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. […]
NSF Research Security Office Working to Rebuild After Staff Losses
A key National Science Foundation (NSF) office charged under the CHIPS and Science Act with safeguarding U.S. research lost nearly half of its staff earlier this year, according to testimony before Congress on Thursday. […]
Trump Gives Federal Employees Dec. 24 and 26 Off
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday afternoon that gives most federal employees off on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26. […]
Trump Makes 1% Pay Raise Official for Most Feds
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to finalize a 1% pay raise for civilian federal employees in 2026, aligning with his alternative pay plan from August. […]
Senate Confirms Isaacman as Next NASA Chief
The Senate confirmed Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator on Dec. 17, concluding a more than yearlong and unusually complicated nomination process. […]
NIST Prepares OSCAL 1.4, Expands AI and Digital Twin Features
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is preparing to release the latest patch for its Open Security Controls Assessment Language (OSCAL), version 1.4, along with a version two prototype of its mapping model within the broader OSCAL framework. […]
FAA Details ATC Modernization Progress, Addresses Staffing Challenges
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told Congress Wednesday it is expediting modernization of the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) systems, aiming to complete the overhaul by late 2028, and drawing skepticism from lawmakers over safety risks and staffing challenges. […]
CISA Opens 100 Cyber Roles for Students Through CyberCorps Program
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced Wednesday that it is participating in the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, making 100 internship and postgraduate opportunities available to students. […]
AI, Quantum Speed Up Cyber Threats, Experts Warn
Witnesses at a House subcommittee hearing urged lawmakers to move faster on cybersecurity policy, warning that current defenses, regulations, and procurement timelines are being overtaken by rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. […]
USAF Innovation Director Outlines AI Trust Challenges
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) faces growing challenges in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption as systems become more powerful but less explainable, according to the service’s innovation chief. […]
Senate Passes FY26 Defense Policy Bill
The Senate today passed the fiscal year (FY) 2026 defense authorization bill, voting 77-20 to send the measure to President Donald Trump, who has said he will sign it. […]
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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