Digital Government

IG reports detail abuses in hiring, travel, bonuses at VA technology office

Allegations revolve around "inappropriate personal relationship" between former CIO and another agency official.

Digital Government

VA prepares for flood of education claims under new GI bill

Agency has hired more examiners to handle the influx of requests anticipated during the next two months as tuition rates are set.

Digital Government

Report: IRS should keep better records for research projects

Databases should include more information on timeliness and progress toward goals, IG says.

Modernization

FDA plans electronic filing for some safety reports

Proposed rules announced today would require that all mandatory post market reporting of adverse effects for drugs and medical devices be filed electronically, either through a gateway, a Web portal under development, or on disk or tape.

Ideas

HHS Issues Breach Notification Rules

The administration on Wednesday announced safeguards intended to protect consumers from health information technology breaches, as the White House moves forward on its healthcare overhaul.

Digital Government

Juicy Reports on VA IT Shop Coming

The Veterans Affairs Department's inspector general has completed two reports (<a href="http://www.va.gov/oig/publications/reports-list.asp">listed here</a>) whose titles are ripe for tabloid headlines: "Administrative Investigation Misuse of Position, Abuse of Authority, and Prohibited Personnel Practices Office of Information & Technology Washington, D.C." and "Administrative Investigation Nepotism, Abuse of Authority, Misuse of Position, Improper Hiring, and Improperly Administered Awards, OI&T, Washington, D.C."

People

The next phase of Network Centric Solutions

Gregory Garcia discusses the structure of the new NetCents-2 contract and what it means for users and small businesses.

Digital Government

Favorite bookmarks of Rising Star winners

Here are some of the sites that our 2009 Rising Star award winners identified as their favorite online destinations.

People

Social-media bans miss the mark

Three reasonable steps could help agencies avoid categorical bans that undermine security and collaboration.

People

A call for action, not studies

Former OFPP Administrator Dee Lee argues that a well-trained workforce is the most important ingredient for acquisition success.

Digital Government

Face-to-Face Buzz

Robert Behn, a professor at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, <a href="http://www.hks.harvard.edu/thebehnreport/August2009.pdf">makes a case</a> in this month's issue of his public management report that effective management - which motivates people to creatively develop effective strategies for producing better results - cannot be achieved through e-mails, conference calls, or telecommuting in your pajamas, but rather through creating face-to-face buzz. Behn also contends that people are more productive, creative and effective when they work closely together.

Modernization

State plans to seek help for data center consolidation

The State Department plans to award a task order for help with its data center consolidation program.

Digital Government

Personal health records rule cracks down on vendors

The FTC published a final rule that will require vendors of personal health records to notify consumers if their security has been breached.