Ideas
It's the Drawing Board for Real ID
At a event on Friday, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano had no kind words to say about Real ID, which was passed by a Republican-controlled Congress in 2005 to require states to issue new high-tech driver's licenses that incorporate a range of security features. Speaking to reporters following a press event this afternoon, Napolitano described the legislation as "enormously expensive," "containing a lot of uncertainly," and lacking adequate "constitutional governance."
Digital Government
One Tough Hike for Bataan
I'm headed down to the White Sands Missile Range this weekend for the annual <a href=http://www.bataanmarch.com/>Bataan Memorial Death March</a>, which commemorates the 1942 event in the Philippines when 10,000 U.S. and Filipino troops were literally marched to death by the Japanese Army en route to Prisoner of War camps. Another 10,000 escaped and 50,000 barely survived the 70 mile jungle slog.
Cybersecurity
The federal/state balancing act
Federal and nonfederal interests don't always coincide in homeland security intelligence.
Cybersecurity
Napolitano brings information sharing success to DHS post
Since Janet Napolitano took over as Homeland Security secretary in January, she has vocally pledged her support for efforts to share homeland security-related information and intelligence between state, local and federal authorities. Her emphasis on such sharing predates many of the current federally driven efforts to integrate state and local authorities into the national-intelligence apparatus.
People
VA, DOD will share patient records
The two departments will meet a Sept. 30 deadline for single, interoperable electronic health record, said a senior interagency program official.
People
Obama holds virtual town hall meeting
The Obama administration's use of Web 2.0 tools, most recently in a virtual town hall event, shows that the technologies are mature and moving into the mainstream.
People
H1-B applications could fall this year
Some observers said they believe the recession this year could reduce the number of applications for H-1B visas.
Modernization
GSA signs Google deal
Agencies can now use Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo and blip.tv to share information with the public.
People
FAA's guide to dropping off the high-risk list
FAA explains how it eliminated its chronic management deficincies.
People
Bill would require DOD to study IT
A House measure would require studies on how technology for network-centric operations is acquired.
Modernization
DHS to consolidate software license buys
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said today that DHS will save millions by making departmentwide purchases of software licenses.
Acquisition
Editor's desk
I suppose we should now add assisted acquisition services to Willie’s paradigm — in particular, those two centers in the federal government that offer a full line of contract management assistance to overworked and overextended procurement offices.
People
Official: Army contracting workforce needs more people
Estimates differ on how many additional personnel the Army needs in its acquisition workforce.
Modernization
From the news: More security work to do
Internet experts applaud the U.S. government for mandating the use of a new security mechanism to protect its Web servers, but some say further action is needed.
Modernization
DNSsec deadline looms
A requirement for all agencies to apply a security fix to their Web sites by the end of the year might catch some agencies by surprise.
Digital Government
Agreement could boost open source
The Defense Department could gain access to new open-source software through an agreement between the Defense Information Systems Agency and the Open Source Software Institute.
Acquisition
GAO: DOD knows little about its acquisition employees
Defense Department can't adequately assess what it has and needs without knowing more about its acquisition workforce, report says.
People
How agency performance management systems are moving forward
With the Obama administration’s emphasis on performance and transparency, an effective performance management system, made up of goals, measures, processes and computer applications, will become even more important.
Modernization
4 lessons on changing employee performance metrics
A strong performance management system links employees’ results with that of the immediate organization and larger agency mission.
Acquisition