Federal CIO Kent Announces Cyber Reskilling Academy
Federal CIO Suzette Kent this morning announced creation of the Federal Cyber Reskilling Academy–a joint effort of the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Education, and the Federal CIO Council Workforce Committee–to kickstart the Federal government’s efforts to address gaps in the Federal cybersecurity workforce and help retrain Federal employees. […]
Feds Reach IT Modernization Tipping Point
A new report from MeriTalk and the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) finds that Federal finance, IT, and procurement experts believe we’ve reached an IT modernization tipping point. […]
DHS Launches ICT Sector Supply Chain Risk Task Force
The Department of Homeland Security on Oct. 30 announced launch of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Supply Chain Risk Management Task Force, which the agency said is charged with developing “consensus recommendations” to identify and manage risk to the global ICT supply chain. […]
DHS’ Manfra Discusses FISMA Update, Impact to CDM
Jeanette Manfra, assistant secretary for the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications at the Department of Homeland Security, said today that the new update to Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) guidance will place even more accountability on department leaders and reflects an evolution in discussions between agencies and DHS. […]
FAA Awards Contracts to Overhaul Radar Systems by 2028
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded contracts to two companies to overhaul the nation’s 40-year-old radar systems as part of its efforts to modernize the U.S. air traffic control (ATC) system. […]
Model, Simulate, Decide: How NPS Turns Digital Twins Into Mission Value
At the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), modeling and simulation (M&S) isn’t an academic exercise; it’s a path to better, faster, safer decisions in real-world situations. By building shared digital twins, running batches of what-if tests, and letting operators and engineers adjust the same model together, NPS teams pull months and years out of planning and reduce risk before anyone touches a flight line or flips a switch on an installation. […]
SOF at Speed: Technology and Warfighter Health Converge for Next-Gen Missions
U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) are recalibrating from two decades of counterterrorism toward great power competition, and they’re doing it at a tempo that demands faster decisions, smarter logistics, and a more holistic approach to human performance. […]
Podcast: From Demo to Delivery: How Agencies Are Operationalizing AI
In this episode of MeriTalking, Nicole Burdette sits down with ICF’s Kyle Tuberson to discuss how agencies can go from lab to live, supported by a consistent delivery approach in ICF’s Fathom, which bakes in security, governance, and integration with existing systems. They’ll also address the drivers for AI, from efficiency pressures to practical technology […]
GSA Announces Free Uber One Membership for Federal Employees
The General Services Administration (GSA) announced Monday that Uber is offering federal employees a free Uber One membership through Nov. 30, 2027, to strengthen its existing OneGov rideshare partnership with Uber. […]
UL Solutions Withdraws as Lead Administrator for FCC’s Cyber Trust Mark Program
UL Solutions – known up until 2012 as Underwriters Laboratories – has withdrawn as the lead administrator for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) U.S. Cyber Trust Mark Program. […]
OPM Confirms 3.8% Pay Raise for Law Enforcement Personnel
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memo approving a 3.8% pay raise for certain law enforcement personnel in 2026, with the pay increase taking effect on Jan. 11. […]
Navy Pilots New Digital Health System at Sea
The U.S. Navy completed a 12-day pilot test of a new digital health system aimed at modernizing medical care aboard ships. […]
Marine Corps Launches Drone Training Program
The U.S. Marine Corps has launched a new training program aimed at rapidly increasing the number of small unmanned aircraft system operators as it expands the use of commercial off-the-shelf attack drones across the force. […]
FEMA Awards $250M to Secure US Skies Ahead of FIFA World Cup
This week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $250 million to the 11 states hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and to the National Capital Region to help them defend against unauthorized drone activity. […]
With 80 percent of every Federal IT dollar spent on life support for legacy systems, the Federal IT community is exploring new options to modernize and innovate – virtualization, cloud computing, Flash technology, software-defined options, shared services, and more. MeriTalk is staying close to the leaders on the front lines, bringing you new ideas and lessons learned.
And, as Federal IT leaders work to meet demands of an “always-on” highly mobile government, we bring you the stories and breaking news on balancing productivity with security. Our government IT news includes how agencies manage advanced persistent threats, and the steps that help guard against socially engineered threats. We look at the latest trends in malware, spyware, ransomware, and spear phishing. And – how can Federal agencies protect data from tomorrow’s cyber threats?
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