Federal Drive with Tom Temin

More organizations worried about cybersecurity are turning to software bills of material (SBOMS). Getting them from software suppliers as a matter of compliance is one thing. Gaining cybersecurity intelligence from them is another. For advice, Federal Drive host Tom Temin talked with the General Manager of the Open Source Security Foundation, Omkhar Arasaratbam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Biden administration's executive order on cybersecurity from three years ago alerted the uninitiated to the existence of software bills of material (SBOMs). The idea is, knowing all of the elements that make up a software package can help buyers better understand their cybersecurity holes. But can the SBOM also give hackers the blueprint they need. For analysis, Federal Drive host Tom Temin talked with Endor Labs adviser and former federal cybersecurity manager Chris Hughes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They somehow cobbled together two consecutive continuing resolutions. Now members of Congress aren't sure what will happen when the current one expires. At least one Democrat in leadership predicts a shutdown next month. For more, Federal Drive host Tom Temin spoke with WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Mitchell Miller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: How to get to the bottom of the hype about software bills of materials. Turn software bills of material into something more than a compliance checkoff. Hear those drumbeats? They're predictions of a January government shutdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Air Force is putting in place guardrails for the service to test and experiment with commercial generative artificial intelligence. Air Force Chief Information Officer Venice Goodwine, who signed a new AI policy on Wednesday, said that she created an innovation zone within the Air Force’s Office 365 environment that will allow service members to experiment with the technology within a safe environment. “The one thing that we are very cautious of and, you saw this, there are those that didn’t understand the technology,” Goodwine said at the AFCEA Air Force IT day Thursday. “We’re figuring out ways how do we really just within our own confines of our own data then use this technology.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is continuing its push to take advantage of unclassified commercial data sources, with plans to launch a competition for commercial GEOINT data services next month. Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, director of NGA, said the agency will release a request for proposals for the “Luno A” program in January. NGA plans to make awards to multiple vendors. The contracts will help NGA acquire commercial GEOINT object detections, and leverage industry analytics and automation. “I wish I could tell you the amount, but let’s just say it’s significant,” Whitworth said Tuesday during the Defense Department Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) conference in Portland, Ore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: How service members can get more out of their blended retirement system. The CIA is all in on artificial intelligence, but very carefully. We hear from Jason Mervyn, the lead IT specialist at the U.S. Mint in New York. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than a million military service members participate in the so-called blended retirement system. It lets them make TSP-style savings contributions that are portable. The funds go with them when they leave the military. But there is more to financial readiness, something to think about in a high-spending season. For some ideas, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Mike Meese, the President of the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahead of the planned federal pay raise for 2024, more than 33,000 federal employees are now set to get even larger pay checks. By the end of December, President Joe Biden plans to sign off on a 5.2% average pay raise for most federal employees on the General Schedule. The pay bump comprises a 4.7% across-the-board raise that everyone gets, plus a 0.5% average locality-based boost. The pay raise — still pending final sign-off — will kick in starting in January. Military members are also expected to receive a 5.2% pay raise next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress and a federal watchdog are taking a closer look at much-scrutinized plans to build a new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland. But a top FBI official is warning lawmakers that the agency’s workforce is running into several problems with its current headquarters. More than 15 years after the federal government originally planned for a new FBI headquarters, the crumbling J. Edgar Hoover Building is breaking down in ways that hamper the agency’s mission. Meanwhile, the FBI has moved thousands of its employees out of the Washington, D.C. metro area over the past decade, and built up its presence at other campuses across the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two key features of the Homeland Security Department’s cybersecurity program known as Einstein are going the way of the VCR, the IPod and the teletype. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is putting two Einstein 3A services out to pasture in the coming weeks. Specifically, CISA told agencies earlier this fall that it will be turning off two capabilities as of Dec. 22: Email filtering capabilities and domain name service (DNS) sinkholing services. DNS sinkholing protects against the use of domain name server as a means to establish communication with compromised hosts or to distribute malware. This capability is achieved by redirecting user traffic that matches known cyber threat indicators to a safe host to prevent connection to a malicious host and collect data on the attempted malicious connection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even in today's inflationary times, the word millionaire has a certain cachet. With a little self discipline and the power of compound interest, millionaire status is available to federal employees who make wise use of the Thrift Savings Plan. For some advice on how to get there, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin talked with retired federal manager Abe Grungold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The war in Ukraine, and to some extent Israel, have drained away U.S. weapons and ammunition stockpiles. Numerous studies have cited a shortage of shells, missiles and launch platforms, as well as whether the industrial supply chain and the military's own organic supply chain have the capacity to sustain the demand. For one informed view, Federal Drive Host talked with Al Abramson, the Vice President of Strategic Engagement with the National Armaments Consortium and a retired U.S. Army brigadier general. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is known for operating around the globe. Now it has a geospatial strategy it hopes will improve the decision-making and, ultimately, the effectiveness of its aid programs. For details, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Carrie, Stokes, USAID's Chief Geographer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: USAID embarks on a more data-driven approach to mission delivery. How long would the armed forces ammunition last anyway? So you want to be a millionaire? Here's how! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices