Federal CIO Kent Announces Cyber Reskilling Academy
Federal CIO Suzette Kent this morning announced creation of the Federal Cyber Reskilling Academy–a joint effort of the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Education, and the Federal CIO Council Workforce Committee–to kickstart the Federal government’s efforts to address gaps in the Federal cybersecurity workforce and help retrain Federal employees. […]
Feds Reach IT Modernization Tipping Point
A new report from MeriTalk and the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) finds that Federal finance, IT, and procurement experts believe we’ve reached an IT modernization tipping point. […]
DHS Launches ICT Sector Supply Chain Risk Task Force
The Department of Homeland Security on Oct. 30 announced launch of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Supply Chain Risk Management Task Force, which the agency said is charged with developing “consensus recommendations” to identify and manage risk to the global ICT supply chain. […]
DHS’ Manfra Discusses FISMA Update, Impact to CDM
Jeanette Manfra, assistant secretary for the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications at the Department of Homeland Security, said today that the new update to Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) guidance will place even more accountability on department leaders and reflects an evolution in discussions between agencies and DHS. […]
Navy Chief Previews New ‘Hedge Strategy’
The U.S. Navy’s top officer previewed a new strategy – dubbed Hedge Strategy – that would pair unmanned vehicles, autonomous systems, and emerging technology with the service’s existing fleet to improve their ability to respond to increasingly complex scenarios. […]
Tech Modernization at the FAA: Cloud, AI, and Mission Software for a ‘No-Fail’ National Airspace System
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is accelerating long-planned technology upgrades to meet today’s air traffic realities: more flights, new entrants like drones, and rising expectations for resiliency after recent system and workforce impacts. Ongoing efforts to modernize the National Airspace System (NAS) and the Trump administration’s plan to overhaul the nation’s air traffic control system underscore the urgency. […]
VA to Invest $4.8B to Modernize Health Care Facilities, EHR Systems
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on Wednesday that it will spend $4.8 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2026 to modernize and improve health care facilities, including a $1 billion investment for the maintenance and modernization of electronic health record (EHR) systems. […]
Senators Say Better Investment, Global Cooperation Can Win the AI Race
The United States can play and win the technology long game, but only if Washington backs its ambitions with widespread innovation, clearer rules, and stronger alliances, according to Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. […]
Commerce’s CHIPS Office Signs LOI With USA Rare Earth for Up to $1.6B
The Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Program Office on Monday announced it signed a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with USA Rare Earth (USAR) that could provide up to $277 million in direct funding and up to $1.3 billion in a senior secured loan to bolster domestic semiconductor supply chains. […]
Senators Demand Answers After New SSA Data-Handling Revelations
The Senate Finance Committee’s top Democrat and Republican want answers on how the Social Security Administration (SSA) secures its data after a court filing revealed that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) may have improperly handled sensitive personal data. […]
Pentagon Task Force Issues New Counter-Drone Playbook
The Pentagon’s Joint Inter-Agency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401) on Monday announced updated guidance for counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operations, giving installation commanders broader authority to respond to unauthorized drone activity around military facilities. […]
Federal CISO Warns Modernization Without PQC Readiness ‘Creates Technical Debt’
Federal Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Mike Duffy warned on Tuesday that government IT modernization efforts that fail to account for post-quantum cryptography (PQC) risk creating long-term technical debt. […]
New Bill Would Deploy AI to Identify Outdated Federal Rules
A new legislative proposal introduced by Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, on Friday would use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify redundant and outdated rules in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). […]
Industry Groups Urge Congress to Reauthorize SBIR, STTR Programs
Industry groups are urging congressional leaders to quickly reauthorize the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, whose authority lapsed on Sept. 30, 2025. […]
With 80 percent of every Federal IT dollar spent on life support for legacy systems, the Federal IT community is exploring new options to modernize and innovate – virtualization, cloud computing, Flash technology, software-defined options, shared services, and more. MeriTalk is staying close to the leaders on the front lines, bringing you new ideas and lessons learned.
And, as Federal IT leaders work to meet demands of an “always-on” highly mobile government, we bring you the stories and breaking news on balancing productivity with security. Our government IT news includes how agencies manage advanced persistent threats, and the steps that help guard against socially engineered threats. We look at the latest trends in malware, spyware, ransomware, and spear phishing. And – how can Federal agencies protect data from tomorrow’s cyber threats?
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