Weslan Hansen

Washington, D.C., United States

Technology Reporter at MeriTalk

Articles

Federal Workforce Vetting Upgrade Meets IT Roadblocks

1 week ago | meritalk.com | Weslan Hansen

The Federal government’s latest stab at modernizing Federal worker and contractor vetting has improved screening processes but left many agencies unable to fully comply with updated policies due to incompatible IT systems, a new watchdog report finds.
Noem Declares CISA ‘Back on Mission’ Amid Bipartisan Budget Cut Concerns

1 week ago | meritalk.com | Weslan Hansen

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem told lawmakers today that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is “back on mission,” amid concerns voiced by House and Senate members on both sides of the aisle about the Trump administration’s rationale for proposed cuts to CISA’s budget for fiscal year 2026.
SBA Names Hartley Caldwell as New CIO Amid Leadership Shuffle

1 week ago | meritalk.com | Weslan Hansen

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has tapped Hartley Caldwell as what appears to be its third chief information officer (CIO) since the start of the Trump administration in January. The news comes according to the agency’s website and the CIO.gov leadership directory, which lists Caldwell as holding the position. Caldwell most recently served as the CIO of Fiserv, a financial technology (fintech) company, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Experts: US Risks Losing Quantum Race Without More Federal Investment

1 week ago | meritalk.com | Weslan Hansen

Witnesses at a Capitol Hill hearing today called for increased investment in quantum technology by the Federal government amid concerns about recent government science and technology cuts and the future of the National Quantum Initiative Act. During a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing on Wednesday, lawmakers and witnesses alike stressed the importance of reauthorizing research and development activities under the National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA).
GAO: HHS Must Bolster Protection of Americans’ DNA Data

1 week ago | meritalk.com | Weslan Hansen

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) needs to do more to protect Americans’ DNA data to keep it out of the hands of foreign adversaries, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) warned in a report issued on April 30. If Americans’ DNA data was acquired by adversaries, it could enable them to identify and coerce citizens and lead to dependencies on their innovation and drug development, among other national security threats, the Federal watchdog said in its report.
DoE Moves Chief of Staff Alex Fitzsimmons to Top Cyber Post

1 week ago | meritalk.com | Weslan Hansen

The Department of Energy (DoE) is moving its chief of staff, Alex Fitzsimmons, to head the agency’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER). Fitzsimmons, who has been serving as chief of staff since January, will now lead efforts to strengthen, expand and secure the U.S. energy system as part of the department’s broader push to upgrade infrastructure and ensure energy resilience, the Energy Department announced on May 2.
FAR Overhaul Targets DEI, Bureaucracy, Duplication in Procurement

1 week ago | meritalk.com | Weslan Hansen

The General Services Administration (GSA) has released new details on its overhaul of Federal purchasing policies that aims to streamline and consolidate government procurement activities.
Smart Cities Face Privacy Hurdles, GAO Warns

1 week ago | meritalk.com | Weslan Hansen

As cities adopt more “smart” technology to manage infrastructure and improve public services, action on range of policy choices – such as improving collaboration and being more transparent about technology capabilities and citizen data use – can help to alleviate citizens’ concerns about data privacy and the costs of tech deployments, the Government Accountability Office said.
Senate Bill Aims to Boost Water System Cyber Protections

1 week ago | meritalk.com | Weslan Hansen

A bipartisan pair of senators have introduced legislation that would provide Federal funding to bolster community water systems against cyber threats and extend an existing program to boost resilience of water systems. The Water Cybersecurity Enhancement Act introduced May 1 by Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., aims to protect water-related critical infrastructure against cyber threats and to respond to cyberattacks.
Trump Budget Slashes CISA, Science Funding, Boosts Space Mission

2 weeks ago | meritalk.com | Weslan Hansen

The White House’s budget proposal for fiscal 2026 unveiled today is lining up the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for a budget hit totaling $491 million and claiming that the cybersecurity arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is too focused on censorship that targeted President Donald Trump. The topline budget proposal includes a whopping 65 percent increase in discretionary funds for DHS while cutting around 17 percent of CISA’s nearly $3 billion budget.