Modernization
GSA inspector general dings e-travel system for high costs and poor design
Agency says E-Gov Travel Service 2.0 will address many concerns found in audit.
Digital Government
Army wants to build a massive virtual world to train soldiers
The simulation will be large enough to accommodate 10,000 avatars, with vehicles and weapons, that can move about and interact with each other using Web 2.0 communications found in the real world.
Digital Government
Pentagon budget planning 'out of sync' with operational needs
In a new survey, Defense financial managers say budget process hinders warfighters.
Modernization
GAO calls for better efficiency measurements, but IT could help
OMB has issued inconsistent, limited guidance to agencies on measuring efficiency, but auditors noted the White House has emphasized increasing efficiency through IT-related initiatives.
People
Recommended reading
10 co-workers from hell; learning to trust virtual humans; 3 project management pitfalls to avoid.
Digital Government
Pentagon looks at TSA scanning technology to bolster security
The proposed security measure is among a host of ideas the Pentagon plans to roll out to boost building security after a gunman opened fire in March at the entrance to its headquarters and last year's Fort Hood, Texas, massacre.
Digital Government
Future of cybersecurity lost in legislative limbo
More than 40 bills, resolutions and amendments dealing with cybersecurity are pending in the House and Senate. Does anyone in Congress care?
Digital Government
A Hooah for the Guard
National Guardsman (and woman) from Alabama, Missouri and Louisiana responded quickly to the Gulf of Mexico oil mess, doing the grunt work they always do in the face of disaster.
Digital Government
EHRs on the Run
E-health records may serve a valuable purpose outside hospitals and physicians' offices. The organizers of last year's Detroit Free Press Marathon, held in October, collected medical information from participants prior to the race and stored it on a secure server, <a href=http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=marathon-organizers-turn-to-electro-2010-05-03>reports</a> <em>Scientific American</em>.
Digital Government
DOD aims to slash budget by $100B to pay for war
The Defense Department is looking to trim $100 billion over the next five years from existing programs, allocating those funds to combat operations and capabilities.
Ideas
The Cyber Exec: A New Concept?
On Thursday, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Don Proctor, Cisco's senior vice president and leader of the company's cybersecurity task force in the Office of the CEO.
Digital Government
Buzz Factor
These were the most-read stories on FCW.com during the past two weeks.
Digital Government
Kevin Costner, James Cameron make splash in Gulf of Mexico
The ugly saga of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has taken an unexpected twist, with two Hollywood luminaries offering technical expertise.
Ideas
A Vote for Agency Contests
Nextgov posted an <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100603_8509.php?oref=topnews>article</a> on Thursday reporting that two Republicans have criticized the Obama administration for wasting taxpayer money on its initiative to create contests in which the public, businesses or even public agencies submit ideas to solve a long-standing national problem. The winner takes home either a cash prize or just the recognition that his or her idea won.
Digital Government
NASA hits FISMA reset button
NASA's Jerry Davis has won many admirers for saying his agency would focus on reducing security risks through automation, rather than compliance paperwork.
Cybersecurity
New worries emerge about Internet monitoring
The prospect of private-sector participation in the the government's latest Einstein 3 Internet monitoring and cyber defense system, even if voluntary, has raised questions about privacy and the technology's supposed superiority over tools that companies might already be using.
People
Apps aplenty: Public-sector contests produce uneven results
There's something so American about the idea of holding a contest to develop the latest and greatest applications for government. Like democracy itself, the public contest seems to acknowledge the innovative spirit of the American people — and their thirst for recognition, if not cash awards.
Modernization
Microsoft offers cloud for politicians
Microsoft has teamed with ElectionMall.com to introduce Campaign Cloud, an array of cloud services for political campaigns.
Digital Government
Tech Hiring On the Rise
The majority of employers and recruiters anticipate hiring more professionals in the second half of 2010, according to a new survey by Dice Holdings, a provider of career websites for professional communities, including information technology and security clearance.
Digital Government