Digital Government

Big IT projects for agencies tucked inside stimulus package

State, Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs receive windfall equal to a significant portion of their annual IT budgets.

Cybersecurity

DHS gets new privacy chief

Mary Ellen Callahan, the Homeland Security Department's new chief privacy officer, is an attorney who has specialized in privacy, security, data protection, consumer protection and e-commerce law.

Ideas

Cybersecurity: All Together Now

The latest in what seems to be an endless string of reports that take a stab at solving the nation's cybersecurity failures says more effective coordination, metrics, policies, and training is needed across markets. This seems to be a lesson everyone except government grasps.

Ideas

Air Force: No Security, No 'Net

If you're a soldier or a civilian working for the Defense Department, it's becoming harder and harder to do anything online. There's no YouTube, MySpace or even reading blogs for some. Now, for airmen at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, there's no Internet at all.

Digital Government

Actor Kilmer's Nasty Take on 'Nam Vets

Val Kilmer -- the actor who has portrayed Jim Morrison in the movie "The Doors," Batman in "Batman Forever," Moses in "The Prince of Egypt," and a naval aviator in "Top Gun" -- now has his eyes on a new real life role, governor of New Mexico.

Ideas

From Sleepwalking to ZZZ-Mailing

Researchers from the University of Toledo, Ohio, report in the medical journal <a href="http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/620282/description#description"><em>Sleep Medicine</em></a> about the first case of someone emailing while asleep -- an act related to sleepwalking.

Cybersecurity

Institute: Better coordination needed for cybersecurity R&D

A report makes recommendations to improve cybersecurity research efforts.

Modernization

White House issues guidance on stimulus bucks

Memo provides guidance to federal agencies on how to carry out the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Cybersecurity

IG: FEMA should stay in DHS

DHS' inspector general recommends Congress not endorse moving FEMA out of DHS.

Acquisition

Stimulus spending and fixed-price contracts: Readers react

Numerous readers took issue with the news that the new stimulus legislation directs agencies to spend stimulus money through firm fixed-price contracts.

Modernization

FCW Insider: Tips on keeping public comments civil (Part 2)

Kim Patrick Kobza, of Neighborhood America, shares his thoughts on how agencies can engage the public more effectively through the online comment process.

People

Kobza: The place for public comments

Government needs both old and new modes of communication to truly tap the wisdom of the crowd.

Digital Government

Can Obama's online hotline deliver?

The New York Times Blogs

Digital Government

BearingPoint could face scrutiny in federal market

The consulting company might experience losses in federal business after filing for bankruptcy reorganization.

Digital Government

SSA takes lead on joining electronic health records program

Agency will use national network to retrieve medical information on disability applicants in Virginia.