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. […]
DoD’s Arrington: Like It or Not, CMMC Is Here to Stay
Pushing back on industry criticism, a top Pentagon tech official made clear today that the Defense Department’s (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) policy exists because defense contractors failed to meet earlier standards – and that CMMC is here to stay whether contractors like it or not. […]
FedRAMP Working Group Previews Repository, CM Reporting Changes
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is working on proposed changes to current continuous monitoring reporting standards and data repository standards and expects to release draft versions of those proposed changes in the May-July time frame. […]
Senator Demands Answers About HHS Cybersecurity Layoffs
Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., is demanding answers from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over its recent restructuring moves that have reduced the agency’s IT and cybersecurity personnel. […]
Zscaler: GenAI Is Changing the Phishing Game, Warns of ‘Near-Flawless Lures’
Cybercriminals are using generative AI (GenAI) to craft targeted phishing attacks against high-impact business functions that evade traditional defenses, according to a new report from the cybersecurity platform provider Zscaler. […]
Energy Department CIO Graber Resigns, Sources Say
Ross Graber has resigned as the chief information officer (CIO) at the Department of Energy (DoE), knowledgeable sources confirmed to MeriTalk today. […]
David Larrimore Departs DHS After Pioneering AI Initiatives
After four years of serving as the chief technology officer (CTO) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), David Larrimore announced his departure from the department on Friday. […]
GOP Seeks $150B Defense Hike, $25B for Golden Dome
Congressional Republicans are seeking a $150 billion defense spending boost in the upcoming reconciliation bill, with $25 billion earmarked for President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome for America” missile defense project. […]
Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Anti-Union Order
A Federal judge has blocked an executive order from the Trump administration last month that direct Federal agencies to cease collective bargaining with Federal employee labor unions. […]
Most Americans Concerned About Federal Workforce, Service Cuts
The majority of Americans are concerned about cuts to the Federal workforce and government services, according to new polling data from the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service (PPS). […]
NSF Officials: Quantum, AI Well Positioned on White House Policy Agenda
Two officials from the National Science Foundation (NSF) are pointing to early indications from the White House’s science and technology agenda as evidence that development of quantum and artificial intelligence technologies will be hot-button issues for the Trump administration. […]
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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