FCW Insider: September 10, 2021
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
Biden mandates COVID vaccine for feds, contractors
The vaccine mandate will supplant administration workforce policy put in place in July that requires either vaccinations or regular testing for federal employees.
DOD's silence on CMMC is worrying industry, trade groups claim
Months of silence from the Defense Department on the status of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program is palpable and stirring unease among defense contractors, trade associations say in a letter to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.
Chris Inglis scopes out cyber turf
The newly installed National Cyber Director offered his take on the roles and responsibilities of his office, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the National Security Council and agency IT and security operations in responding to federal cyber incidents.
Biden's DDM tees up strategic planning agenda
The Biden administration wants to capitalize on agencies' current strategic planning process to move major administration priorities like climate, pandemic recovery, economic recovery and equity.
Quick Hits
*** In a management advisory dated July 30 and just released on Wednesday, the assistant inspector general for audits and evaluations at the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Veterans Affairs cautioned that a business system that went live at VA's National Cemetery Administration and the Veterans Benefits Administration is not adequately providing routine data and intelligence on spending and budgets. "Ultimately, the lack of trust and frustrations using the new system may inhibit user adoption, which is an important product of successful change management," the advisory states.
*** A group of lawmakers led by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is seeking answers from Attorney General Merrick Garland about the impact of the SolarWinds hack on several U.S. Attorney's offices in Florida. In particular, the lawmakers want to know about what kind of information was compromised, if any, and what steps have been taken to remediate damage from the attack.
*** Fourth quarter contract spending is heating up. Read more in Washington Technology.