Ideas
I'm a BARF Forum Member, Thank You
Government loves acronyms. So do technologists. But sometimes people don't think through the name of their organization, contract or program -- until it's too late. I'm not so sure the folks over at the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board were oblivious to what their group spelled out as an acronym. After all, their job is to rat out contractors or agencies that don't follow the rules. Someone over there had a sense of humor.
Digital Government
CMS Launches Incentives Website
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched on Monday a <a href=http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/>new website</a> detailing its electronic health records incentives program, an initiative designed to provide financial rewards to health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records systems.
Modernization
Federal IT workers dubious of data-center consolidation plan
While federal IT stakeholders agree that consolidating government data centers is a good idea, some doubt if or when it will happen, while others have concerns about security and their jobs.
People
Bigger threat: National crises or unprepared managers?
More than 90 percent of federal employees believe it is important that they continue working during a national crisis, but a lack of continuity-of-operations coordination and telework eligibility may thwart their efforts.
Modernization
You've got Gmail: Berkeley Lab moving to Google platform
About 5,000 e-mail users at the Energy Department's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California are getting Google's cloud-based Gmail system for electronic communications.
Digital Government
More Reliance on IT Contractors?
A new report suggests that federal spending on information technology will grow significantly over the next five years, and that could result in the federal government having to rely more on outside expertise in order to meet increasing demand.
Modernization
Treasury plans sweeping Web overhaul
Modernization project will include redeploying Treasury's official Web site, as well as FinancialStability.gov and MakingHomeAffordable.gov, on the cloud.
Cybersecurity
Bill Puts Contractors Out of Work?
For the past couple months I've written about <a href="http://cybersecurityreport.nextgov.com/2010/04/white_house_heroes.php">continuous monitoring</a>, its <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100421_5175.php">importance</a> and the <a href="http://cybersecurityreport.nextgov.com/2010/04/state_dept_success_revealed.php">steps</a> that must be taken to change the security culture in Washington. Today we are a lot closer to breaking down barriers and implementing near-real-time situational awareness. But there are still things slowing down the transition aside from the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). Sometimes the best way to find out about those barriers is to sift through the written testimonies submitted to Congress.
Cybersecurity
White House plans strategy for better cyber authentication
White House Cyber Coordinator Howard Schmidt says the Obama administration will release a draft of its national strategy to improve the identification of people and systems in cyberspace.
People
Federal pay freeze defeated in Senate vote
For the third time in recent weeks, lawmakers have rejected the idea of freezing the pay of federal civilian workers.
Acquisition
New SBA deputy administrator confirmed by Senate
Marie Collins Johns will be the second-ranking official at the Small Business Administration, with responsibilities for management, policy development and program supervision.
Digital Government
White House confirms OMB director's departure
Peter Orszag, OMB director, will step down sometime in the next few weeks.
Digital Government
Billions expected for cybersecurity research
The deputy director of national intelligence for acquisition and technology told a recent cybersecurity connference that her office and the White House Office of Science and Technology plan a multibillion dollar research project on cybersecurity.
Digital Government
FEMA's planned disaster game needs pain and death
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is looking for ideas for an online 'Disaster Hero' game. John Breeden II, director of Government Computer News' product lab and an avid gamer, says kids and others will learn more if the game isn't sugarcoated.
Digital Government
Better cybersecurity depends on better information management
National Security Agency official Tony Sager says that sharing security information is not enough; information must be better managed to ensure that the right information about threats and vulnerabilities gets into the hands of those who need it.
Modernization