People
The best of the federal blogosphere
This week's highlights: dangerous Popsicle makers; Transportation's real star; paper-based Web testing; a Twitter town hall.
People
Telework: Report tells tale of operational benefits, management resistance
The government is not expanding or promoting flexible work arrangements across the federal sphere, despite the benefit of government being able to operate in the event of a disruption to a physical facility, according to a new report.
Digital Government
Finding Choices at Healthcare.gov
<em>This post was written by Aliya Sternstein.</em> The administration this week posted information intended to help patients choose the safest hospitals on a new website aimed at granting consumers more control over their health care - and curbing federal spending.
Modernization
TSA reverses Web site censorship policy
The Transportation Security Administration has retracted its week-old policy of blocking employees' work computer access to Web sites with "controversial opinion."
Digital Government
Soundbytes: Rotten Smells and Feeding Wolves
A weekly roundup of comments from Nextgov.com. All comments are presented in their original, unedited form.
Cybersecurity
Official calls securing critical infrastructure against cyberattack impractical
An Energy intelligence official says utilities and companies operating major industries cannot afford to check all technology products for vulnerabilities.
Cybersecurity
U.S. nuke agency announces new data, physical security controls
Officials at the National Nuclear Security Administration say the policies should balance efficiency and safety.
Digital Government
Public safety group disputes FCC's claim on spectrum
A coalition of public safety officials disputed the Federal Communications Commission's claims that its proposal in the national broadband plan for building an interoperable public safety network will adequately serve the needs of emergency first responders.
Digital Government
HHS proposes rules to enhance health information privacy
The Health and Human Services Department proposed rules on Thursday to enhance the privacy of health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Ideas
TSA Lifts 'Controversial Opinion' Block
CBS News ran a <a href=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20009642-10391695.html#addcomm>story</a> on July 3 about a Transportation Security Administration policy sent to employees informing them that officials there would ban their access to certain Web sites that offered chats and instant messaging, involved criminal activity, extreme violence (including cartoon violence) and gruesome content, and gaming. Also included in that list was anything deemed to be "controversial opinion." Who would decide what was controversial? What would be the criteria?
Digital Government
Sensing Traumatic Brain Injuries
The Defense Department continues to put money toward trying to understand head injuries better and information technology is a big part of that. In its latest effort, the department awarded a $17 million to BAE Systems to place sensors in soldiers' helmets to record the effects of an n explosion, like a roadside bomb.
Digital Government
Another Take on Pay for Performance
A new study by the Heritage Foundation aims to point out that federal workers are paid 30 to 40 percent higher than their private sector counterparts. And this discrepancy is not justified because the federal government employs a more educated and skilled workforce, as many in government have claimed, the report states.
Digital Government
Customs directorate automates its acquisition cycle
This article was correct to read that the "directorate handles about $3.5 billion a year in discretionary contract obligations."
Digital Government