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.
Podcasts
WT 360: NextGov/FCW's Natalie Alms on modernization challenges
Our NextGov/FCW colleague Natalie Alms jumps in to overview the government's ongoing challenges in artificial intelligence and customer experience.
- By Nick Wakeman and Natalie Alms
Contracts
TMF, Digital Service hit with cuts in 2024 funding bill
The Technology Modernization Fund alone is slated for a $100 million clawback under the appropriations package released Thursday.
- By Natalie Alms
Contracts
Biden seeks more than $500M for CX in 2025 budget
New digital service teams and a focus on the "voice of the customer" are among the customer experience funding requests in the FY2025 budget request.
- By Natalie Alms
Companies
House Oversight leaders introduce government AI transparency bill
This isn’t the first proposal that would require agencies to notify individuals when government decisions are influenced by AI.
- By Natalie Alms
Companies
The people problem behind the government’s AI ambitions
A White House official calls workforce gaps “one of the biggest barriers” for agencies as they look to fulfill requirements laid out in President Biden's executive order on artificial intelligence.
- By Natalie Alms
Contracts
IRS hits key digitization goal months ahead of schedule
The tax collection agency now says that around 94% of individual payers will no longer have to mail anything.
- By Natalie Alms
Contracts
On the heels of Biden's executive order, agencies get White House directive on implementing AI
Agencies will be on the hook for tapping chief AI officers, adding risk management practices to AI like independent evaluations and more.
- By Natalie Alms
Contracts
White House looks to ramp up contract spending with small disadvantaged businesses
Last year, the federal government awarded small disadvantaged businesses over 11% of contracting dollars. Now, it’s aiming for 13%.
- By Natalie Alms
Companies
FDA forms new committee to advise on health tech
The FDA is taking nominations for the Digital Health Advisory Committee, which is expected to begin work next year.
- By Natalie Alms
Contracts
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
Contracts
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
Contracts
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
Contracts
TMF adds guidance for IDEA Act proposals
Agencies have until Sept. 22 to send in submissions for funding.
- By Natalie Alms
Contracts
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
Contracts
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
Contracts
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
Contracts
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
Contracts
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
Contracts
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
Contracts
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