Author Archive

Aaron Boyd

Senior Editor, Nextgov

Aaron Boyd
Aaron Boyd is an award-winning journalist currently serving as senior editor for technology and events at Nextgov. He primarily covers federal government IT contracting and cybersecurity issues affecting both civilian and defense agencies. As a lifelong nerd and policy wonk, he feels right at home covering the intersection of technology and policy in the nation's capital.
Digital Government

How Feds Think Data Can Buy Time for People Suffering a Financial Shock

Financial assistance programs need to respond quickly to be effective. The vast troves of government data offer opportunities to shave down that time.

Emerging Tech

Interior Wants a Fleet of Drones ‘On Call’ to Help With Wildfires, Other Emergencies

The department is awarding multiple spots on a $7.2 million contract for unmanned aerial systems-as-a-service.

Digital Government

TSA Says Its Drone Program Won’t Collect Much Info on the Public

The agency is going to use drones to conduct security assessments at airports, transportation incidents and large security events.

Digital Government

Inter-Agency Effort Targets the Half of Veterans Who Never Engage With VA

The resource hub out of the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs is part of a larger White House initiative to better respond to the life experiences of Americans.

Digital Government

Trust Will Be Key for US Notify—a Federal Text Message Service for State Benefits

The text service will be the first project to come out of the General Services Administration’s new Public Benefits Studio.

Digital Government

The Low-Tech Side of Biden’s Push to Improve the ‘Life Experiences’ with Government

Agencies are approaching the White House’s mandate with an eye for getting important information and access to as many people as possible.

Cybersecurity

CISA Taking Over Open-Source Logging Tool Created by UK Government

The Logging Made Easy tool will move to CISA’s GitHub page later this year but will be unsupported in the meantime.

Cybersecurity

US Officials Charge Chinese Agents with Running ‘Secret Police Station’ in NYC

Prosecutors unveiled charges Monday against a “troll farm” and Chinese nationals who worked with a Zoom employee to crash meetings with U.S.-based dissidents.

Digital Government

New FCC Rule Aims to Kill Spam Texts at the Source

Additional proposals would give consumers more options, such as adding text messages to the Do-Not-Call registry.

Digital Government

Background Investigation IT Systems Software Will Now Be Bought Through One Business

Software asset management and purchases for the IT system underpinning security clearance background investigations will be consolidated under a single commercial contractor.

Cybersecurity

‘Multiple Threat Actors’ Used Old Exploit to Access Federal Agency Servers

At least two groups tried to exploit the vulnerability to get deeper into the agency’s networks, including a Vietnamese criminal gang.

Modernization

IRS Plans to Approve Use of Login-dot-gov as Tax Day Nears

The tax agency intends to add Login this filing season—and as early as next week—as the integration is in final rounds of testing.

Digital Government

GSA: Odd Email About Changes to SAM Registration Info Was a Glitch, Not a Hack

The agency said the emails were generated in error and likely unrelated to the unscheduled downtime Wednesday morning.

Digital Government

16 Agencies Create One Confidential Data Process to Rule Them All

In three years, creators of the Standard Application Process condensed 16 different agencies’ processes into one central portal for confidential data requests.

Cybersecurity

CISA Tells Agencies What to Prioritize to Meet Cybersecurity Log Mandate

The guidance document also explains how CISA and the FBI will work with agencies to investigate cybersecurity incidents.

Emerging Tech

NASA Wants to Make Sure Commercial Space Destinations Have All the Right Amenities

The space agency wants to ensure commercial space stations have the rules and supplies to support government astronauts.

Cybersecurity

Experts Question Value of Federal Cybersecurity Data Capture Mandate

The packet capture, or PCAP, requirement’s short timeframe and potentially massive data loads caused one expert to doubt whether it would be useful after a real cybersecurity incident.

Digital Government

New Health-Focused Advanced Research Agency Seeks $500M in Technical Support

The Health and Human Services Department’s version of DARPA—ARPA-H—is setting up a wide-ranging contract for support staff.

Emerging Tech

White House Wants Input on Crypto Tech R&D Agenda

The feedback will inform priorities for developing digital asset technologies, including potential for a central bank digital currency.