Author Archive
Alexandra Kelley
Staff Correspondent

Alexandra Kelley reports on emerging technology for Nextgov. Her most recent post was covering breaking news for The Hill where she focused on a variety of quantitative subjects, including Big Tech and the economy, in addition to covering the coronavirus pandemic since late 2019. She graduated from Kenyon College in 2017.
Cybersecurity
Lawmaker and staffer health data exposed in insurance breach
The attack on local insurance company DC Health Link threatens to expose personal information of House lawmakers and Hill staffers.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Digital Government
Creating responsible AI presents 'major technical challenges,' NIST official says
Experts discussed the regulations needed for fast-developing AI software, with NIST’s Elham Tabassi emphasizing the need for proper data and measurement strategies for different systems.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Cybersecurity
EPA: States must evaluate cybersecurity of public water systems
The Environmental Protection Agency said it was expanding its capacity for helping states assess the cybersecurity of operational technology used in public water systems.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Cybersecurity
Cyberattacks on Energy's National Labs draw lawmaker scrutiny
The attacks, allegedly conducted by Russian-based adversaries, occurred during August and September 2022, potentially exposing sensitive U.S. scientific research.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Digital Government
State Department creates first office devoted to emerging technology diplomacy
The Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology will facilitate strategic partnerships to develop and regulate innovative tech.
- By Alexandra Kelley
New U.S.-E.U. data privacy framework focuses on limiting U.S. surveillance
Fortifying European citizens’ data and privacy rights are central to the updated U.S.-EU Data Privacy Framework.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Digital Government
State Department reverses course on communications tech exports to Iran to counter regime crackdown
The U.S. State Department expanded exports to grant Iranian citizens better access to secure communications.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Cybersecurity
Federal cyber mandates for water infrastructure are too costly to implement, experts tell Hill panel
A House hearing saw expert testimony emphasizing the need for steady funding to cybersecurity programs in water utility providers––especially in rural regions.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Digital Government
White House roadmap will guide efforts to regulate crypto, digital assets
Several agencies contributed to the new framework, as the Biden administration eyes a streamlined approach to regulating and benefitting from the volatile digital asset marketplace.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Acquisition
NIST, Google announce chip R&D partnership
The public-private sector collaboration will make industry standard chips available to smaller research entities to encourage semiconductor manufacturing.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Cybersecurity
FTC sues location data collector, alleging lax security
The Federal Trade Commission is going after data broker Kochava over its practice of selling “sensitive geolocation data.”
- By Alexandra Kelley
Cybersecurity
CISA warns critical infrastructure to prepare for mass post-quantum systems migration
Quantum computing is the latest frontier in technological innovation, and its hacking potential has regulators advising companies to begin to safeguard their networks.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Digital Government
VA's new master record aims to be a 'single source of truth' for veteran data
The new VA Profile system is a back-end data storage program that will give agency offices and systems a single source for accurate veteran information.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Cybersecurity
NIST revises cybersecurity guidelines specifically for HIPAA
NIST will accept comments on the updated draft publication regarding HIPAA’s Security Rule until September 21.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Cybersecurity
Biden’s executive order sharpens health data privacy following Roe v. Wade overturn
The executive order brings federal enforcement to protecting location and health data, in order to prevent law enforcement abuses.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Cybersecurity
NIST identifies 4 quantum-resistant encryption algorithms
Federal researchers are one step closer to protecting U.S. data from quantum computing decryption capabilities.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Congress
Bipartisan bill proposes new federal data privacy standards
The American Data Privacy and Protection Act stands to improve American users’ data privacy and offers federal regulatory power.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Cybersecurity
Report finds identity fraud up 167% in USPS change of address requests
The USPS Office of the Inspector General recommends stricter identity verification controls online, while management disagrees.
- By Alexandra Kelley
People
Senate confirms NIST leader
Laurie Locascio, a bioengineering professor and NIST alum, was nominated by President Biden back in 2021.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Cybersecurity
State Department announces first Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy
The new office will work to advance foreign and domestic security through modernizations featuring new and emerging technology.
- By Alexandra Kelley