People

The writing on the wall

The nine most terrifying words in the English language, Ronald Reagan always liked to say, are: “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” I think we can now get that down to seven: “[Agency acronym here] would like to be your friend.”

Modernization

States launch stimulus-tracking sites

All 50 states are now online with stimulus act Web sites, but they vary in quality and usefulness.

Cybersecurity

Administration addresses power grid weaknesses

The Obama administration is speeding development of cyber protections for the smart grid.

People

New health IT coordinator will act fast on stimulus

Congress wants a health IT operations plan by May 15 before it releases stimulus funding, a senior official from the coordinator’s office said.

People

Looking for a few good friends

Now that the General Services Administration has reached an agreement with Facebook, an immensely popular social-networking tool, clearing the way for agencies to use it as they see fit, the question becomes: Why would they?

People

DOD needs Web 2.0 strategy

The Defense Department has a lot to gain from the use of social-networking technology, but only if it first develops a departmentwide Web 2.0 strategy.

People

Getting buyers to think security

The buying process is crucial to ensuring the security of federal networks and the systems that control the country’s infrastructure.

Digital Government

Knowledge retention helps agencies retain employees' expertise

Organizations use knowledge-retention programs to capture workplace wisdom and provide mechanisms for sharing expertise learned from retiring workers.

People

Feds on Facebook: A status update

Now that agencies have a green light to use Facebook, should they? Here is a sampling of comments received on recent Facebook articles.

People

Obama reverses course on FOIA

Open-government advocates applaud Obama's open-government rhetoric but are looking for tangible results.

People

VA management changes pay off

The Veterans Affairs department gave its CIO more power and centralized authority to improve its track record with IT projects.

Cybersecurity

GAO urges review of ship-tracking plans

The Government Accountability Office wants the Coast Guard to make sure its plans to improve ship tracking electronically for security will add value.

Modernization

Networx executive compensation making headlines

“Golden coffins,” other perks outrage stockholders of Networx parent firms.

Modernization

GSA awards additional TIC contracts

The Networx contract modification lets agencies order the services that help them comply with the Trusted Internet Connections initiative.

Digital Government

Most agencies fail to follow security steps to stop e-mail phishing

DHS, Treasury and other departments do not authenticate e-mail names and domains, increasing the chance for breaches, alliance says.

Digital Government

Role of Bush NSA plan under review

The Washington Post