Legislation

Defense officials press lawmakers for a 2022 appropriation

Defense officials warned lawmakers that some programs and tech efforts could be delayed or eliminated if Congress fails to pass a 2022 defense spending bill soon.

  • By Lauren C. Williams

House FISMA draft codifies federal CISO role, looks to shared services

The House Oversight Committee is considering the first updates to the Federal Information Security Modernization Act in seven years, amid increasingly sophisticated cyber risks and threats.

  • By Chris Riotta

OPM faces uncertain funding prospects

The federal government’s human resources agency is still dealing with budget shortfalls arising from moving background checks to the Department of Defense, and the prospect of a full-year continuing resolution could exacerbate existing pressures.

  • By Natalie Alms

The legacy of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission

The Cyberspace Solarium Commission is officially sunsetting after more than two years, dozens of recommendations and a slew of legislative changes. But since there’s more to be done, the panel is rebooting its efforts as a non-profit.

  • By Lauren C. Williams

Connolly introduces bill to 'rebuild' OPM

One goal of the bill is to ensure that future OPM directors are nonpartisan.

  • By Natalie Alms

Build Back Better passes House

The $2 trillion bill includes $550 million in governmentwide technology modernization plus billions targeted for agency tech programs as well as new investments in sustainable tech and electric vehicles.

  • By Adam Mazmanian

FBI wants in on cyber reporting legislation

A top FBI cyber official told lawmakers on Tuesday that the bureau could face significant challenges addressing cyberattacks and ransomware incidents if it was not included in breach disclosure requirements being considered in legislation.

  • By Chris Riotta

$500 million for TMF, other tech added to Build Back Better

Governmentwide technology modernization appropriations are back in the Biden administration's signature Build Back Better legislation, but the timing of a vote remains unclear.

  • By Adam Mazmanian

IRS tech, CISA funding in Build Back Better

An effort to put $3.5 billion into key governmentwide tech modernization accounts appears to have come up short in the Build Back Better bill, but there's still a lot of technology spending on the table.

  • By Adam Mazmanian

Blinken announces new cyber bureau at State

The secretary of State named cybersecurity and emerging tech as critical areas for capacity building at State, alongside climate, global health and multilateral technology.

  • By Adam Mazmanian

Lawmakers examine TSA's growing role in cyber

Lawmakers on the Homeland Security Committee convened cybersecurity experts and key stakeholders from the transportation industry to discuss new rules in the works for the transportation sector.

  • By Chris Riotta

IGs look to expand investigative authority

Agency watchdogs told lawmakers that they would like authority to subpoena former federal employees, contractors and other non-governmental witnesses to give testimony in IG probes.

  • By Natalie Alms

CISA seeks 24-hour timeline for cyber incident reporting

Two separate Senate bills set different deadlines for federal contractors, critical infrastructure providers and other covered companies to report cyber incidents to the federal government.

  • By Adam Mazmanian

DHS adds cyber requirements for transportation industry

The Transportation Security Agency and the Coast Guard are getting increased authority over industry cybersecurity.

  • By Adam Mazmanian
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Bipartisan FISMA update drops

Leaders of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee introduced legislation on Monday to update the Federal Information Security Modernization Act to clarify the role of CISA in defending federal networks.

  • By Adam Mazmanian

Congress passes funding bill through Dec. 3, avoiding shutdown

With just hours to go in fiscal year 2021, Congress passed a stopgap funding bill to avert a partial government shutdown.

  • By Adam Mazmanian

Spending the federal cybersecurity budget: what's next?

A lot of new money is in the pipeline to help the federal government confront cybersecurity problems -- but what's the best way to allocate those resources?

  • By Kevin Jones

Shutdown looms as Congress faces spending deadlines

Most agencies are still operating under shutdown plans crafted under the Trump administration, but there are provisions for continuing pandemic programs and operations.

  • By Adam Mazmanian

Cyber officials look to toughen up reporting requirements

The head of CISA told lawmakers that federal breach disclosure rules should be accompanied by compliance mechanisms, including fines.

  • By Adam Mazmanian

White House pushes back on efforts to restore program cuts in NDAA

The Biden administration appears determined to stick to plans to retire legacy platforms and systems.

  • By Adam Mazmanian

AFGE looks to block Cyber Command reserve program in NDAA

A proposed amendment to the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act to pilot a cybersecurity reserve force at the Department of Defense would weaken merit systems principles, according to the largest federal employee union.

  • By Natalie Alms