The executive director for the National Association of State Chief Information Officers sent a letter to congress on April 13, requesting $300 million for FY 2027 for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. In the letter, NASCIO ED Doug Robinson explained to leaders of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security that “SLCGP has provided states and localities with an unprecedented opportunity to improve their security posture, increase collaboration between state, local and federal governments and promote a whole-of-state approach to cybersecurity.” Robinson listed how the states put these funds to use, including: providing cybersecurity training, migrating to .gov domains, installing multi-factor authentication and meeting other cyber goals. In the letter, he explained that Senators Hassan and Cornyn introduced legislation to extend SLCGP for one year with $300 million in funding. “While NASCIO remains committed to a long-term reauthorization of SLCGP and reminds appropriators and other stake holders that the extremely high required state match could prevent some entities from utilizing the program, a short-term funding extension for FY 27 is critical to continue the many achievements of this vital program.”
In a summary of research on occupational licensing, Edward Timmons, Vice President of Policy with the Archbridge Institute, makes the case that licensing holds “Americans back from human flourishing.” He outlines the likely ways that licensing reduces upward mobility in his April 8 article, Occupational licensing is a drag on upward economic mobility. These include occupational licensing restricting the choice of occupations for workers; research he cites, for example, finds that occupational licensing reduces employment by as much as 27%. Occupational licensing also reduces labor market dynamism, he explains; research links licensing with reduced cross-occupation mobility. And more recent research by Timmons explores the link between licensing and less entrepreneurship. “Occupational licensing has been linked to lower employment and less labor market flexibility for workers,” Timmons says, “limiting the choice of new occupations and also creating barriers to entrepreneurship.”
GovRAMP leaders, including Executive Director Leah McGrath, discussed current developments in cybersecurity and how evolving standards and policies impact framework harmonization during the April 13 GovRAMP Framework Harmonization Working Group meeting. The webinar covered the CMMC alignment with GovRAMP, broader regulatory harmonization efforts, and up-to-date federal changes. The session also shared key insights from the GovRAMP Symposium. According to GovRAMP, the GovRAMP Framework Harmonization Working Group offers a forum for public and private members to consult experts and address current events, changing requirements and framework alignment.
The webinar also focused on the new GovRAMP 3PAO discount program; according to the organization: participating third-party assessment organizations offer assessment discounts of up to 30% for service providers that participated in the GovRAMP Progressing Security Snapshot program or achieved GovRAMP Core verification. McGrath explained that “the cost of independent assessments has long been a concern for service providers and government partners alike. This voluntary commitment from participating 3PAOs reflects what’s possible when education, collaboration and shared responsibility are prioritized.”
Renee Moseley joined GL Solutions in 2016 with an educational and professional background in research and writing, along with software documentation. At GL Solutions she produces informative content to help regulatory agencies stay current on news and information that supports their success.
