Author Archive

Natalie Alms
Staff Writer
Natalie Alms is a staff writer at FCW covering federal technology policy, service delivery, customer experience and the government's tech workforce. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and has written for the Salisbury (N.C.) Post. Connect with Natalie on Twitter at @AlmsNatalie.
Natalie Alms is a staff writer at FCW covering federal technology policy, service delivery, customer experience and the government's tech workforce. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and has written for the Salisbury (N.C.) Post. Connect with Natalie on Twitter at @AlmsNatalie.
Tech
IRS Taxpayer Advocate Says Congress Shortchanged IT Modernization Efforts
Lawmakers didn’t allocate the $80 billion provided to the IRS in the right way, claims National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins, adding that IT modernization and taxpayer services aren’t getting the money they need.
- Natalie Alms
Tech
OPM Gives Agencies Guidance for a New Program to Rotate Cybersecurity Employees
The guidance seeks to implement the Federal Rotation Cyber Workforce Program created by lawmakers last year as a way to foster new critical skills.
- Natalie Alms
Workforce
Reciprocity Remains As Key Clearance Issue
Intelligence community elements appear to have adopted a wait-and-see posture over efforts to construct a common platform that allows for agencies to treat security adjudications as a shared service.
- Natalie Alms
Tech
IRS Plans to Approve Use of Login-dot-gov as Tax Day Nears
The tax agency intends to add Login this filing season—and as early as next week—as the integration is in final rounds of testing.
- Aaron Boyd and Natalie Alms
Tech
White House Mulls Scaling up Login-dot-gov to Reach Every American
A draft of a long-awaited executive order covering digital identity includes a push to make government-owned Login-dot-gov an option for most federal benefits programs.
- Natalie Alms
Tech
IRS Names Advisors on Possible Government-Run Direct Filing System for Taxpayers
The IRS tapped New America to report on the feasibility of a free, public-facing IRS-hosted tax filing infrastructure for ordinary taxpayers.
- Natalie Alms
Management
The Labor Secretary Is Set to Leave His Post for the NHL Players Union, Reports Say
The news comes as some House Republicans set their sights on oversight for fraud in pandemic-era benefits programs including enhanced unemployment insurance.
- Natalie Alms
Oversight
GAO Pegs Unemployment Insurance Fraud Tally at More Than $60 billion
At the same time, the congressional watchdog cautioned that governmentwide fraud estimates are potentially dicey.
- Natalie Alms
Management
Taxpayer Advocate Pushes For IRS to Make Its Own Free, Direct e-File System
A new report calls the current e-file program, a collaboration between private tax prep companies and the IRS, greatly underutilized and advises the agency to develop a new system.
- Natalie Alms
Workforce
OPM Pushes to Rebrand Government and Capitalize on Tech Layoffs
The Office of Personnel Management is co-hosting a tech job fair on Wednesday. It’s one example of ongoing efforts to rebrand the government as an employer.
- Natalie Alms
Workforce
Feds Mull Changes to Cannabis Questions on Vetting Forms
A plan to modernize intake forms for candidates for government service could include revisions to the type of questions asked about marijuana use.
- Natalie Alms
Tech
Omnibus Spending Bill Includes a Ban of TikTok on Government Devices
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., told FCW on Monday that Congress might have more work to do regarding national security implications of the popular video-sharing app TikTok in the next session of Congress.
- Natalie Alms
Tech
Improved Data Sharing Between SSA and USDA Could Streamline Benefits Delivery
Online application pilots are on the horizon with a new data-sharing update between the Social Security Administration and Agriculture Department.
- Natalie Alms
Management
Bill to 'Stop the Government Speak' in Agency Documents Clears Senate
The proposal would expand and update an existing law on plain language requirements for agencies.
- Natalie Alms
Defense
Gillibrand Ditches Military-Services Style Cyber Academy Idea for DOD Scholarship Program in NDAA
The new plan proposed by the New York senator would offer cyber scholarships to students at colleges and universities, followed by DOD service.
- Natalie Alms
Management
For Federal Customer Service to Work, Congress, the White House and Agencies Need 'Fundamental' Change, Report Says
A new report from the Partnership for Public Service and Accenture Federal Services outlines the systemic barriers to customer experience, and the collaboration between Congress and the executive branch needed to address them.
- Natalie Alms
Management
A Cybersecurity Agency Has Hired Its First 'Chief People Officer'
NASA's Elizabeth Kolmstetter will be charged with aligning talent recruitment efforts at the cybersecurity agency during an increasingly tight labor market.
- Natalie Alms
Oversight
Former Tax Chiefs Urge the Senate to Quickly Confirm Biden's IRS Nominee
The new commissioner should be a part of setting priorities and making plans, say former tax agency heads.
- Natalie Alms
Management
DOJ Looks to Improve the FOIA Experience With a New ‘Wizard’
A new FOIA search tool is under development, while forthcoming shared business standards aim to streamline case management systems.
- Natalie Alms
Pay & Benefits
OPM's Ahuja Gets an Earful from Agencies Over Enhanced Pay for Cyber Talent
The director of the Office of Personnel Management is navigating the intense competition among federal agencies for in-demand cybersecurity workers.
- Natalie Alms