Ideas

Distraction.gov -- Not

Yes, <a href=http://distraction.gov/>Distraction.gov</a> is a real Web site. No, it isn't a compilation of crossword puzzles, <a href=http://www.sporcle.com/>Sporcle</a> quizzes and Gawker-worthy gossip. In fact, it has nothing to do with giving feds a little diversion at work.

Digital Government

Cyber Plan Invests in Workforce

The White House on Tuesday unveiled the unclassified version of its <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/cybersecurity/comprehensive-national-cybersecurity-initiative">Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative</a>, the government's plan to secure public and private sector computer networks. Availability of the plan, which was announced by White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt at the RSA Conference in San Francisco, consists of 12 major priorities, including building a top-notch cybersecurity workforce.

People

Agency mission, not technology, should be guide for open government efforts

The top goals and priorities of federal agencies should direct how their open government plans are written, not popular technologies such as Twitter and Facebook, according to two experts helping agencies draft the plans.

Digital Government

What HHS' entry into e-health record certification means

It remains to be seen whether HHS'Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released yesterday is a game changer for certification of electronic health records.

Acquisition

SBA proposed rule directs set-aside contracts to women-owned firms

A proposed rule is designed to help agencies award 5 percent of federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses.

Digital Government

HHS issues proposed rule for certification of electronic health records

The Health and Human Services Department is rushing a temporary certification program into place for EHR systems so that providers can quality for stimulus payments that start Oct. 1.

Cybersecurity

Critics not satisfied with partial revelation of secret cybersecurity plan

Observers welcomed the release of summary of the government's classified cybersecurity initiative, but some want the Obama administration to give more details.

Cybersecurity

E-Verify fails to catch half of unauthorized workers, study reveals

About 3 percent of the E-Verify caseload consists of workers who improperly gained approvals from E-Verify to work in the United States, says a report commissioned by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Digital Government

DOD's reliance on commercial satellites hits new zenith

The military's ad hoc reliance on commercial satellites is prolonging efforts to meet warfighters' urgent demands for bandwidth.

Digital Government

The human element complicates cybersecurity

Despite the congressional focus on cybersecurity, all the money, software and hardware in the world can’t entirely ward off cybersecurity threats. One nontechnology factor greatly impedes cybersecurity: the human factor.

Modernization

Army will tap its 'digital natives' for apps

Contest under way to award $30,000 in prize money for software programs that will fundamentally change the way the Army operates.