Digital Government
Tech observers praise Obama's top IT choice
Appointment of Aneesh Chopra indicates the administration is serious about improving nation's technology infrastructure, government and industry leaders say.
Cybersecurity
Breach indicates need for stricter security requirements for contractor networks
In wake of data stolen on the Joint Strike Fighter, the government should develop cybersecurity standards that all federal contractors must follow.
Digital Government
Smaller, quicker IT development needed for Defense systems
New acquisition process would allow department to improve interoperability and integration issues as networks are built, science board reports.
Digital Government
IT officials push rewrite of outdated paperwork reduction policies
Regulations written before the rise of social media unintentionally add layers of bureaucracy.
Digital Government
IG On VA/SPAWAR Contract Mess
I have picked up some pretty good intelligence that the VA inspector general has just finished a report detailing mismanagement of contracts that the department's IT shop farmed out to the Space and Naval Systems Center.
Digital Government
Update: VA Patient Scheduling Debacle
The Veterans Affairs Department plans to conduct a "rigorous four moth review of potential options" for its long delayed $167 million <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090331_5665.php>patient scheduling system</a>, which crashed last month, a VA press secretary told me.
Ideas
New CTO to Wear Two Hats
Aneesh Chopra, the nation's first-ever chief technology officer, would serve as both "assistant to the president" and "associate director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy," if confirmed by the Senate, White House officials said on Monday.
People
Obama officials to find $100M
As government spending increases, the president wants more cuts in departmental spending.
Cybersecurity
HHS releases guidance on securing electronic health data
The department issues guidelines on encryption and destruction to protect sensitive personal health records.
Ideas
Oracle to Buy Sun
Officially squashing <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090318_5314.php>rumors</a> of an IBM purchase once and for all, Sun Micro Systems will be acquired by software company Oracle for about $7.4 billion, <em>The New York Times</em> <a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/technology/companies/21sun.html>reported</a> this morning.
People
Workshop to explore social-media privacy
The Homeland Security Department's Privacy Office will hold a conference to explore how the government's use of social media affects privacy.
Ideas
Library of Congress Taps YouTube
The Library of Congress launched its own YouTube channel on April 7. The site currently offers 74 videos organized by the following playlists:
Modernization
Vets of Iraq, Afghanistan wars get new Web site
New Veterans Affairs site is designed to address the needs and questions of vets returning from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Acquisition
Trends in DOD bid protests
The number of protests against Defense Department contract awards jumped in fiscal 2008 but has remained level relative to DOD’s spending increases in the past several years, according to a report release April 14.
People