Cybersecurity

Former officials: White House cyber coordinator should have budget authority

The current decentralized budget process hinders the administration's ability to develop and implement a governmentwide cyber strategy.

Digital Government

VA launches massive contract to buy IT equipment and services

The Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology program likely will spend billions of dollars to upgrade the department's technology infrastructure.

Digital Government

Army Modernizes V-Mail

The letter is routed via the Internet to one of 10 locations in Afghanistan where special equipment will automatically print, fold, address, stuff the message into an envelope and then seal it. The envelopes are then placed into the regular intra-theater mail delivery system.

Ideas

Access and Technology

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing on Wednesday on a topic that doesn't usually reach our radar: the manner in which local radio stations receive the ratings that determine their audience size and advertising rates. The debate that took place highlighted the difficulty of creating a balance between using technology for outreach while preserving access for all groups.

People

Information Age requires new breed of federal supervisors

The next generation of federal supervisors will have to demonstrate a different set of competencies—namely, the ability to manage independent, knowledge-based, internally motivated workers as well as greater supervisory flexibilities improved communication.

Cybersecurity

Wanted: A Smokey Bear for cybersecurity

U.S. cybersecurity strategy needs to develop a public awareness campaign that permeates the workplace, schools and homes.

Cybersecurity

DHS to miss 2012 deadline to scan containers for radiation

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said DHS needs more time to meet a requirement for radiation scanning of 100 percent of cargo containers bound for U.S. seaports.

Modernization

Commerce weighs open-source content system for Web sites

The Commerce Department is considering switching its Web sites to the Drupal open-source content management system.

Digital Government

Obama Nixes Locality Pay in 2010

Alyssa Rosenberg <a href="http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=44149&dcn=todaysnews">writes</a> at <em>Government Executive</em> that President Obama is not only <a href="http://wiredworkplace.nextgov.com/2009/12/obama_limits_2010_pay_raise_to_2_percent.php?oref=latest_posts">limiting the 2010 pay raise for federal employees to 2 percent</a>, he also plans to freeze locality pay rates at 2009 levels. The move makes Obama the first president in history to freeze locality pay rates.

People

You might be a 'fedneck' if...

A "fedneck," according to members of the online forum FederalSoup.com, is a long-time government employee (and FedSoup fan) who can be identified by certain characteristics or behaviors.

Digital Government

HHS to award $235M in health IT grants to local communities

The Health and Human Services Department will fund 15 communities to demonstrate the use of digital health records.

Digital Government

NORAD enhances Santa tracking abilities

North American Aerospace Defense Command sees Ol' St. Nick when he's sleeping and knows when he's awake.

Digital Government

HHS to award $220M in grants to support national health IT network

Communities that receive funds should leverage existing federal electronic programs such as the Defense and Veterans Affairs virtual lifetime health record.

Digital Government

VA nixes troubled tech projects

The department ends or slashes funding for 15 IT projects as part of new accountability program.

Cybersecurity

Conflicting information security standards slow acquisitions

Agencies have similar baseline requirements but add custom specifications, making it difficult for vendors to build widely accepted products.