Monday federal headlines – April 11, 2016

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

• A panel of experts has called for the closure of all health-care facilities controlled by the Veterans Affairs Department. The VA Commission on Care issued a report recommending the Veterans Health Administration work with private care providers to reduce the VHA’s role in veterans health care. The committee cited problems with leadership, facilities, and funding as the main issues holding VHA back in its mission. (VA Commission on Care)

• Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has urged the Senate to approve the Export-Import Bank board of directors. Speaking at the Ex-Im Bank Annual Conference, Lew stressed the important role the Ex-Im bank plays in keeping U.S. businesses competitive in the global market. Lew wants the Senate to approve a new member to the board of directors as soon as possible. The Ex-Im bank was reauthorized in December after a six-month hiatus. (Treasury Department)

• Customs and Border Protection wants its officers and vehicles to now be equipped with cameras. CBP issued a request for information asking industry’s input on Body Worn and Vehicle Mounted Cameras. Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske is also setting up an agency-wide working group to study the feasibility of the idea. He said CBP is doing this in an effort to expand transparency. (CBP)

• A Navy officer faces espionage charges for passing secrets to China. Lt. Commander Edward Lin was part of the group who oversaw maritime patrol aircraft, according to U.S. Naval Institute News. Charging documents said Lin allegedly transported secret information out of the country without permission and then lied about his whereabouts when he returned to duty. He faces prostitution solicitation charges as well. (USNI News)

• Cyber attackers are an always-evolving threat, and the nation’s IT security needs to be as equally dynamic. That’s the message Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) sent to the Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan. Carper said private sector companies can get quick access to the latest cybersecurity products, but flaws in the federal purchasing process are limiting the government’s ability to also get that technology. Donovan has 30 days to respond to the senator’s letter, which asks what OMB is doing to help agencies buy cybersecurity tools, and what purchasing best practices it is sharing between defense, intelligence and civilian agencies.

• The Veterans Affairs Department has new pilots to help veterans gain more control over their own health care. VA Undersecretary for Health David Shulkin said the Veteran Appointment Request App is available in 10 locations now. It lets veterans view, schedule, cancel and keep track of primary and mental health care appointments online. Shulkin said the VA wants to make the app available to all veterans by early 2017. The VA is also adding a new feature that lets veterans check appointment wait times in real time. (Federal News Radio)

• The Defense Department has made a major change to the way it awards contracts. A new policy will try to make it clearer what delivering a capability above the lowest technically acceptable requirement is worth. The policy requires DoD to put a value on what extra capabilities in a contract are worth to the department. In the past, industry has low-balled contract bids in order to win a contract, but then was unable to deliver the capability for the price. (Federal News Radio)

• The White House is making its case for a new fund to modernize federal IT. The Office of Management and Budget sent its legislative proposal to Congress last week detailing how it would set up and manage the $3.1 billion fund. OMB’s proposal would create an IT modernization board to choose the most at-risk projects. OMB said  GSA would manage the fund and provide expertise for modernization projects. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said he plans to introduce a bill in the coming days based on the administration’s proposal. (Federal News Radio)

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