Tag Archives: Government blog

It’s Really Time for REAL ID

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The REAL ID law, passed in 2005, was a response to the 9/11 attacks--an effort to make state-issued identification more secure and harder to counterfeit. This law requires the use of REAL IDs for air travel and admittance to federal buildings.

People may obtain REAL IDs via an in-person visit to a state Department of Motor Vehicles. The bolstered security of a REAL ID comes with the following added requirements:

  • Proof of identity and citizenship through one of the following: unexpired passport, U.S. Birth Certificate, Unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), or Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
  • Proof of social security number with a social security card, a W-2 form, or a pay stub
  • Proof of residency with a utility bill, mortgage statement, bank statement, or voter registration card

A REAL ID can be identified by a star in the upper right corner of the ID. The exact color of the star varies from state to state. Continue reading →

Evolving Disaster Response in Our Communities

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The Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness Executive Order (EO) aims to streamline the coordination between federal, state, and local emergency preparedness and response efforts. The requirements in the EO push more responsibility to state and local agencies for investing in revised preparedness and response plans regarding cyberattacks, wildfires, hurricanes, and other disasters. This guidance supports the idea that "preparedness is most effectively owned and managed at the state, local, and even individual levels, supported by a competent, accessible, and efficient federal government."

Bolstering emergency preparedness has been a critical focus of states and localities even before the EO. As weather related events grow in frequency and intensity, communities across the nation have been working to mitigate the impact of disasters before, during, and after events. Continue reading →

Next Generation Procurement Reform

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The White House recently released a pair of Executive Orders (EOs) that aim to streamline the way the government acquires products and services. The complexity and inefficiency of government procurement has long been decried by industry and government officials alike. Numerous steps have been taken to simplify processes and open access to businesses that can provide the innovative solutions the government needs. These latest EOs focus on reforming the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA), the two guiding principles of federal procurement.

Common Sense FAR

The "Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement" EO highlights the fact that the federal government is the world's largest buyer, spending nearly $1 trillion on procurement contracts each year. However, the provisions that guide that buying are cumbersome and, in many cases, outdated. The FAR is 2,000-plus pages containing 3,000-plus directives. The EO seeks to overhaul the FAR with plain English and eliminate nearly all non-statutory and duplicative regulations. Continue reading →

Navigating Government Event Travel and Spending Restrictions

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The Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative Executive Order (EO 14222) looks to transform "Federal spending on contracts, grants, and loans to ensure Government spending is transparent and Government employees are accountable to the American public." One specific focus mentioned is spending on travel. In addition to an initial freeze on travel, the EO also mandates agencies implement an online system for employees to submit "written justification for ... [non-essential] federally funded travel" to facilitate travel authorizations moving forward.

This guidance has left many in government wondering how and if they can travel to events. It has also left event planners wondering if they need to alter agendas, create back-up plans for speakers that may have to cancel, or even cancel events altogether due to a risk of low public sector attendance. Continue reading →

Paving the Way for Quantum Computing

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While data is traveling faster than ever thanks to the dizzying pace of technical evolution, we haven't seen anything yet. Quantum computing promises to make today's computing speeds look like a carnival merry-go-round. This is because quantum computing multiplies the speed of today's computers by employing quantum bits (qubits), which use both types of regular computer bits--0s and 1s--at the same time. This means quantum computers can look at, process, and analyze information at much faster rates.

This speed can be leveraged in a wide variety of ways across government, including improving cybersecurity threat detection and response, speeding intelligence analysis, optimizing logistics, enabling more in-depth economic trend prediction, providing faster modeling for research and development, and more. Several programs, initiatives, and pieces of legislation have been created to support the development of quantum computing in government.
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