FCW Insider: August 27, 2021
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
Microelectronics supply chain challenges and zero trust
When it comes to microelectronics supply chain, better security risk assessment as manufacturers base contend with ongoing threats.
GOP lawmakers seek answers on SSA's acting leadership
Five Republicans are asking the Government Accountability Office to clarify legal limits under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of the term and authorities of the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, who was installed after President Joe Biden fired two top leaders in July.
ICYMI: DHS stands up new excepted service for cyber talent
The new human resources system, which is launching seven years after legislation authorizing special pay for cybersecurity specialists, is a complete move away from traditional federal HR practices, the agency said.
Meet the 2021 Federal 100
Read the profiles of all of this year's winners.
Quick Hits
*** The Internal Revenue Service announced a new tool to let taxpayers upload documentation needed to substantiate claims under the automated questionable credit program, which tries to identify people who are fraudulently or erroneously seeking tax credits. IRS CIO Nancy Sieger said in an agency blog post on Thursday that the new, cloud-hosted Documentation Upload Tool represents a major advance in the agency's digital services offerings. "For anyone who's experienced the hurry-up-and-wait of corresponding through the mail, this new service is a dramatic improvement," Sieger wrote.
*** The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program is moving toward more automation in the validation of FedRAMP security controls, with plans to adopt the Open Security Controls Assessment Language for wide-scale implementation in the near future. GCN has more on this story.