Ron Wyden

Oregon Senator fed up with data breaches, blasts Big Tech, demands mandatory standards

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore) cites a Cyber Safety Review Board report that blames Microsoft’s inadequate cybersecurity culture.

Federal Newscast

Oregon senator urges Biden to fire Social Security IG

Federal Newscast

Now both chambers of Congress are investigating Microsoft email breach

Cybersecurity

Bipartisan bill would bar agencies from denying job applicants over weed use

Hiring/Retention

Senator wants agencies to investigate Microsoft’s ‘lax cybersecurity practices’

Federal Newscast

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Two-thirds of USPS rural carriers see significant pay cuts under new system

Pay

Senators push major reforms to government’s security classification process

Intelligence Community

Senate confirms Danny Werfel as IRS commissioner to improve taxpayer service

Agency Oversight

IRS nominee Werfel outlines plan for ‘high-performing’ agency with $80B investment

Agency Oversight

The bud of a cannabis plant stands tall at a farm in Chonburi province, eastern Thailand on June 5, 2022. Marijuana cultivation and possession in Thailand was decriminalized as of Thursday, June 9, 2022, like a dream come true for an aging generation of pot smokers who recall the kick the legendary Thai Stick variety delivered. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Senator wants former and possibly current marijuana use to not count against clearance-seekers

Federal Newscast

Internal Revenue Service sign with a traffic signal in the foreground indicating a red light.

IRS plans pivot to Login.gov, lets users create online accounts without facial recognition

Agency Oversight

IRS creates ‘surge team’ to address backlog, scraps plan to close tax processing center

The IRS, already dealing with a significant backlog of tax returns and taxpayer correspondence, is scrapping plans to consolidate the number of facilities…

Workforce

IRS walks away from facial recognition to access online tools after backlash

The IRS will transition away from using facial recognition technology to help taxpayers create online accounts with the agency.

IT Modernization

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the nomination of Chris Magnus to be the next U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via AP)

Senator wants to know what agencies are doing to protect employee cell phones

Federal Newscast

In today’s Federal Newscast, Senator Ron Wyden wants to know what a handful of agencies are doing to deploy countermeasures and protect employees and critical facilities.