5 Ways to Use The Summer Event Lull to Your Advantage

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Summer months bring a natural lull in formal events, conferences, and training opportunities. While the pace may slow, this season is actually an ideal time for government employees to refocus on professional development and education.

Since summer offers a valuable window for intentional growth, here are five ways to make the most of it. Continue reading →

It’s Really Time for REAL ID

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The REAL ID law, passed in 2005, was a response to the 9/11 attacks--an effort to make state-issued identification more secure and harder to counterfeit. This law requires the use of REAL IDs for air travel and admittance to federal buildings.

People may obtain REAL IDs via an in-person visit to a state Department of Motor Vehicles. The bolstered security of a REAL ID comes with the following added requirements:

  • Proof of identity and citizenship through one of the following: unexpired passport, U.S. Birth Certificate, Unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), or Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
  • Proof of social security number with a social security card, a W-2 form, or a pay stub
  • Proof of residency with a utility bill, mortgage statement, bank statement, or voter registration card

A REAL ID can be identified by a star in the upper right corner of the ID. The exact color of the star varies from state to state. Continue reading →

Evolving Disaster Response in Our Communities

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The Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness Executive Order (EO) aims to streamline the coordination between federal, state, and local emergency preparedness and response efforts. The requirements in the EO push more responsibility to state and local agencies for investing in revised preparedness and response plans regarding cyberattacks, wildfires, hurricanes, and other disasters. This guidance supports the idea that "preparedness is most effectively owned and managed at the state, local, and even individual levels, supported by a competent, accessible, and efficient federal government."

Bolstering emergency preparedness has been a critical focus of states and localities even before the EO. As weather related events grow in frequency and intensity, communities across the nation have been working to mitigate the impact of disasters before, during, and after events. Continue reading →

Funding Security at the Local Level

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The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) was launched as part of the 2021 infrastructure law to help states and localities bolster their cybersecurity defenses. State and local agencies hold incredibly sensitive data yet historically lack the budget and staff to implement modern security tools and approaches, making them a target for threat actors. The SLCGP was designed to bridge this gap, allowing states to bolster their cyber infrastructure. Funding for this program is set to expire in September 2025, leaving states worried about how they will continue to maintain and enhance their cybersecurity postures.

What is the SLCGP?

The Cyber Grant Program is jointly administered by the DHS's Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. It requires states to funnel 80% of the funding to local governments, which are often the shortest on IT staff and funding, to ensure the equitable distribution of funding across organizations. Continue reading →

Next Generation Procurement Reform

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The White House recently released a pair of Executive Orders (EOs) that aim to streamline the way the government acquires products and services. The complexity and inefficiency of government procurement has long been decried by industry and government officials alike. Numerous steps have been taken to simplify processes and open access to businesses that can provide the innovative solutions the government needs. These latest EOs focus on reforming the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA), the two guiding principles of federal procurement.

Common Sense FAR

The "Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement" EO highlights the fact that the federal government is the world's largest buyer, spending nearly $1 trillion on procurement contracts each year. However, the provisions that guide that buying are cumbersome and, in many cases, outdated. The FAR is 2,000-plus pages containing 3,000-plus directives. The EO seeks to overhaul the FAR with plain English and eliminate nearly all non-statutory and duplicative regulations. Continue reading →