Page 8 - Federal Computer Week, July 2019

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HouseDemsoffer $35M for TMF
House Democrats plan to allocate $35 million for the Technology Modernization Fund in the fiscal 2020 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill. That’s significantly less than the $150 million the Trump administration sought in its budget request but an increase from the $25 million added to the fund in 2019.
The Modernizing Government Technology Act of 2018 authorized TMF, which allows agencies to access money for technology upgrades. The fund launched with $100 million in funding in the 2018 appropriations bill, an amount that was increased by $25 million. The original legislative proposal would have authorized a $3 billion fund for TMF, but the effort was dramatically scaled back as the
bill made its way through Congress. As of March 12, seven projects had been approved for funding, with a total value of about $89 million. However, only about $7 million has actually been spent on TMF projects, according to
the most recent public data.
Projects range from a plan to put
federal workforce scheduling and payroll on a cloud-based shared- services platform with $20 million of TMF funding to a more modest $3.5 million plan to digitize the way the Labor Department certifies work visas.
Agencies that draw on the TMF are expected to pay back the money as the project progresses — typically about 12 months after each disbursement. The reimbursement requirement is not contingent on cost savings.
— Adam Mazmanian
500MB of data was exfiltrated by hackers via an unauthorized Raspberry Pi computer
attached to a NASA Jet Propulsion Lab network
Congresspromotescybereducation, accountability in draft defense bill
The Defense Department has struggled to recruit and retain cybersecurity professionals despite rapid-hire authorities. DOD reportedly lost about 4,000 cyber-related personnel in 2018, and Congress is including a push in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act for more thorough cyber education and hiring efforts.
The Democrats are emphasizing diversity and inclusion in recruitment.
The act “places substantial emphasis on the maturation of the department’s science and technology initiatives, ranging from requiring studies on the effects of historically underfunded science and technology activities to an assessment of essential STEM skill sets required to support emerging and future warfighter technologies, including an analysis of the recruiting, retention and representation of minorities and women in the current and projected workforce,” said Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.).
The Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, which Langevin leads, approved its markup in a voice vote on June 4 without amendments.
Previous defense spending bills have given DOD numerous direct- hiring authorities, and Congress wants
by March 1, 2020, on how DOD is integrating cyber education into leadershipcourses.
Furthermore, “the current recruitment efforts by the military services do not appear calibrated for the needs of the department in building its cyberspace force,” according to the Armed Services Committee’s report on the legislation.
As a result, lawmakers are requesting a hearing by March 31, 2020, on DOD’s plan to recruit for skills in cyber, AI, software engineering, data sciences and quantum sciences.
Lawmakers also wrote that “the nation’s cyber force could be hindered with tools and accesses being developed and stored by different components of the services and Department of Defense agencies and elements” and proposed that U.S. Cyber Command should maintain a comprehensive inventory of subordinate elements’ accesses and tools, while emphasizing sustainment for cyber capabilities.
The bill also seeks to incentivize cyber accountability at DOD with a proposal that would limit funding from the White House Communications Agency if U.S. Cyber Command fails to complete a Tier 1 test in fiscal 2019 of DOD’s ability to provide support to civil authorities in the
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July 2019 FCW.COM
The act “places substantial emphasis
on the maturation of the department’s
science and technology initiatives.”
— REP. JIM LANGEVIN (D-R.I.)
to make sure officials are using them. The subcommittee wrote that DOD isn’t taking adequate advantage of current authorities and programs to speed cyber workforce hiring.
One provision would require the defense secretary to brief lawmakers
event of a domestic cyberattack.
A committee staffer told reporters in June that the provision was not intended to be punitive because a test is already planned. If it is conducted, there will be
no impact on 2020 funding.
— Lauren C. Williams