Nextgov
FCC Website Gets a Refresh
A prototype of the site went live after months of research and focus groups.
Nextgov
Geeks vs. Suits: What's the Real Difference between 18F and USDS?
One was created to ship culture and the other was created to ship confidence. It’s the age-old saga of geeks vs. suits.
Oversight
Mitch McConnell Introduces Plan to Reauthorize Patriot Act For Five More Years
The move may thwart any attempt to reform the NSA’s mass-surveillance authorities.
Nextgov
Senators Zero in on ‘Inaccurate’ IT Dashboard Ratings
A key Senate committee says its examining "the lack of transparency and inaccuracy of risk information” posted by agencies on the IT Dashboard.
Oversight
Grassley Is Not on Board With NSA Reform
The key Senate Republican is not ready to give the USA Freedom Act his blessing.
Nextgov
DHS to Open Up Shop in Silicon Valley
The Department of Homeland Security is opening a branch in Google's territory.
Nextgov
The Plan for Avoiding 2020 Census Tech Flubs? Innovate But Don’t Invent
Census takers could be using commercially-available smartphones and tablets to administer the survey in 2020.
Nextgov
Does the Government Need to Rethink Its Weed Ban to Get Cyber Talent?
An executive order dating to the Reagan administration outright bans federal employees from toking up -- even off duty.
Nextgov
Feds Heighten Scrutiny of TSA Screeners and Aviation Staff to Thwart Insider Threat
The prospective measures stem from a report the Department of Homeland Security requested after a former baggage handler last December allegedly helped smuggle loaded guns aboard a plane bound for New York City.
Nextgov
18F’s Hillary Hartley on Redesigning Government Services: Put the People First
As deputy executive director of GSA’s digital services team, Hillary Hartley’s job is to put customers at the forefront of any technology project.
Defense
NSA: Rules of War Apply to Cyberwar, Too
In the tightly controlled discussion about cyber weapons, this counts as a step toward transparency.
Nextgov
HealthCare.gov Still Gets Poor Marks for Customer Experience
The U.S. Postal Service and the National Parks Service get highest grades in government.
Pay & Benefits
TSP Participants Could Be Vulnerable to Hackers, Auditors Say
Once in the system, hackers could take loans or withdrawals from retirement accounts.
Nextgov
Republican Lawmakers Want More Accountability for US CTO Role
The new legislation would make it easier for lawmakers to compel the U.S. chief technology officer to testify before Congress.
Nextgov
White House Promotes Tech Meetups
Under federal CTO Megan Smith, the White House hosted its first tech meetup, encouraging technologists from across the U.S. to network with each other.
Nextgov
How Secure is an Email Tip Line for Federal Employees?
Congressman Mark Meadows announced on Thursday the launch of an email account for federal employees to send anonymous complaints about their working conditions, according to his website.
Nextgov
These 3 Steps Could Prevent 85 Percent of All Data Breaches
A great many cyber calamities are preventable through basic cybersecurity hygiene.
Nextgov
Federal Employees, Don’t Do This on Social Media
Ethics officials say they’ve been inundated with questions from agencies about how their employees’ Twitter and Facebook habits conform with govermentwide ethics rules.
Oversight