Department of Health and Human Services

DoD is trying to keep companies afloat as it calls on them for Defense Production Act needs.

For the first time in seven years, the Office of Management and Budget is revamping the regulations that govern the federal grant making process based on changes in legislation and those requested by the grants community.

Some options under the DPA are already employed on a semi-routine basis by the Defense Department and other agencies but could play a bigger role against the coronavirus.

President Donald Trump signed to supplemental spending bills into law over the last two weeks giving agencies billions of dollars in extra funding to help fight the coronavirus.

Federal agencies have requested an additional $45.8 billion in funding for 2020 alone, which the White House said is necessary for its governmentwide response to the coronavirus. Extra telework support is at the top of the list.

Former federal cybersecurity officials warn that this extraordinary volume of employees working from home over an indeterminate amount of time has put a unique stress test on federal IT systems.

For more on this and the other elements of what makes for effective response, the CEO of the Council on Strategic Risks, Christine Parthemore, spoke to Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

Rajiv Uppal at the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, and Jose Arrieta at HHS said bringing the mission offices into the IT modernization discussion is having real impacts.

In today’s Federal Newscast, Elaine McCusker is no longer the White House’s choice for Defense Department Comptroller.

HHS’ decision to shut down its assisted acquisition services at the Program Support Center leaves vendors waiting for payment, costing the government hundreds of thousands in penalties and puts agency mission at risk.