how to respond to the Change Healthcare ransomware attack and other healthcare cyber incidents.
  (Letter to HHS on cybersecurity standards - Senate Finance Commitee)
• The Defense Innovation Unit and the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office have agreed to deepen their existing partnership and work together to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies across the Defense Department. The leaders of the two organizations signed a memorandum of agreement formalizing their collaboration that is necessary to implement commercially available technologies related to data, software and artificial intelligence. Areas of collaboration include scaling commercial AI and experimenting with digital technologies to support the Pentagon’s combined joint all-domain command and control initiative, known as CJADC2.
  (DIU, CDAO partner up to accelerate technology adoption across DoD - Defense Innovation Unit)
• The Department of Veterans Affairs is rolling out a text-messaging service that will remind veterans to take follow-up steps in their health care. VA will send text messages to vets with medication reminders, surgery preparation instructions, and next steps after medical appointments. The Veterans Health Administration is implementing this text-messaging service nationwide, after a VA medical center testing it saw a more than 50% reduction in canceled surgeries. VA worked with Accenture Federal Services to develop the text-messaging service, which it calls "Annie."
  (Veterans Health Administration texting service developed by Accenture Federal Services deployed nationwide - Accenture Federal Services)

The post DoJ employee advocacy group calls for better federal health care coverage of infertility treatments first appeared on Federal News Network.

• House support for the Technology Modernization Fund sinks lower, as it has been left out of the initial draft of the fiscal 2025 Financial Services and General Government spending bill. This means House lawmakers are essentially not even considering the Biden administration’s $200 million request. This comes after Senate lawmakers zeroed out funding and rescinded $100 million from the TMF in the 2024 appropriations bill. House Republicans didn't turn off the IT modernization spigot altogether. Lawmakers would give the U.S. Digital Service more authority to accept up to $30 million through the IT Oversight and Reform (ITOR) Fund for reimbursable services.
  (House Republicans ignore Biden administration's TMF request - House Documents)
• The Department of Veterans Affairs said it will not fire leaders who backed improper bonuses. VA Secretary Denis McDonough said a “series of massive mistakes” led to his department approving nearly $11 million in bonuses to career executives who weren’t eligible to receive them under the toxic exposure PACT Act. "You cannot read the statute and say that this was an acceptable use of that statute,” McDonough said. But McDonough also said he will not fire the Under Secretary for Health or the Under Secretary for Benefits. Those two officials pushed for these awards. The VA has recouped about 92% of the improper bonuses. But it isn’t canceling critical skills incentives that went to nearly 200 career executives in the field. McDonough said VA leaders outside DC followed procedures and justified the awards to retain VA medical center directors.
  (VA secretary admits ‘massive mistakes’ over improper executive bonuses, rejects calls for firings - Federal News Network)
• The Office of Personnel Management needs to make hiring authorities more effective, and address mission-critical skills gaps. Those are just a few of the top recommendations the Government Accountability Office has outlined for OPM. In total, there are 16 priority recommendations that remain open for OPM to address. OPM was able to implement one of GAO’s suggestions last year by adding some new cybersecurity protocols. But GAO added two new recommendations to the list for 2024. One is to identify ineligible recipients of federal health benefits. And the second is to do a better job managing software licenses.
  (Priority open recommendations: Office of Personnel Management - Government Accountability Office)
• House Republicans are advancing a $64 billion homeland security spending bill. The House Appropriations Committee’s 2025 bill would increase funding for immigration enforcement, while trimming the Biden administration’s request for cybersecurity and science spending. The homeland security subcommittee approved the bill yesterday along party lines. The legislation includes $2.9 billion for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which is about $78 million less than the White House’s requested. It also allocates $745 million for DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate, some $93 million below the Biden administration’s request. The bill is now slated to be considered before the full committee.
  (Homeland security subcommittee bill summary - House Appropriations Committee )
• The House defense appropriations bill is out and it limits or blocks funding in several areas. The spending bill prohibits funding for DoD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices and cuts $53 million for the department's DEI initiatives. The $833 billion measure prohibits paid leave and travel-related expenses to obtain an abortion or abortion-related services. And the spending bill also cuts $621 million for climate-change initiatives and prohibits funding for President Joe Biden’s climate-change executive orders and regulations. The House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee is set to mark up the bill today.
  (Defense spending bill blocks funding for DEI, abortion policies - House Appropriations Committee)
• A federal organization is making another pitch to repeal two long-standing provisions of Social Security. The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) is heightening its calls to Congress to consider a bill that would remove the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). NARFE said the two provisions unfairly reduce Social Security benefits for certain federal annuitants and other public sector workers. NARFE’s latest call for action comes ahead of a Senate committee hearing set for later this week to consider legislation that would revoke both WEP and GPO.
  (Letter on WEP and GPO - NARFE)
• The Veterans Affairs Department is calling on veterans to apply for health care and benefits if they suspect they were exposed to toxic substances during their military service. Many more veterans are eligible to do so under the toxic-exposure PACT Act. The VA is holding PACT Act events in all 50 states and Puerto Rico this summer to encourage more veterans to apply and get screened for toxic exposure. The VA approved more than a million PACT Act claims for benefits so far. And more than 400,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care thanks to the PACT Act.
  (VA to host PACT Act events in all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico this summer to encourage Veterans and survivors to apply for health care and benefits - Department of Veterans Affairs)
• When it comes to cybersecurity regulations, the White House wants to make sure agencies are singing from the same hymn sheet. The Office of the National Cyber Director is launching a regulatory harmonization pilot program. The effort will examine how to use reciprocity in the critical infrastructure subsector. The White House is launching the pilot after industry groups urged the cyber director’s office to harmonize a growing patchwork of cyber requirements across government. But the office said it will need Congress’s help to get all agencies onboard.
  (We need to harmonize cybersecurity regulations - White House Office of the National Cyber Director )
• The Army is expanding its financial support for military spouses when they relocate. Spouses can now receive up to $1,000 for business expenses and an additional $1,000 for relicensing fees. Relicensing costs that are eligible for reimbursement include: exam fees, continuing education, certifications, business licenses, permits and registrations. Business-related expenses eligible for reimbursement include: equipment relocation, new technology purchases, IT services and inspection fees. Details on how to apply for reimbursement are available on the Military OneSource portal.
  (Army expands financial support for military spouses - DoD)

The post House support plunges for Technology Modernization Fund first appeared on Federal News Network.

• The House Armed Services Committee’s draft defense policy bill would require the Army to establish a separate drone branch, but Army leaders continue to push against the idea. A provision in the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the defense bill would require the Army to establish a drone corps as a basic branch of the service. Gen. James Rainey, who leads the Army Futures Command, said it is too early for setting up a separate drone branch. One of the main priorities for the service right now is to integrate the technology into all units. Given the priorities, having a drone branch might be counterproductive, senior leaders said. The provision was adopted last month, but it will need to pass the full House and Senate to make it into the final bill.
  (Army leaders continue to oppose drone corps idea - CSIS)
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is bringing employees back to the office more often. The CDC is telling most teleworking employees to come into the office at least twice each two-week pay period. There are exceptions, as the CDC is allowing employees in IT and data science roles to work remotely. Sylana Tramble, the director of CDC’s Human Resources Office said the CDC in 2023 tripled the number of applicants it saw for job postings, when the agency announced most openings as remote positions. “When you're limited to one geographic location, you're limited to the talent in that location, the demographics of that location,” Tramble said. “Remote [work] and telework really opened that up."
  (CDC, once largely remote, balances return to office with a burnt-out workforce - Federal News Network)
• The Defense Department wants to make its pilot program to contract with more employee-owned firms permanent. In a new proposed rule, the Pentagon would establish the program in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations. The pilot lets DoD award one noncompetitive follow-on contract for the continued development, production or provision of products or services that were bought under previous contracts. Employee-owned firms typically are S corporations, for which 100% of the outstanding stock is held through an employee stock ownership plan. DoD initially implemented the pilot program through a 2022 policy. So far, eight businesses are participating in the pilot, of which six are small entities. Comments on the proposed rule are due by July 29.
  (DoD wants to make pilot program to contract more with employee-owned firms permanent - Federal Register)
• The Office of Personnel Management is about to release one of its largest cyber contracts ever, as it consolidates two existing cybersecurity contracts into its upcoming Enterprise Cyber Infrastructure and Operation Support Services (ECIOSS) vehicle. OPM said the consolidated contract will provide for faster threat and incident response times, and reduce service outages by 25%, according to a justification obtained by GovTribe. OPM's pre-solicitation notice said it will set-aside ECIOSS for companies in the SBA's 8(a) program. The Request for Proposal will consist of six tasks, including managed services, enterprise operations center and network operations, infrastructure and architecture support services. OPM expects to release the RFP around June 12.
  (OPM set to release RFP to modernize cybersecurity services - SAM.gov)
• Congressional Republicans are looking at more cuts to State Department funding. The House Appropriations Committee introduced a spending bill that would cut State Department and USAID funding by about 12% in fiscal 2025. It would also eliminate more than 30 special envoy positions in such areas as climate, racial equity, and LGBTQ issues. The State Department received about a 7% cut to funding this year, which forced the department to slow down some of its hiring.
  (Committee releases FY 25 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill SOURCE: House Appropriations Committee - House Appropriations Committee)
• Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill) wants to increase transparency and access across all branches of the federal government. The congressman's Transparency in Government Act would expand financial disclosures for lawmakers and lobbyists, and enhance judicial transparency. The bill would also require public access to federal spending information and FOIA requests. Quigley said it is no secret that public trust in the federal government has plummeted and that increased transparency is the best way to restore it.
  (Rep. Quigley reintroduces Transparency in Government Act - Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.))
• The Office of Personnel Management is officially extending a flexibility that lets agencies more easily hire military spouses. Under a new final rule from OPM, agencies can continue to noncompetitively appoint military spouses to federal jobs. The flexibility now lasts through December 2028. OPM’s final rule from last week is somewhat of a formality. An interim rule last fall already extended the hiring authority for the next four years. OPM received just a handful of comments on those regulations and adopted the final rule without any revisions.
  (Final rule on military spouse noncompetitive appointments - Office of Personnel Management)
• The Navy will let commanding officers advance sailors to E-5 or E-6 ranks, if the sailors are willing to commit to additional obligated service. Starting June 1, commanding officers can recommend sailors for higher-ranking positions, if those billets are vacant. This new program called “Command Advance to Position,” will be available to all sailors not under orders or with orders pending release. This is the service’s latest attempt to fill thousands of its empty positions.
  (Navy introduces new program to promote sailors - CNO Washington)
• Thrift Savings Plan funds bounced back in May after posting widely negative returns in the previous month. All TSP funds posted positive returns last month with the Common Stock Index C fund leading the pack with almost a 5% return. The International Stock Index I Fund posted the second highest return, just falling behind the C fund by a few tenths of a percentage point. The Government Securities G Fund posted the lowest return. For 2024, all funds but the Fixed Income F Fund have increased, and all of the Life Cycle funds have posted positive returns.
  (TSP returns positive in May - Federal News Network)

The post Congress looks to require military drone corps, which Army leaders oppose first appeared on Federal News Network.

• 62-year-old Robert Burke, a retired four-star admiral, is facing up to 30 years in prison for an alleged scheme to steer a government contract to a company in exchange for future employment. Burke, who served as the vice chief of naval operations from 2019 to 2020, has been arrested and charged with four felony counts, including bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery. He is also charged with performing acts affecting a personal financial interest and concealing material facts from the United States. Burke made his initial court appearance on Friday in Miami.
  (Former vice chief of naval operations accused of bribery - DoJ)
• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) did not have to look far to find its new CIO, as it tapped Scott Flanders, the acting chief information officer since January, to take on the permanent job. His first day is today. Flanders, who has been the deputy CIO for the previous several years, will replace Dave Nelson, who retired at the end of January after eight years. Flanders has been with the NRC since 1991. Before joining the CIO's office, Flanders led the Division of Site Safety and Environmental Analysis in the then Office of New Reactors. The NRC's IT budget for 2024 is $170 million and the agency requested $190 million for 2025.
  (NRC hires acting CIO Flanders into permanent role - NRC News)
• The intelligence community has updated its technology plans, with a new information technology roadmap released last week, which indicates that the IC will embrace multiple cloud computing environments. But the document acknowledges that the IC’s efforts to tailor different cloud capabilities are still complex and nascent. The roadmap also commits to adopting DevSecOps software practices, enterprise data architectures, and artificial intelligence at scale. Intelligence officials said spy agencies need to quickly adopt emerging IT capabilities to stay ahead of U.S. adversaries.
  (ODNI releases IC information technology roadmap - ODNI)
• The Department of Health and Human Services is getting a head start on pooled hiring. HHS’s “hire now” platform, lets hiring managers view both internal agency applicants and governmentwide ones at the same time. Through that portal, HHS has hired about 900 candidates. Another 800 or so hires are currently making their way through the process. “It’s helping to bring in that acquisition workforce, that IT workforce of the future — it’s to ensure that we’re creating opportunities and really helping to attract that talent to public service writ large in addition to our own specific mission,” said Bob Leavitt, the chief human capital officer at HHS. About 11% of all HHS hires come from shared certificates.
  (Interview with HHS on recruitment and retention - Federal News Network)
• The Pentagon’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office plans to bring in more vendors to further the department’s Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) effort. The Defense Department is opening its doors to more companies as part of a new initiative called the Open Data and Applications Government-owned Interoperable Repositories. The initiative will allow the department to integrate industry solutions in a way where the DoD retains ownership of its data while letting companies develop applications using that data. The Pentagon will initially use this ecosystem to scale its data infrastructure, interoperability, artificial intelligence and analytics capabilities in support of the CJADC2 initiative.
  (CDAO will integrate more vendors through Open DAGIR initiative - Federal News Network)
• Agency program managers have some new best practices to protect their programs from fraud and abuse. A new report from the Pandemic Responsibility and Accountability Committee (PRAC), said agencies that took three broad steps, such as preparing for an emergency by maintaining a crisis-ready staff, were better prepared to limit improper payments during the COVID-19 emergency. The PRAC said developing strong internal controls, that include validating self-certifying criteria and implementing a risk-based monitoring approach, were among the other traits of successful programs. The PRAC report details resources, reports, and other documents agencies can refer to as they further develop their funding programs.
  (Pandemic lessons agencies can use to protect programs from fraud - Pandemic Response Accountability Committee)
• The Federal Housing Administration is the latest agency to issue cybersecurity reporting rules. FHA is requiring lenders of mortgages to report cyber incidents to the Department of Housing and Urban Development within 12 hours of detection. FHA’s rule joins a growing set of federal cyber incident reporting regulations, including new rules from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that will require reporting across all 16 critical infrastructure sectors.
  (FHA: New cybersecurity incident reporting requirements effective immediately - FHA)
• Participants in the Thrift Savings Plan will now see a speedier withdrawal process in the TSP’s “My Account” online platform. After requesting a withdrawal from their TSP account, users no longer have to wait 30 days to request a second withdrawal. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board said removing the 30-day waiting period should give participants more flexibility in how they manage their accounts.
  (No 30-day waiting period between withdrawal requests - Thrift Savings Plan)

The post Retired four-star admiral faces 30 years in prison on bribery charges first appeared on Federal News Network.

• The City of Angels is also the city of unfriendly dogs, if you are a letter carrier. Postal Service employees in Los Angeles saw the most dog bites of all U.S. cities in 2023, with 65. California is top among all states with more than 700 attacks on letter carriers. USPS said 5,800 dog bites happened to employees nationwide last year. Letter carriers can refuse to deliver mail to households where they feel unsafe, requiring customers to pick up their mail at the post office.
  (U.S. Postal Service releases dog bite national rankings - USPS)
• The Army is reimagining how it creates and maintains the technology that runs its command and control networks. The future of command and control for the Army will be based on open architectures, will not rely on any one type of network connection, and can be changed in real time to meet operational needs. These are the basic building blocks of the new Next Generation C2 characteristics signed by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George on Tuesday. The idea is for the software-based approach to be simple and intuitive and give commanders a common operating picture that meets their needs. The Army is asking industry for feedback on the characteristics and expects to update the standards every six months.
  (Army outlines building blocks for the future of command and control - SAM.gov)
• An IRS-run system that lets households file their federal tax returns online — and for free — is here to stay. The IRS is making its Direct File platform a permanent option for taxpayers to file their federal tax returns. It is inviting all 50 states and the District of Columbia to participate during next year’s next filing season. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said taxpayers who used Direct File generally spent less than an hour to file their tax returns, and that many completed their returns in as little as 30 minutes. “The clear message is that many taxpayers across the nation want the IRS to provide options for filing electronically at no cost," Werfel said.
  (IRS makes Direct File permanent option to file taxes online, invites all states to opt in - Federal News Network)
• Members of Congress are concerned about the Pentagon’s increasing reliance on Microsoft products. Sens. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore) sent a letter to the Pentagon asking about the department’s push to begin implementation of Microsoft’s most expensive licenses, known as E5, across all components starting next month. The Pentagon is considering mandating all department offices to implement the full suite of Microsoft 365 E5 licenses in the next 12 months. The lawmakers said the Defense Department is “doubling down on a failed strategy” of increasing reliance on the company’s products. The Pentagon wants all the components to complete their transitions by June 2, 2025.
  (Lawmakers want answers about Pentagon's increasing reliance on Microsoft - Federal News Network)
• Even with a new contract in place, the American Federation of Government Employees is still worried about the future of telework at the Environmental Protection Agency. AFGE unanimously ratified a new collective bargaining agreement after more than two years of negotiations with EPA leaders. The milestone contract between the two parties will stay in place at least for the next four years. But AFGE Council President Marie Owens Powell said she is worried about changes coming sooner than that. “There is a midterm reopener, which will be in about two years,” Powell said. “The agency has made it clear they intend to open remote work and telework. So the fight is far from over.”
  (New EPA collective bargaining agreement - American Federation of Government Employees)
• The Office of Personnel Management has temporarily paused all new enrollments in FSAFEDS. That is after a surge in fraudulent activity that has affected hundreds of federal employees’ flexible spending accounts. OPM said the pause comes out of an abundance of caution to try to prevent further fraud. The enrollment pause also applies to any current enrollees who experience a qualifying life event, like the birth of a child. FSAFEDS will retroactively adjust any elections based on qualifying life events after OPM resumes enrollment functionality. So far, OPM has not set a date for when the functionality will be restored.
  (OPM pauses new FSAFEDS enrollments after fraud surge - Federal News Network)
• House lawmakers are calling on the Defense Department to fully enact President Joe Biden’s policy on union organizing at military installations. In 2022, a White House task force asked the Defense Department to provide standardized guidelines for union organizers to access military bases. The lawmakers said the Defense Department has yet to implement the reforms that will improve access for union organizing of civilian workers. The 2024 defense policy bill requires the Defense Department to issue uniform guidelines for determining who can access DoD facilities and installations.
  (Lawmakers urge DoD to fully implement policy on union organizing at military installations - John Garamendi (D-Calif.))
• Vendors on the Schedules program at the General Services Administration now have their chance to improve the $46 billion acquisition vehicle. In a new request for information to all schedule vendors, GSA wants to know about the roadblocks preventing some contractors from meeting the minimum sales requirement. It also wants to know if vendors have a clear understanding of the responsibilities that come with being a multiple award schedule contractor. GSA requires vendors to have at least $25,000 in sales a year. In fiscal 2022, 47% of all schedules holders did not meet the sales minimum. GSA is asking for industry to submit answers to the RFI by June 21.
  (GSA seeks feedback for how to improve the schedules program - GSA)
• It’s official: Mail prices are going up this summer. An independent regulator approved the Postal Service’s plans to raise the price of a first-class Forever stamp from 68 to 73 cents on July 14. It’ll be the sixth increase of its kind since 2020. That is when USPS got approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission to set mail prices higher than the rate of inflation. The commission is warning USPS to make future pricing decisions carefully, citing lower mail volume and the agency’s uncertain financial future.
  (Order on price adjustments for first-class mail - Postal Regulatory Commission)

The post AFGE worries about EPA’s telework future first appeared on Federal News Network.

• Federal employees should look for a check in the mail if they were impacted by the 2015 data breach at the Office of Personnel Management. This month, OPM is paying out a second round of claims in the data breach settlement. The first round of payments went out in December 2023. Any feds who did not complete Social Security number validation by the initial deadline should get their payment in this second round of distributions. There will be a third and final round of payouts later this summer. Feds who missed the May 9 validation deadline may have to forfeit their claim payment. Feds who have questions about the settlement should contact the claims administrator for OPM.
  (OPM data breach settlement - Claim distributions timeline)
• The Small Business Administration is coming under fire for how it is using money collected in its IT working capital fund. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), the ranking member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, is questioning SBA's decision to invest in artificial intelligence capabilities, when it is struggling with basic cybersecurity and IT oversight functions. Ernst wrote to SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman asking five questions, including whether the agency's chief information officer position, vacant since January 2022, is impacting its management of enterprise applications. Ernst also wants details about how SBA has been using the money in its IT working capital fund since 2020.
  (Sen. Ernst pushing SBA for more details on IT spending - Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa))
• The Postal Service is seeing a surge in crime, but is relying on old data to gauge law enforcement staffing. USPS saw the number of serious postal crimes increase almost every year between 2017 and 2023. That includes a seven-fold increase in robberies. But the Postal Inspection Service, USPS’ law enforcement agency, is relying on crime data from 2011 to determine the size of its workforce. The Postal Inspection Service told the Government Accountability Office that it is working on a new assessment of its workload and staffing. But GAO said there is no clear timeline of when that assessment will be completed.
  (Amid crime surge, USPS law enforcement relying on ‘outdated’ data to justify staffing in pending - Federal News Network)
• Lawmakers think the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general should play a key role in improving healthcare cybersecurity. A bipartisan bill introduced in the House this month would require the HHS IG to conduct routine penetration tests of health IT systems. The idea is to ensure those systems do not spill sensitive patient data or put healthcare delivery at risk. The tests would apply to IT systems that process or store sensitive HHS data, potentially covering a wide range of U.S. health IT systems. The legislation comes in response to the Change Healthcare hack and other ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations.
  (Bipartisan bill would put HHS IG in key role following Change Healthcare incident - Federal News Network)
• Multiple end-user agreements are a thing of the past for the U.S. Army, as a key piece to the its unified network strategy is coming to fruition. Maj. Gen. Chris Eubank, the commander of the Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCom), speaking at the Army TEMS 12 event in Philadelphia, said by implementing several enterprise services like comply-to-connect and end-point security services, soldiers and civilians will have an easier time accessing data and applications no matter where they are located. "You will be able to pick up your device, or you as a user who moves seamlessly around the globe, sign in, not have to sign another user agreement, get to your services and just get to work."
  (Maj. Gen. Chris Eubank, NETCom commander - Federal News Network)
• New flexibilities in a Pathways Program update will require some creative thinking from agencies. The Department of Health and Human Services is one agency already looking at how to implement some of those crucial changes to the program. Under new Pathways regulations, agencies have options to offer higher starting salaries, and broaden applicant pools. But the biggest challenge will likely be the availability of resources. “The interest is there, the passion is there; it’s really just finding the time and the resources to do as much as we want to do,” said Kim Steide, a human capital official at HHS. The Pathways Program is designed to bring in younger talent to government and is central to many agencies’ early-career recruitment strategies.
  (HHS thinking creatively to implement new Pathways flexibilities - Federal News Network)
• Military personnel are now eligible for a daily stipend to cover housing costs when they attend professional military education or training classes. Service members are eligible for this daily stipend if they are stationed at their training location for under a year and return to their primary duty station. The daily stipend will not impact service members’ Basic Allowance for Housing. The Navy and Marine Corps introduced the policy in March and the Air Force and Space Force announced the changes earlier this month.
  (Service members are eligible for extra pay to cover housing costs - Federal News Network)
• Veterans will pay less for VA-covered mental health care over the next few years. The Department of Veterans Affairs said it will cover copays for a veteran’s first three mental health care or substance use disorder visits each year through 2027. This applies to both VA-provided appointments and non-VA community care. VA is covering these copays under legislation Congress passed two years ago.
  (Through 2027, Veterans no longer need to pay copays for their first three outpatient mental health care visits of each year - Department of Veterans Affairs)
• The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate is keeping an eye on eight key research areas. The directorate’s strategic plan for innovation, research and development names artificial intelligence, biotechnology and digital identity as key focus areas through 2030. Released this week, the plan identifies key technology investment goals in the coming years. The document lays out dozens of use cases for AI and automation, including in detecting immigration fraud and improving cybersecurity.
  (Innovation, Research and Development Strategic Plan prepares DHS for future homeland security challenges - DHS S&T Directorate )

The post 2015 OPM data breach claims checks still trickling in first appeared on Federal News Network.