GSA launches new initiatives to give agencies innovative capabilities

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

In today’s Top Federal Headlines, the General Services Administration pushes three new initiatives to get agencies’ citizen services into the 21st century.

• The General Services Administration is pushing three initiatives to get agencies’ citizen services into the 21st century. GSA is betting on artificial intelligence, augmented reality and open authentication. It establishes communities of practice and holds workshops on each of the technologies. AI uses federal data to improve response rates and accuracy. Augmented reality can rev up medical services and training. Open authentication on GSA’s digital registry portal helps agencies share apps and source code. (DigitalGov)

• Federal employees in two new locations across the U.S. will receive locality pay in 2018. The Federal Salary Council voted to add San Antonio, Texas and Birmingham, Alabama to the list of separate locality pay areas. The President’s Pay Agent will have to approve them next. The council also unveiled the annual pay gap between federal employees and the private sector. Workers in the private sector generally make 34 percent more than their counterparts in government. (Federal News Radio)

• Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has announced details for his 14th annual Federal Employees Health Benefits Forum for federal employees in Maryland. There will be two events, the first on Nov. 14 in Wheaton, Maryland and Nov. 21 in Rockville, Maryland. Experts and health insurance carriers will be there to answer questions and discuss various health plan options and the impact of new health care reforms. (Rep. Chris Van Hollen)

• The IRS needs to strengthen its computer systems if it wants to fulfill its mission. In its annual assessment of the tax agency’s IT program, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration said the IRS still struggles to secure information for taxpayers and employees. It found three areas where the IRS could improve cybersecurity, one which was identity and access management. (Federal News Radio)

• The Director of the Office of National Intelligence James Clapper has been awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal. Defense Secretary Ash Carter praised Clapper for his ability to integrate intelligence and make sure it shared throughout the intelligence community. The Distinguished Civilian Service Medal is DoD’s highest civilian award. (Department of Defense)

• A proposed rule by the Defense Department looks to control foreign access to military technology. It told DoD employees and contractors to make sure unclassified technical data and technology that has military or space application is not exported without authorization. DoD says the policies will help preserve the U.S. military’s technological superiority. (Federal Register)

• One of the forefronts of U.S. military technology gets a new leader. Gen. John Raymond has taken over as commander of Air Force Space Command from Gen. John Hyten. Raymond formerly served as deputy chief of staff for Air Force operations. At the changeover ceremony, Raymond stressed his desire to continue Hyten’s work in pushing the boundaries in space and cyberspace. (Air Force)

• The Defense Department will soon have a Chief Innovation Officer. The new CIO — not to be confused with the position of Chief Information Officer — will serve as a senior advisor to the secretary of Defense. It’s one of three recommendations Secretary Ashton Carter said he’s implementing in response to the Defense Innovation Board he created earlier his year. Carter says he’s also adopted recommendations to increase DoD’s focus on recruiting computer scientists, and broaden its focus on machine learning technologies. (Department of Defense)

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