Acquisition

Inherently governmental job proposal blurs a blurry world

The new phrases “closely associated with inherently governmental function” and “critical function,” are causing the most concern, panelists say.

Digital Government

6. Cybersecurity

Up for debate: The government should launch a new PR campaign to raise cybersecurity awareness and protect itself, its citizens and the economy. Tell us what you think.

People

House passes bill to upgrade DOD acquisition workforce

The bill seeks to reform the 80 percent of the Defense Department's acquisition system that 2009's reform didn't touch, some lawmakers say.

Digital Government

In defense of PowerPoint

After Pentagon leaders criticize the use of PowerPoint presentations, readers come to the software's defense, laying the blame for bad presentations at the users' feet.

Digital Government

Can Defense really defeat PowerPoint?

Federal Computer Week

Digital Government

Soundbytes: Net-Gens, Old Timers and Vets

A weekly roundup of comments from Nextgov.com. All comments are presented in their original, unedited form.

Digital Government

House transparency caucus vows to regain public's trust in government

One of the group's first actions will be to ensure that information posted on the Web from every branch of government is consistent, searchable and downloadable.

Digital Government

Financial regulatory agencies seek to upgrade IT systems

The Commodities Future Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission request enough money to meet potential responsibilities under new reform bill.

Ideas

File Under 'Not What You'd Expect'

Wired.com's <em>Danger Room</em> blog has a surprising <a href=http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/04/actually-the-army-kind-of-likes-your-blog/>take</a> on what the Pentagon thinks about posts on left-leaning websites.

Digital Government

AHLTA and Drug Abuse

In <a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/health/25warrior.html>scathing article</a> on problems at the Army's Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Carson, Colo., the New York Times reported on April 24 that some clinicians at the post hand out so many prescription pain killers that troops in the unit have become addicted to narcotics.

Cybersecurity

Mass SQL Injection's Evolution

<a href="http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001427.html">Mass SQL Injection</a> is like a bad cold. It probably won't kill you, but it comes with a cough, a headache, a stuffy nose and a sore throat. It's also the next most dangerous attack vector on Ed Skoudis's list. It resides there because of its evolution.

Ideas

A Look at the Workforce's Older Side

In its recently released <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100423_7313.php>report</a> on the outlook for federal information technology jobs, the federal Chief Information Officers Council says it is difficult to estimate just how many federal employees will retire in the coming years because the aging Baby Boomers (those 45 to 54 years old, a group that makes up 60 percent of all government IT workers) are delaying retiring. The reasons are a longer life expectancy and an economic recession that reduced retirement accounts and home equity, according to the report.

Digital Government

Incentives for IT Workers

Federal agencies must beef up incentive payment programs in order to recruit and retain future federal information technology workers, according to a new report by the Federal Chief Information Officers Council.