Oversight

NSF watchdog warns of 'other transaction' pitfalls as funding decisions loom

The National Science Foundation is poised to distribute billions in research and development funding via legislation designed to boost domestic production of computer chips.

  • By Carten Cordell

Pentagon didn't check risks before authorizing cloud services, watchdog finds

An audit conducted by the Defense Department’s inspector general found agency components “may be unaware of known vulnerabilities and cybersecurity risks associated with operating their systems or storing their data.”

  • By Edward Graham

GSA not tapping data on unauthorized access attempts at federal facilities, report says

The General Services Administration isn't using access card data to mitigate risks on federal property, according to a new report.

  • By Chris Riotta

Government watchdog warns on cyber weakness

The federal government has not yet addressed nearly 150 recommendations previously issued by the Government Accountability Office to help strengthen national cybersecurity, according to a new report.

  • By Chris Riotta

GAO calls on Energy Department to bolster competition for management contracts

The congressional watchdog learned of industry worries about broadly scoped contracts that potentially shut out small- and medium-sized firms.

  • By Carten Cordell

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.

  • By Natalie Alms

FDA falls short on IT contract management, watchdog finds

An audit of the agency's IT contract spend found that FDA officials failed to file acquisition information such as contract performance evaluations and competition efforts.

  • By Carten Cordell

House Oversight Committee probes GSA administrator’s telework

The GOP-led committee is seeking details about Robin Carnahan's telework arrangements.

  • By Carten Cordell

Interior’s cyber practices allow for easily crackable passwords, watchdog finds

An OIG investigation found that the Interior Department has not fully implemented multifactor authentication and that its “outdated and ineffective” password requirements leave employees’ accounts vulnerable to exploitation.

  • By Edward Graham

Federal health plan could be spending $1B a year on ineligible dependents, GAO says

A new report found that OPM lacks a process for identifying and removing ineligible members from the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, possibly costing the government $1 billion in improper payments a year.

  • By Carten Cordell

Watchdog: Justice Dept. lags on implementing tech, supply chain recommendations

An inspector general's report issued Thursday noted that as of Nov. 30, the department has more than 700 recommendations that had not yet been fully implemented, some more than three years old.

  • By Carten Cordell

GAO dings OMB on performance goals for agencies’ IT management

The federal CISO’s plan for getting agencies to focus on cybersecurity measures the administration considers most urgent did not go over so well in a shifting Congress.

  • By Mariam Baksh

IG dings State Department's information security program in annual report

The State Department Office of the Inspector General says it found weaknesses in eight of nine domains in an audit of the department's information security program.

  • By Natalie Alms

Breaches of personal data at DOD have doubled since 2015

A recent oversight report detailed that the Defense Department experienced nearly 1,900 breaches of personally identifiable information in 2021 and may need a better system for informing affected individuals.

  • By Carten Cordell
Featured eBooks

Enhancing the FITARA scorecard

Opportunities exist to enhance the FITARA scorecard to ensure its continued relevance and to keep pace with technology changes.

  • By David Wennergren

Wyden blasts wide, unfettered government access to passport files

The revelation comes from ongoing probes into a leak investigation at Customs and Border Protection from Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

  • By Natalie Alms

Bid protests decline for fourth consecutive year

Bid protests issued by federal agencies declined 12% in fiscal 2022.

  • By Frank Konkel

Tech woes still trouble OPM, watchdog says

While a solution appears to be in play for the agency's budget shortfall, deficiencies in the tech workforce remain a cause for concern.

  • By Natalie Alms

The IG Council is investigating Homeland Security watchdog

The council also pushed back on broader claims that it is “failing” in its mission. 

  • By Courtney Bublé

IT spend reporting requirements still stuck at halfway point, watchdog finds

The Government Accountability Office report found that agencies failed to disclose approximately $31 billion in fiscal year 2021 investments under the two layers of the Technology Business Management framework that were required.

  • By Kirsten Errick

Federal agencies are ignoring most building safety concerns flagged by DHS

Lawmakers raise concerns about the non-compliance in light of the recent uptick in threats against feds.

  • By Eric Katz