Monday federal headlines – December 21, 2015

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

• The Government Accountability Office issued a report calling for a delay to the funding of the nation’s 2016 littoral combat ship program. In a recent study, GAO says the lethality and survivability of LCS is still unproven and that the Navy has had to lower requirements and remove several design features. It suggests Congress delay funding until the Navy submits a completed rough water trials report, an acquisition strategy and a backfit plan. (GAO)

• After it was discovered the EPA broke the law using social media to promote the passage of the Clean Water Rule, House Republicans now want to know how it promoted the Clean Power Plan. Leaders from the House Energy and Commerce Committee asked for all online postings on the Clean Power Plan, which aims to reduce emissions from power plants, as well as a certification the EPA did not use “covert propaganda” or grassroots lobbying to promote it. (House Energy & Commerce Committee)

• Federal investigators are concerned that a “potential vulnerability” has been discovered in software used by the government. The software ScreenOS from Juniper Networks enables virtual private network connections to secure access for networks. In a security bulletin posted on Juniper’s website, it warns the flaw allows unauthorized remote administrative access to devices. CBS News reports government investigators have been in contact with Juniper to see if government computers were potentially affected. (CBS News)

• The Senate Armed Services Committee is requesting copies of Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s emails he made on his personal account. A statement from chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) said the committee wants to conduct a review to ensure sensitive information was not compromised. A New York Times article revealed Carter had used the account to conduct some official DoD business. He has since apologized. (Sen. John McCain)

• President Obama signs an executive order making a 1.3 percent pay raise for federal employees in 2016 official. This includes uniformed military service members. This is a combination of the 1 percent increase in base pay and the 0.3 percent raise in the locality pay he requested earlier this year. (Federal News Radio)

• Big changes are coming to the desktops of Defense Department and military employees. DoD Chief Information Officer Terry Halvorsen has directed a rapid transition to the Windows 10 operating system starting January 2016, this is according to a memo he signed last month. The department’s goal is to complete deployment of Windows 10 by January 2017. (Federal News Radio)
• The Homeland Security Department’s role in protecting civilian agency networks received a much-needed boost in the 2016 omnibus spending bill. Congress included the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Protection Act in the appropriations legislation. Lawmakers give DHS more authority to oversee and manage cyber programs such as EINSTEIN and continuous monitoring. DHS also can now more easily share cyber threat data with the private sector. The bill also requires DHS and the Justice Department to work together to ensure privacy protections are in place when sharing the data.

• Just last week, DoD announced 2016 housing rates that begin phasing in a cost-sharing scheme that will eventually have all servicemembers paying 5 percent of their rent and utility costs. But in the new budget, Congress expressed concern that the lower allowances are especially unfair to military members who have to live in rural areas near military bases, because DoD calculates the payments based on housing costs in the closest metropolitan area, where rent is often cheaper. The budget deal orders the Pentagon to deliver a report on how it calculates rent in rural areas within 90 days.

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