Digital Government
Friday Roundup: Furloughs, cyberthreats, open data in action
News worth noting on technology, government and business.
Digital Government
USDA offers buyouts to tech shop
Eligible employees who want the offer must accept by Monday.
People
Smart government IT can be a catalyst for change
The current budget crisis could be an opportunity for federal CIOs to help their agencies build a smarter, more efficient and more cost-effective government.
Modernization
Election app targets voter suppression fears
Users can document and report possible voting irregularities.
Cybersecurity
Feds grant Illinois State funding for cyber planning
Government seeks to bolster emergency responses at local levels.
Modernization
GAO blasts location-tracking privacy policies
Report says companies aren't providing consumers with clear information.
Cybersecurity
Panetta: Intruders ‘successfully gained access’ to critical control systems
The Pentagon is finalizing offensive rules of engagement to protect civilian cyberspace
Acquisition
Good directions for strategic sourcing
Steve Kelman assesses recommendations in a recent GAO report on strategic sourcing.
People
Every sheriff needs a deputy
No leader is complete without a strong right hand, and CIOs are no exception. Deputy CIOs, though less visible than their bosses, nonetheless play a vital role in managing agency technology.
Modernization
Sprint is considering selling itself
The company is currently in talks with Japanese telecommunications corporation, Softbank.
Modernization
Your iPhone is tracking you again
Apple has implemented a new targeting system called IFA for the iPhone 5 and any phone running iOS 6.
Emerging Tech
ATLAST: The gargantuan telescope designed to find life on other planets
We finally know what kind of telescope we need to see other earth-like planets. And we're getting ready to build it.
Emerging Tech
Procurement documents show why IT reform won’t be easy
Recent experiences of Interior and HUD illustrate the challenges agencies face.
People
Looking past November to chart GSA’s future
Changes in the contracting landscape over the years suggest a series of questions the General Services Administration’s leaders should be addressing, writes consultant Frank McDonough.
Emerging Tech
Mars Curiosity discovers evidence of alien life (Spoiler: It's us)
A foreign object in Martian soil has made the rover stop in its tracks.
Cybersecurity
Air Force leaders tout cyber capabilities
Cyber warfare isn't a new domain anymore, but it still takes time to prepare for it, top Air Force officials said.
Cybersecurity
DHS continues revising acquisition rules
Responding to IG pressure, the Homeland Security Department has been revamping its rules for awarding risky cost reimbursement contracts rather than safer fixed-price options.
People