Digital Government
Open government could present a challenge to intelligence agencies
Transparency advocates say recently released directive changes the circumstances driving the decisions to keep some information from being posted online.
Digital Government
Bill calls for evaluation of jamming prisoners' illegal cell phones
Prisoners use mobile phones to run drug rings, plan jail breaks, and intimidate judges and victims, but industry argues blocking signals could interfere with police radios.
Ideas
Transparency Bill Moves Onward
A House committee on Thursday passed legislation that would make it easier for citizens to download and search information on the finances of companies given government money. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee agreed to add the measure to a bill that is moving faster, S. 303, the 2009 Federal Financial Management Improvement Act.
Digital Government
So Many Earmarks, So Little Time
The 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Bill bundles spending for six departments - Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, State and Veterans Affairs - into one Brobdingnagian pile of paper that makes it hard to figure out earmarks.
Ideas
Senators Want Answers on Networx
Whenever you've got what looks like a clear-cut case of government waste, some sort of manufactured political outrage inevitably follows. Taking up the mantle of the indignant taxpayer this week: Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The reason for their indignation? Millions in missed savings due to <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090814_8767.php?oref=search">delays in the transition</a> to the Networx telecom contract.
Modernization
IRS, Education to team up on electronic student aid form
The IRS and Education Department will release a new student aid form in January that is shorter and easier to complete, federal CIO Vivek Kundra says.
Digital Government
Labor-Management Forums Created
President Obama on Wednesday signed an <a href="http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=44213&dcn=todaysnews">executive order creating labor-management forums</a> within the government. The order creates forums at the agency level as well as a National Council on Federal Labor Management, which will include all of the major federal unions and employee groups and will be led by the deputy director for the Office of Management and Budget and the director of the Office of Personnel Management.
Digital Government
Nominate Your Favorite Fed
The Partnership for Public Service announced on Wednesday that nominations are now open for the 2010 Service to America Medals awards program for federal employees.
Cybersecurity
House passes bill to require data breach notifications
The House has passed a bill that would standardize how businesses must notify people put at risk after they improperly discloses personal data electronically.
Digital Government
Droid does it better
The new Verizon Wireless Droid by Motorola is a phone that could really change the industry, and the way the federal government does its job.
Modernization
DOE uses cloud computing for science, CIO says
Energy Department CIO Tom Pyke today outlined some benefits from using cloud computing for scientific computations.
Modernization
Cloud computing could pave way for open government
Federal agencies might need cloud computing as a way to meet new mandates to share information with the public, experts say. Meanwhile, the Defense Department falls in line with President Barack Obama's directive for open government.
People