Government officials have launched the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center, a NASA-led, multiple-agency effort designed to empower collaboration in the earth science field.

Resources provided by the center will be available to federal organizations and private sector entities and will include data, information and computer models from an array of relevant missions, NASA announced on Monday.

The center, which was introduced during the 28th iteration of the United Nations Climate Conference, will support the Biden Administration’s goal to “make critical data available to more people – from scientists running data analyses, to government officials making decisions on climate policy, to members of the public who want to understand how climate change will affect them,” explained Bill Nelson, administrator of NASA.

“We’re bringing space to Earth to benefit communities across the country,” he said.

Information hosted by the center will come from International Space Station observations, satellite and airborne missions and ground stations and will be made available online. These data sets will focus on estimates of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, naturally occurring greenhouse gas sources and sinks on land and in the ocean and large methane emission event identification and quantification.

The center’s data sets, associated algorithms and supporting code will be completely open sourced. It will offer user support, an analysis hub for individuals to carry out advanced data analysis with computational resources and an interactive, visual interface for storytelling.

NASA worked with the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop the center.

The Social Security Administration is reportedly changing the name of its Office of Systems as part of restructuring and modernization efforts, Federal News Network revealed Friday.

Sources said the Office of Systems will be known as the Office of the CIO moving forward, with CIO Sean Brune set to transition as assistant deputy commissioner of operations.

The article cited an e-mail sent by acting SSA Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi, who was quoted as saying that Brune will “assist in addressing our service delivery challenges, particularly considering the budget constraints the agency may be facing in fiscal 2024.” She stated that she will announce the new CIO and provide further information on the reorganization soon.

Patrick Newbold, SSA’s deputy CIO and deputy director of digital transformation, will serve as acting CIO until his resignation takes effect in January 2024.

The changes, which have not been confirmed by the agency, were disclosed amid the Senate’s deliberation of Martin O’Malley‘s nomination as SSA commissioner.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, have introduced legislation that would implement new mechanisms to advance the implementation of the Department of Defense’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control initiative.

The JADC2 Implementation Act would clarify and assign responsibilities to specific DOD components and provide officials with the authority and resources to prototype and deploy next-generation technologies and capabilities to the warfighter for multi-domain operations, Issa’s office announced.

If enacted, the legislation would also require the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer to create and operate a factory-based software development approach to secure deployment of operational tools and technologies from multiple vendors.

“These capabilities will be a force multiplier for military efforts abroad and achieve smooth and efficient integration of warfighting units on the battlefield,” Issa said.

Ernst said the bill would further integrate the joint forces and give commanders better access to tools they need to achieve mission success.

Frank Kendall, secretary of the U.S. Air Force, and Heidi Shyu, under secretary of defense for research and engineering, have warned Congress that delays in the fiscal year 2024 budget directly impact key military technology development programs aimed at winning the technological race with China, Federal Times reported Monday.

Among these programs is the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or CCA, concept, which seeks to advance air combat operations through manned-unmanned aircraft teaming.

Kendall said during the annual Reagan National Defense Forum in California that the service branch has spent two years on the CCA concept and may “lose another year” if it does not get a full-year budget for FY 2024.

Shyu noted that inconsistent funding has also slowed the testing of hypersonic weapon systems, adding that the OUSD(R&E) plans to send Congress a list of systems that would be affected by a yearlong continuing resolution.

“China spends an enormous amount of money on test assets,” Shyu said. “This is where we have [a] shortfall.”

Kendall and Shyu are both 2023 Wash100 awardees.

Shyu is set to speak at the Potomac Officers Club’s 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 31 to discuss the latest developments in the defense technology sector. Register here and save a seat at the highly anticipated event.

The Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum recommending technical best practices for a climate-smart infrastructure as well as guidelines for incorporating climate risk data into the management of federal agencies’ real estate.

The memo aims to spearhead a coordinated action among government departments to ensure climate resilience in infrastructure investments, OMB said Wednesday.

Investing in a climate-smart infrastructure “and proactively managing risks posed by climate change…expands economic opportunities for American workers, and promotes fiscal stewardship,” OMB Director Shalanda Young stated in the document. Such financial decisions “also contribute to ensuring that agencies are investing public dollars effectively and efficiently.”

Federal financial assistance programs should include opportunities for underserved communities and support systems that will help incorporate climate resilience in their project designs. Agencies should also favor applicants that propose to use low-embodied carbon materials and other sustainable materials in their projects.

In compliance with the Disaster Resiliency Planning Act, the memo recommended that government entities conduct climate exposure assessments in their real property management procedures. They should also submit their findings for Climate Adaptation Plans to OMB and the Council on Environmental Quality.