Modernization

Napolitano wants millions for IT

Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano told a House committee today about DHS' plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in IT systems.

People

House passes technology R&D bill

The measure seeks to strengthen collaboration among government agencies, industry and academia on IT research and development projects.

Modernization

IG: DHS data centers at risk

The Homeland Security Department didn't consider risks from hurricanes when it set up its new backup data center in Mississippi, according to a new report.

Cybersecurity

Information-sharing platform hacked

A DHS official confirmed that the department's platform for sharing sensitive but unclassified information with partner organizations was recently hacked.

Cybersecurity

Tighter cybersecurity for U.S. power grid

Government Computer News

Cybersecurity

Budget push for cloud computing could be premature, observers say

Some warn security could suffer in the rush to subscription-based software and hardware services.

Digital Government

Navy awards nearly $500 million in task orders without competition

Acquisition staff also didn't always specify how a contractor's performance would be measured as required by procurement rules, report says.

Cybersecurity

More money and staff a must for DHS to take lead role for cybersecurity

Homeland Security has only about a third of the resources needed to oversee the security of civilian networks; NSA could continue to be a dominate player.

Digital Government

Cyber Commander New A.F. CIO

The Air Force said President Obama will nominate Maj. Gen. William T. Lord for promotion to a three-star rank and a new assignment as the service's chief information officer and chief of warfighting integration.

Ideas

What About Spending.gov Subs?

While the fiscal 2010 budget plan for federal IT investments cites efforts to build Recovery.gov, a federal site for tracking stimulus spending, it is silent on the extent to which subcontractor funding and performance will be disclosed. Lawmakers and interest groups are seeking more specifics on such transactions.

Ideas

Chopra Confirmation Hearing Scheduled

A Senate panel plans to examine on May 19 the nomination of Aneesh Chopra as the first-ever federal Chief Technology Officer, a White House Office of Science and Technology Policy official said on Tuesday.

Cybersecurity

FCW Insider: Is IT security a drag on the mission?

Many readers were flabbergasted to hear that Energy Secretary Steven Chu suggested that his department is too fixated on security concerns.

Modernization

Klossner: An experiment in Social Studies

FCW cartoonist John Klossner ponders whether the less Web 2.0-inclined (like himself) are really missing out by foregoing some of the latest social media technologies.

Modernization

DHS plans electronic records management system

The department plans to start a pilot program for a new enterprise records management system in fiscal 2010.

Modernization

Obama creates public engagement office

A new office will use blog postings and other interactive tools so the public can participate in the administration's work.

People

FCW Insider: Are feds more cost-effective than contractors?

A recent remark by Obama triggered a lengthy debate among readers about the relative value of in-house and contract staffers.