Digital Government

VA adopts standard identifier for vets in health and benefits programs

Unique 10-digit ID will be assigned using a system for federal employees mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12.

Digital Government

SSA's modernization plan risks future Web services

Just as the agency begins to process large numbers of retiring baby boomers, an independent panel tells officials that its upgrade could make it impossible to use modern Internet technologies.

Digital Government

Business groups blast visa fee measure

Pending legislation would raise work-visa fees for foreign companies.

Digital Government

Expert questions savings in Pentagon contractor cuts

Unless Defense scales back its mission, reducing service contractors won't save money, former procurement executive says.

Digital Government

What's the Big Deal?

Arkansas is considering building a vaccine registry for adults so that doctors can quickly check if an Arkansas resident has had a specific shot. <a href="http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/aug/10/push-adult-immunization-registry-considered/">From</a> the <em>Arkansas Democrat Gazette</em>:

Digital Government

Parsing the New DISA

A variety of speech transcripts and slides released by the Pentagon on Monday called for <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100810_6184.php?oref=topstory>combining the Defense Department chief information officer ship with the Defense Information Systems Agency</a>, but various crystal ball folks I've talked to are still trying to figure out the end game.

Ideas

Debunking the Net Generation

A lot of reports and articles -- including many on this site (<a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100423_7313.php>here</a> and <a href=http://wiredworkplace.nextgov.com/2010/08/dot_appeals_to_gen_y_online.php>here</a>) and on Government Executive (<a href=http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?filepath=/features/1109-01/1109-01adif.htm>here</a> and <a href=http://www.govexec.com/features/0707-15/0707-15s1.htm>here</a>) -- that depicts younger workers and the Internet as joined at the hip. The 'Net, and the social networking it spawned, are indispensable to the so-called Net Generation (those between the ages of 17 and 31) and they demand to have the tools at the ready at work, sociologists say.

Cybersecurity

Kill the Catch Phrase

Deloitte pushed out a press release Tuesday on recently being named the "best iconic and overall structure" winner for the 2010 National Cybersecurity Awareness Challenge. But is it newsworthy?

Digital Government

DHS Scraps Automated Hiring Tool

The Homeland Security Department has abandoned a technology platform that the agency hoped would simplify and accelerate its recruiting and hiring activities.

Cybersecurity

FCC charts 'Cybersecurity Roadmap' with public's help

The Federal Communications Commission wants public feedback as it develops its plan for cybersecurity.

People

Insourcing failed, DOD's Gates says. Now what?

Insourcing didn't bring in the savings that DOD officials had planned or hoped for, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.

Digital Government

Social media, parasailing donkeys and the news crisis

Blogger John Klossner is skeptical that social networking sites -- cartoonist blogs included -- are ready to fill the gap left by mainstream media.