Author Archive
Natalie Alms

Natalie Alms is a staff writer at 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.
Finance
Federal Watchdog Pegs Pandemic Unemployment Fraud at Over $60B
But the Government Accountability Office also cautioned that a firm estimate is tough to pin down. The analysis looks at an 18-month period starting in 2020.
- By Natalie Alms
Tech & Data
States Must Plug Into Federal Antifraud System for Food Aid Under New Rule
The system, meant to help prevent duplicate participation, is expected to make enrollment and oversight easier with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
- By Natalie Alms
Tech & Data
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.
- By Natalie Alms
Health & Human Services
States Need to Invest in Their Unemployment Systems, Labor Secretary Says
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh told congressional lawmakers that the federal government also has to contribute to upgrading the system that the Government Accountability Office deemed a poorly performing government program.
- By Natalie Alms
Finance
Agriculture Department Offers Grants To Improve SNAP
The USDA says that the grants fall in line with administration priorities around equity and inclusion, as well as improving the customer experience of Americans interacting with government programs.
- By Natalie Alms
Tech & Data
Labor Dept. Pilot Taps State Data for a New Look at Who is Getting Unemployment Benefits
Data on access to unemployment insurance broken down by demographics can help program administrators make sure that they help everyone entitled to the benefit access it, the Labor Department says.
- By Natalie Alms
Tech & Data
White House Looks to Focus Service Delivery Around ‘Life Events'
The Biden administration is fleshing out a plan to organize government services around the needs of Americans and not around agency org charts.
- By Natalie Alms
Tech & Data
Code for America’s CEO on This Moment in Civic Tech
Amanda Renteria talks about the recent customer experience executive order, the nonprofit's work in federal and state government service delivery and what's next.
- By Natalie Alms
Finance
There’s No Final Number Yet for Pandemic Fraud, Oversight Leaders Tell Congress
Total fraud levels in pandemic relief programs are upwards of $100 billion, but getting a clear estimate is made difficult by data gaps and ongoing fraud recovery efforts, officials said at a Senate hearing.
- By Natalie Alms
Tech & Data
Agencies Shouldn't Use Facial Recognition for ID Verification, Group Says
More than 45 organizations signed a letter asking government agencies, including in states, to stop their use of ID.me or any facial recognition for identity verification.
- By Natalie Alms