GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (1/31–2/4)

This week's Weekly Debrief covers DoD's new future technology plan, data key to cyber workforce strategy, top cyber official to Europe, USPS wants more e-vehicles, $15 per hour minimum wage for contractors, and DoJ's $5.6 billion in False Claims Act recoveries is second largest in history.

Defense

NextGov – Defense Department Previews New Future-Facing Technology Aims

• "The Defense Department released a broad plan to expand and ensure its technological edge on the shifting global conflict stage—equipped with a list of more than a dozen technologies it is prioritizing in the near term—via a six-page memorandum published on Thursday."

Cyber

FedNewsNet – Data will be key to building national cyber workforce strategy, officials say

• "Gathering data on current federal cybersecurity personnel initiatives will be critical to tailoring a much-needed national workforce strategy, according to current and former officials, as agencies continue to contend with a shortage of cyber talent."

CyberScoop – Top White House cyber adviser Anne Neuberger makes the rounds in Europe

• "A top U.S. cyber official is in Europe this week to “elevate cybersecurity as a top-tier priority at NATO and with international partners,” a senior Biden administration official told reporters Tuesday morning."

USPS

GovExec – The Postal Service and the White House are Fighting Over How Many Electric Vehicles to Buy

• "The Biden administration is ramping up pressure on the U.S. Postal Service to buy an electric vehicle fleet, sharply criticizing the mailing agency for flouting its required due diligence and failing to adequately account for its environmental impact."

Contractors

GovExec – The Deadline is Here for Federal Contractors to Start Paying at least $15 an Hour

• "President Biden’s $15 hourly minimum wage for employees of federal contractors officially took effect on Sunday. Biden announced this initiative shortly after taking office in January 2021, then followed up with an executive order in April. The final regulation, which was issued in November, will be indexed for inflation."

False Claims

Justice.gov – Justice Department’s False Claims Act Settlements and Judgments Exceed $5.6 Billion in Fiscal Year 2021

• "The Justice Department obtained more than $5.6 billion in settlements and judgments from civil cases involving fraud and false claims against the government in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2021, Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division announced today. This is the second largest annual total in False Claims Act history, and the largest since 2014. Settlement and judgments since 1986, when Congress substantially strengthened the civil False Claims Act, now total more than $70 billion."

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