Weekly Roundup: December 5-9, 2016

John Kamensky

GAO Assesses DATA Act Implementation.  GAO testified on the implementation status of the Digtal Accountability and Transparency Act, to be completed by May 2017.  It concludes: “OMB and Treasury have taken steps to establish a data governance structure, issued additional guidance, and improved the Section 5 Pilot design; however, more work is needed for effective implementation of the DATA Act. In addition, agencies continue to face challenges and are taking steps to mitigate those challenges.” 

Cementing In Management Reforms. Government Executive reports: “With the transition to a Trump administration well under way, the General Services Administration is moving to further institutionalize the Obama administration’s push to make agencies more efficient and effective stewards of taxpayer dollars by sharing more back-end administrative services and adopting category management as a procurement model.”

Program Management Bill Sent to Obama.  Government Executive reports: “On its way toward President Obama is a bill passed by the Senate last week aimed at improving agency program management and creating a new federal career path focused on that discipline. . . . .The bill, which borrows standards-based efficiency reforms from the private sector, would create a formal job series and career path for program managers; designate a senior executive in agencies responsible for program management policy and strategy; and create an interagency council on program management to share tips for success.”

Cybersecurity Must Be a Core Function.  Federal News Radio reports: “The Administration needs to begin shoring up the federal government’s IT security posture by granting a promotion to the White House official who oversees cybersecurity, giving that person the title of “assistant to the president” and having him or her report directly to the National Security Advisor. . . .  the Commission on Enhancing Cybersecurity said in its final report.”

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence.  Federal News Radio is hosting a series on the role of artificial intelligence in the federal government:

• Part 1: Government Creating a Mind of Its Own: “A key issue for federal use of AI . . .  is to be able to trust that the system or computer being used is correct:
• Part 2:  Meet Your Artificial Office Mate: “a core objective of AI research and applications over the years has been to automate or replicate intelligent behavior.”
• Part 3:  How AI Technology Is Helping Decisionmaking: “An ecosystem platform that provides dozens of processing engines to meet the growing need to know and process loads of information, in near real time.”

A Fast-Paced Transition?  Government Executive reports that, thanks in part to a new presidential transition law passed in March, the Trump transition team is off to a faster start than previous transition teams over the past 60 years.

The Plum Book – and App – Are Out!  The Washington Post reports: “A plum-colored paperback listing 9,000 political jobs for those who want to work in Donald Trump’s administration. . . .The 226-page Plum Book — so called for the desirable jobs that change hands at the end of a presidential term — lists every patronage position in the executive and legislative branches that could be filled by Trump supporters.” . . . and here’s its App.

Michael Keegan

What does a military boss mean for DHS?. Former DHS managers say John Kelly is a solid choice to lead the agency, but he faces some of the same old challenges -- and could encounter some steep learning curves. 

Civil service changes pass in NDAA, while Trump plans workforce moves. The Senate voted 92-7 to pass the $619 billion 2017 defense bill on Dec. 8, sending the measure to President Barack Obama to sign. Tucked away in the massive bill are two civil service changes that impact feds facing administrative accusations of misconduct. The Administrative Leave Reform Act sets a cap of 10 days total per calendar year of paid leave for employees facing misconduct investigations

Donald Trump and federal procurement: Who woulda thunk it? Steve Kelman notes that acquisition issues have surfaced twice already for the next administration. 

$9 billion price tag likely dooms MGT Act. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that implementation of the Modernizing Government Technology Act will cost $9 billion over five years. 

Can a Hollywood techie grow government's innovation shop?. The software whiz behind Pixar's movies Rob Cook surprised even himself by coming out of a "failed retirement" to take a top technology job at the General Services Administration. 

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Next Week’s The Business of Government Radio Show.  What is the Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) Cohort Program? How do you balance accessibility and data security of cohort participants? How do you manage expectations? Join host Michael Keegan as he explores these questions and more with Eric Dishman,Director, Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) Cohort Program, National Institutes of Health.

Broadcast Schedule: The show airs Monday at 11 a.m., and Friday at 1 p.m. on Federal News Radio 1500AM WFED.

If you can't wait, though, you can listen to (or download) this week's program and all our previous interviews at businessofgovernment.org.