Modernization
Audit: IRS killed online project just before deployment
The IRS hopes to revive a canceled project to allow taxpayers to view their tax records online, according to an audit.
Digital Government
Poor planning led to IRS killing personal online tax accounts project
Agency executives determined that they needed a long-term strategy to improve services to taxpayers, according to an inspector general report.
Digital Government
Report gives Obama administration mixed review on secrecy practices
White House receives high and low marks for transparency memo, seeking input on classification policy and for its overhaul of stimulus tracking Web site, open government group says.
Digital Government
GSA dominates list of 10 most popular contracts
GSA vehicles capture six of the 10 most popular contracts, according to an 1105 Government Information Group survey.
Digital Government
Huh? Air Force Blocks Pentagon Channel
The Air Force -- and let's make it really clear, we're talking here about the U.S. Air Force headquartered in the Pentagon -- has blocked computer access to the <a href=http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/>Pentagon Channel</a>, the Defense Department's 24/7 news channel designed to provide personnel with "more timely access to military information and news."
Ideas
No Gmail in DC Government
On my post about <a href="http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/09/is_gmail_ready_for_government.php">Gmail and government</a> on Tuesday, two anonymous <a href="http://twitter.com/gnagesh/status/3764791877">commentators</a> informed us that District of Columbia government employees <em>do not</em> use Gmail accounts for official business, but rather the more common Microsoft Exchange email system.
Modernization
Microsoft can keep selling Word, judge rules
The federal appeals panel held that Microsoft can continue to sell Word during its appeal of a patent-infringement ruling.
People
Reader feedback: Smaller pay raise wins some support
Most FCW readers are not happy that President Barack Obama wants to trim the 2010 federal pay raise, but a surprising number support the move.
Digital Government
Federal Pay Raise Update
Many lawmakers and federal employee groups are angered by the 2 percent figure, especially since many have pushed for pay parity between civilians and military service members, who are slated to receive a 3.4 percent raise if appropriators follow the guidelines in the 2010 Defense authorization act, or a 2.9 percent increase if Congress follows Obama's budget proposal. The president has cited a national emergency since Sept. 11, 2001, as well as the sluggish economy and high unemployment as his basis for the lower-than-average 2 percent figure.
Modernization
DISA will use telework to retain displaced employees
The Defense Systems Information Agency will use teleworking to retain employees as it relocates to Fort Meade, Md.
Digital Government
Want a $2,000 Raise?
Nextgov reporter Gautham Nagesh on Thursday <a href="http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/09/kaine_touts_telework_day_resul.php">wrote</a> about a new <a href="http://www.teleworkexchange.com/teleworkdayreport/Telework_Day_2009_FINAL.pdf">report</a> from the state of Virginia that highlights lessons and statistics gathered from the state's participation in National Telework Day on Aug. 3. I wanted to highlight a couple of other findings from the report that pertain to the potential benefits of teleworking to the federal workforce:
People