Author Archive
Natalie Alms
Staff Reporter, Nextgov/FCW

Natalie Alms is a staff reporter at Nextgov/FCW covering federal technology policy, service delivery, customer experience and the government's tech workforce. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and has written for the Salisbury (N.C.) Post. Connect with Natalie on Twitter at @AlmsNatalie.
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Connolly releases new FITARA scores without usual committee hearing
“We could not allow a lapse in the scorecard,” Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., said of the Tuesday roundtable discussion held without Republicans.
- By Natalie Alms
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Former officials sound off on the challenges of managing through a shutdown
“The big thing that happens..is lots of lawyers weighing in on what activities are actually exempt," one former official said.
- By Natalie Alms
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OPM has a plan to take its tech 'from the Flintstones to the Jetsons'
The personnel agency recently released its first IT strategic plan in nearly a decade.
- By Natalie Alms
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TMF adds guidance for IDEA Act proposals
Agencies have until Sept. 22 to send in submissions for funding.
- By Natalie Alms
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Government proposes a sustainability update for contracting regulations
Although the White House said the proposed update to the Federal Acquisition Regulation will help the government meet its zero-emissions goals, some stakeholders want it to go further.
- By Natalie Alms
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TMF announces 5 new digital services and cybersecurity investments
The Technology Modernization Fund currently has over $750 million invested across 45 projects in 27 agencies.
- By Natalie Alms
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Stakeholders wonder how to keep up momentum for customer experience push
Is it time for a national strategy to ensure efforts for making government easier to navigate don't let up?
- By Natalie Alms
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IRS outlines tech modernization, CX plans as part of $80 billion overhaul
IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told reporters on Thursday that technology will be key to achieving the agency’s intentions to transform customer service at the agency and shrink the tax gap.
- By Natalie Alms
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Report: CIO left out of many VA IT contract awards
A new Government Accountability Office audit details how the Veterans Affairs Department's chief information officer was not always in the loop on these decisions.
- By Natalie Alms
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White House budget proposal includes CX, fraud prevention
The Biden Administration's fiscal year 2024 budget request emphasizes funding for the President’s Management Agenda goals, including customer experience.
- By Natalie Alms
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National cyber strategy faces major implementation challenges, industry execs say
A depleted workforce, lack of funding and barriers to information sharing across the public and private sectors are among several challenges these executives cite regarding the federal government's new sweeping cybersecurity strategy.
- By Natalie Alms and Chris Riotta
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Biden's equity executive order includes data, AI provisions
The order directs agencies to consider including their civil rights offices in decisions about artificial intelligence systems.
- By Natalie Alms
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Agriculture pushes out funds to modernize key nutrition benefit
The Agriculture Department awarded over $50 million in grants last month for WIC modernization and outreach and is pursuing efforts to change regulations to permit online shopping in federally funded nutrition programs.
- By Natalie Alms
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OMB prioritizes CX in budget planning
The inclusion of customer experience and service delivery priorities in budget preparation guidance from OMB will likely get the attention of agencies as they prepare their budget requests for the next fiscal year, experts told FCW.
- By Natalie Alms
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DHS looks to cyber self-assessments over CMMC model
DHS is considering how it might use self-assessments for vendors to measure their cyber hygiene—an approach that would set it apart from the Defense Department’s plans for third-party assessments.
- By Natalie Alms
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GSA looks to help get LGBTQI-owned small businesses in the contracting mix
The agency is going to work with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce as part of an effort to increase access to contracting for LGBTQI-owned small businesses.
- By Natalie Alms
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Tech trade group seeks bumps to TMF, agency-based IT funds
FedRAMP funding and budget to support zero trust initiatives at civilian agencies are also on the appropriations wish-list of the Alliance for Digital Innovation.
- By Natalie Alms
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There's no final number yet for pandemic fraud, oversight leaders tell Congress
Total fraud levels in pandemic relief programs are upwards of $100 billion, but getting a clear estimate is made difficult by data gaps and ongoing fraud recovery efforts, officials said at a Senate hearing.
- By Natalie Alms
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OMB: This is the year for security clearance reform
Jason Miller, deputy director of management at the Office of Management and Budget, a key leader in security clearance reform efforts, says to expect major milestones in 2022.
- By Natalie Alms
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Supreme Court hearing turns to the contractor mandate
Chief Justice John Roberts invoked the federal contractor mandate – currently blocked from taking effect due to a lawsuit – at a hearing at which two separate vaccine authority cases were argued on Friday.
- By Natalie Alms