The Fed Mission Success Round Up: Cybersecurity, Policy, Workforce and More in Federal Agencies

Weekly News Round Up
Written By Fareeha Khan

Welcome to the Fed Mission Success News Round Up brought to you by Makpar. Each week, we will provide a summary of actionable news and insights to help aid in overall mission success for Federal agency IT decision-makers and influencers.

CISA Ordered to Automate Collection of Cybersecurity Metrics by April 2022

The White House is calling on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to establish a strategy for automating the collection of Federal agencies’ cybersecurity metrics by April of next year.

Network Resiliency is Goal of New Capacity Enhancement Guides From CISA

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is continuing to centralize Federal network resiliency efforts with the release of its first capacity enhancement guides.

GAO: Pentagon Needs Goals to Improve CMMC Framework

The Defense Department needs to improve communication with industry and develop performance measures regarding its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification framework, according to an audit released by the Government Accountability Office. The audit, which took place over the past calendar year, found the Defense Department is inadequately reviewing CMMC, which was created in 2019 as a means for defense contractors to improve cybersecurity and information security practices through third-party assessments.

House Passes NDAA Without Cyber Incident Reporting Legislation

The National Defense Authorization Act for 2022 moved closer to becoming law but does not include cybersecurity incident reporting legislation lawmakers had been negotiating all year.

NIST Outlines Request for Information Toward a New Cybersecurity Framework

NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework has only been updated once since it was published in 2014. But with the evolution of large-scale cyberattacks affecting the Federal enterprise over the last year, as well as the emergence of new technologies, has the agency revisiting the landmark document.

OMB Releases Guidance to Advance Equity for Underserved Small Businesses in Federal Procurement

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released guidance on December 2, 2021, implementing Executive Order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government” (EO).  The EO directs agencies to readily make available Federal contracting opportunities to all eligible vendors and to remove barriers preventing underserved individuals and communities from entering into procurement opportunities.  Additionally, President Biden has set a goal to increase the share of contracts awarded to small, disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) to 15% by 2025.

Biden Administration Again Looks to Increase AI R&D Funding at Civilian Agencies

The Biden administration proposed once again increasing funding for artificial intelligence research and development at civilian agencies, in a supplement to its fiscal 2022 budget request.

OPM Makes Competing for Cybersecurity Talent A Priority

The Office of Personnel Management’s policy and human resources shops are focused on improving the agency’s personnel system to outcompete those of other agencies in hiring cybersecurity talent, according to Director Kiran Ahuja.

Who ‘Owns’ a Services Contractor’s Workforce Anyway?

Now a Biden administration executive order (EO) would require winning bidders to hire the old incumbent’s employees connected with the contract or project. The EO should look familiar. It’s nearly identical to an EO the Obama administration instituted in 2009, which the Trump administration nullified in 2019. This time the EO refreshes the idea with detailed clause language contracting officers are obligated to use.

Former White House, Senate Staffer to Lead Cloud-Based Tech Group

The incoming director of the Alliance for Digital Innovation, Ross Nodurft, is planning to advocate for “smart” cyber and supply chain security policies, as well as continuing the organization’s advocacy for a consistently funded Technology Modernization Fund.

Data Management Emerges as a Top Performance Challenge for Health and Human Services

As it does every year, the Department of Health and Human Services  (HSS) Office of Inspector General publishes the top management and performance challenges facing the department. This year, the IG found that HHS faces significant challenges when it comes to data, managing it and using it.

How Tech Is Helping Poor People Get Government Aid

Even as the government expanded aid programs, many people faced barriers to using them. That problem is now being addressed with apps and streamlined websites.

Actions Needed by Higher Education Institutions, Technology Companies, Federal Agencies to Increase Representation of Women of Color in Tech

A range of organizations across the tech ecosystem — tech companies, colleges and universities, professional societies, and government agencies — should take steps to improve the representation of women of color in tech fields and careers, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

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Fareeha Khan
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