Federal Government Policy and Business: i360 Gov

Closing the Digital Divide in Government: 5 Strategies for Digital Transformation

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 16:25:32 -0500

From NextGov: Change is seldom easy. Yet for government and public sector executives, the need to modernize has never been greater, as there is a growing digital divide between constituent expectations and what many governments can offer.

Citizens are demanding a more connected government.

IT leaders take note: The future is what you create

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 16:20:24 -0500

From CIO: High-profile IT disasters are enforcing the dystopic visions and macro-pessimisms saturating the cultural consciousness. Only by steeling against perpetuating past IT sins and embracing possibility can we make something brighter.

2023: The Year of Modern Government

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 16:05:43 -0500

From NextGov: The last several years have brought about a digital acceleration across industries once thought to be years away. Society has increasingly become conditioned to operate in new ways, often through the click of a button, replacing our volume of daily in-person interactions.

In the public sector, while significant strides have been made to modernize operations and create positive change for employees and communities, much work remains. Indeed, as constituent expectations rise and new workforce challenges emerge, government leaders will need to embrace a people-first approach if they hope to continue their modern government journey.

5 Things Holding Innovation Back at the IRS

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:21:01 -0500

From GovExec: Frustration with the IRS—it’s practically an American tradition. But now, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, the infamously hamstrung institution has been promised $80 billion over the next decade. The range of responses elicited by this decision make it clear that many of us are struggling to sort out what this realistically means for our families when filing season rolls around.

That Time the Federal Government Was Ruled By Czars

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:52:05 -0500

From GovExec: How did a term for Russian oligarchs came to be applied to American government officials? On March 15, 1917, Czar Nicholas II abdicated the throne of Russia, ending its succession of autocratic rulers. But in an unlikely turn of events, the term “czar” carried on in, of all places, the United States.

The word had been previously used occasionally as an epithet to characterize power-hungry politicians. But it began to spread more widely after President Woodrow Wilson tapped Bernard Baruch to head the War Industries Board during World War I.

Inflation Costs Present Both Barrier, Opportunity For Contractors In 2023

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:49:57 -0500

From GovExec: With a fiscal 2023 federal budget in-hand, contractors face both the prospect of a robust year and countervailing cost trends, Deltek says.

Top 9 challenges IT leaders will face in 2023

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:46:02 -0500

From CIO: Economy uncertainty, new forces in an already tight talent market, and rising technology costs top the list of tough, ongoing issues CIOs must navigate this year.

NASA overspent $15 million on unused Oracle licenses as it failed to track usage

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:45:12 -0500

From CIO: An audit report showed the space agency spent an additional $20 million over the same period in fines and overpayments to vendors such as IBM, SUSE, and SAP among others.

Women Bring Skills – and Face Different Challenges – in Government

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 23:14:43 -0500

From GovExec: Debbie Walsh, director of the Rutgers University Center for American Women and Politics, joins the podcast to discuss how gender can shape elections and governance.

Library of Congress Looks to Spend up to $450M on IT and Software Contract Work

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:47:02 -0500

From NextGov: The Library of Congress filed a solicitation to contract work on its IT system and software applications using an agile model. The agency is looking for the contracted work to utilize an agile model.

GAO: Agencies Need to Conduct Cyber Risk Assessments of IoT, OT Devices in Critical Infrastructure Sectors

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:44:46 -0500

From NextGov: A Government Accountability Office report found that the agencies responsible for managing infrastructure in the healthcare and public health, energy and transportation sectors need to better assess their cyber risk mitigation strategies.

The White House Charts a Course for Open Government

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:42:09 -0500

From GovExec: The fifth U.S. Open Government National Action Plan, shared exclusively with Government Executive before release, builds on many of the Biden administration's previous efforts.

Here Are the Major Takeaways From the $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:39:16 -0500

From GovExec: See which agencies are getting the biggest funding increases, hiring orders and new policy initiatives in fiscal 2023.

Recent Hiring Reforms Are Already Working, Federal HR Leaders Say

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:38:19 -0500

From GovExec: At the annual public meeting of the Chief Human Capital Officers Council, officials said innovations like shared certifications and skills-based hiring are paying dividends.

Ukraine Tech Chief: Cloud Migration ‘Saved Ukrainian Government and Economy’

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:21:37 -0500

NextGov: “Russian missiles can’t destroy the cloud,” Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation explained.

State Department unveils $10B enterprise IT services solicitation

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:12:02 -0500

FCW: The contract known as "Evolve" seeks technology modernization services in support of diplomatic goals.

FITARA scorecard sees 7 agencies increase their marks amid cyber methodology changes

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:10:56 -0500

FCW: All 24 agencies received passing grades in the latest iteration of the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act scorecard, though 17 saw their scores largely unchanged.

10 future trends for working with business leaders

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:36:32 -0500

CIO: The IDC FutureScape team has turned its attention to CIOs’ relationship with business leaders to predict 10 winning digital business strategies for the years ahead.

State Department issues $3.5B in EIS task orders

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 16:55:58 -0500

FCW: Verizon and BT Federal secure awards worth more than $1 billion each for work in overseas locations.

Tech Wanted: Government Calls on Industry to Help with Net-Zero Carbon Buildings

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:21:41 -0500

NextGov:The General Services Administration and Department of Energy Tuesday released a request for information to industry seeking innovative, emerging technologies that may one day help the federal government achieve net-zero carbon emissions.

State Department Awards Verizon $1.58B IT Modernization Contract

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:20:52 -0500

NextGov: The contract tasks Verizon with modernizing communications infrastructure and providing IT services to the agency’s embassies and other important locations.

OMB's 'Learning Agenda' Looks to Drive Government Innovation

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 12:30:14 -0500

GovExec: The learning agenda, focused on the federal workforce, government service delivery and equity, is meant to spur research across government silos and spark innovation, according to the Office of Management and Budget.

Federal Agencies Still Face Several Cloud Challenges, Watchdog Says

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 12:20:50 -0500

NextGov: Years after prior watchdog reports, agencies still have not fully implemented Government Accountability Office recommendations.

Department of Transportation Investing $160 Million for Tech-Centric Projects

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 12:17:57 -0500

NextGov: Two programs, SMART Grants and ATTAIN, will dole out millions over five years as the Biden administration plans a U.S. transportation overhaul.

Treasury chief: IRS modernization is coming soon

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 12:01:04 -0500

FCW: Janet Yellen laid out workforce and modernization priorities for the IRS during remarks on Thursday as the IRS looks to spend the $80 billion infusion from Congress over the next decade.