Author Archive
Data & Analytics
GAO pegs unemployment insurance fraud tally at more than $60 billion
At the same time, the congressional watchdog cautioned that governmentwide fraud estimates are potentially dicey.
Cybersecurity
NIST unveils draft update of identity proofing tech guidance
The science and technology standards agency debuted new guidelines for its policy on identity verification technology, including the testing requirements for facial recognition applications and draft policies for other tools.
Emerging Tech
Biometrics have a role to play in government service delivery, trade group says
The Better Identity Coalition laid out a roadmap for states to tackle digital identity issues Monday, including how to deploy and oversee technologies like facial recognition.
Cloud & Infrastructure
Civic tech grant looks to correct language barriers in UI claims
A tech nonprofit that sprung up during the pandemic is starting a new project focused on language access in the unemployment system.
Data & Analytics
Cyber talent still in high demand
In the last 12 months, more than 769,000 cyber job postings went up in the United States.
Cybersecurity
States must plug into USDA antifraud system for SNAP delivery under new rule
The system, meant to help prevent duplicate participation in a key nutrition program, is expected to make enrollment and oversight easier for state workers who run SNAP and for people receiving benefits.
Data & Analytics
How tech can make food assistance programs easier to use
Modernization and customer experience goals are folded into a new White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health that was released Tuesday.
Cloud & Infrastructure
Labor Department's approach to modular UI tech for states evolves
An ongoing pilot with the U.S. Digital Service, Arkansas and New Jersey is working through challenges related to identity verification.
Emerging Tech
Concerns grow over AI in hiring processes
Automated tech -- including artificial intelligence for job recruiting, interviewing and hiring -- may discriminate against qualified job-seekers, government officials warn.
Data & Analytics
Feds to update standards on race and ethnicity data collection
New minimum standards will ensure the government can compare race and ethnicity data across agencies and understand how well federal programs serve a diverse nation.
Data & Analytics
Agencies are still wrangling over death data
Information about deaths is a key part of administering programs like Social Security, but how data is collected and shared comes with questions.
Cybersecurity
Cross-agency group explores next steps for identity verification
The group's new report and simulation tool will help officials identify trade-off considerations for different identity solutions and frameworks.
Data & Analytics
Watchdog says that racial and ethnic gaps remain in CDC's COVID-19 data
Centers for Disease Control data on race and ethnicity about COVID-19 is sometimes "missing, inconsistent or inaccurate," an inspector general report says.
Data & Analytics
Bad data and old tech limit COVID exposure tracking on flights
The system CDC uses to gather and share data on air passengers is outdated, making it hard to provide the information state and local public health authorities need for contact tracing.
Cloud & Infrastructure
States need to invest in unemployment systems, Labor secretary tells Congress
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh spoke with lawmakers about a week after the Government Accountability Office added the unemployment program to its high risk list of poorly performing government programs.
Data & Analytics
Tapping workforce data to promote employment equity
The Department of Labor's three-year data strategy will help focus resources on the vulnerable and promote equity, drawing lessons from a pilot using state-level on unemployment.
Emerging Tech
Rampant ID theft targets pandemic benefits, watchdogs say
Cross-checking data and implementing validation methods for digital identity verification – like mobile driver's licenses – could help secure state systems, officials said.
Emerging Tech
Why you need your boss's boss to embrace agile
It's not usually the tech that's the difficult part of user experience work, but rather getting senior leaders to help clear organizational roadblocks.
Data & Analytics
GAO tags unemployment insurance as 'high risk'
The government watchdog says more than $78 billion in improper unemployment insurance payments were made in fiscal year 2021, and cited fraud, poor customer service, inequitable access, legacy tech and staffing shortages as key drivers of failure.
Data & Analytics