Digital Government

Congress demands progress on advanced ID cards

Twelve years after a presidential directive called for identification cards incorporating biometrics, federal efforts have lagged.

Acquisition

OMB issues new spending-data directive to agencies

A memorandum puts some additional controls on contracting data, but transparency advocates say it falls far short of a possible legislative remedy.

Digital Government

NSA Targets Systems Admins to Prevent Snowden-Type Leaks

One idea partners workers with top-secret clearance before they access classified docs.

Cybersecurity

What Snowden's thumb-drive stash of NSA secrets means for feds

No matter how much security technology an agency has, the human factor is hard to predict.

Acquisition

DISA gets Microsoft source code

As part of a contract for cardholder support services, the defense agency gets access to the proprietary code.

Acquisition

Taking the pulse of contracting professionals at the Bureau of Prisons

Steve Kelman finds the frustrations and opportunities for improvement are remarkably constant, whether the contract is for high-end IT or improved food services.

Emerging Tech

What It's Like to See the Aurora From Space

Two astronauts chatting about seeing the specialness of Earth's beauty from above.

Digital Government

Which Tech Company Does the NSA Use Most?

By sheer numbers alone, the government asks the most of Microsoft.

Emerging Tech

We All Need to Help NASA Find Killer Asteroids

The agency's Grand Challenge, asks everyone to compete to figure out the best way to detect and study earth-threatening asteroids.

Acquisition

Bid protest problems overblown, says former OFPP head

Dan Gordon's study shows that protests are less frequent, more beneficial than critics claim.

People

Stacie Boyd: Bringing business rigor to NSF's IT

Stacie Boyd, branch chief for security, architecture, policy and plans at the NSF's Office of Information and Resource Management's Division of Information Systems, has 'risen at every job she's done,' says Dan Chenok.

People

Paul Brubaker: Budget-conscious before it was cool

Through his varied career that includes congressional staff positions, the private-sector and agencies, Brubaker has pursued a singular goal: government efficiency and lower costs.

People

FCC nominee avoids policy commitments at hearing

FCC chairman nominee urged to commit to reducing federal communications spectrum.

Digital Government

Senate Panel Backs More Money for VA Claims Hardware and Overtime

Maryland senator says vets shouldn’t have to face a ‘quagmire of bureaucracy.’

People

Senators press on reform at Tangherlini's confirmation hearing

Vote set for next week on acting GSA administrator's nomination to take the role permanently.

Cybersecurity

How far is too far in cyber defense?

The revelations of monitoring at the NSA are just part of the larger debate over appropriate measures against cyber attacks.