Digital Government

Poor security leaves VA systems open to attack, watchdog says

CIO says Veterans Affairs is making progress on monitoring its networks.

Digital Government

House Republicans block research bill for federal science agencies

Bill failed to garner the two-thirds vote required, 261-148.

Digital Government

Lawmaker questions data error in a Census Bureau report on states' finances

Mistake underscores government's need to shift to a widely used programming language to improve accuracy, analyst says.

Cybersecurity

NASA security chief orders bold change to secure networks

Technology managers will replace filling out reports to certify computer systems comply with a nearly decade-old law with an emphasis on monitoring systems to find holes and identify potential threats.

Digital Government

How to get ready for the 'net generation'

A new guide discusses the problems agencies face from a shrinking and rapidly changing workforce.

Digital Government

Email Your Doc, 24/7

Parents increasingly are asking for greater access to their children's pediatricians through email and other online means of communication, according to a new survey.

Digital Government

DARPA SMITEs Insider Threats

How bad is the threat of an insider attack against military information systems?

Ideas

Hello World, Meet the United States

Federal agencies are all over the social media craze, using Twitter, Facebook and other tools to connect with the American public. But what if an agency has a different audience? Do the same strategies apply?

Digital Government

DOD unlocks the gate to social interaction with the public

Jack Holt is helping usher DOD into the 21st century by using Web-based technologies to communicate with people, gather ideas and share information.

Acquisition

Another suggestion for better contracts

Good ideas for improving government contracting need effective oversight to succeed, writes Richard D. Lieberman.

Acquisition

Boosting the role of the CAO

The chief acquisition offier's role is a strategic function and not secondary to the roles of his or her C-level counterparts, writes Ron Falcone.

Acquisition

Simplifying contract terms for commercial items means walking a fine line

Contract language that is intended to simplify business for contractors requires careful analysis, writes Joseph Petrillo, a lawyer at Washington law firm Petrillo and Powell.

Acquisition

Army applies boot camp approach to acquisition workforce

The program aims to train new contracting professionals to take on work with minimal oversight, writes Harry Hallock, executive director of the Army’s TACOM Contracting Center in Warren, Mich.

Digital Government

Luring IT Pros to Switch Jobs

Employers are looking beyond traditional venues such as job announcements and career fairs to find fresh technology talent; they're also approaching employed technology professionals, a new survey finds.

Digital Government

Are password rules just bad magic?

We still want your ideas for creating and remembering strong passwords, but at least one security consultant thinks it's the wrong approach. Here's why.

Cybersecurity

Comms to Cyber In 2 Weeks Flat

The U.S. Air Force is shifting 3,000 communications officers to become cybersecurity specialists with a series of new training and simulation courses, following the transition of 27,000 enlisted airman late last year.

Digital Government

Stalling Same-Sex Benefits?

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that legislation to provide benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal employees would cost the government more than $300 million over the next decade, an issue that could stall efforts to pass the bill this year.

Digital Government

SSA needs better plan for high-risk project, IG says

The Social Security Administration needs to improve its management of a project to convert its master databases, an new audit finds.

Cybersecurity

Obama makes third try to find a leader for TSA

President Barack Obama has taken his third shot at finding a leader for the Transportation Security Administration.