Cybersecurity

Letter: Airport employees are not beyond temptation

A reader writes to say that it took 13 years after the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, and the 2001 terrorist attacks to address airport security.

Cybersecurity

Transition Watch Chertoff says wait on DHS revamp

Secretary Michael Chertoff has urged his successor to wait on any reorganization that could increase fear and doubt across the sprawling Homeland Security Department.

Cybersecurity

House-Senate dispute looms over cybersecurity authority

Aides in the Senate criticize idea of moving responsibility for cybersecurity to a new White House Office that has yet to be created.

Digital Government

Technology groups continue on path to consolidation

Mergers will help industry tell its story to the Obama administration and lawmakers, executive says.

Digital Government

GSA to miss 2008 deadline for Alliant services contract

But agency plans to issue awards for the IT services pact to small businesses by the end of the year.

Digital Government

Wearable supercomputer could provide training on the go

Company is designing 1-pound unit packed with the power of a desktop PC that supports a range of military applications

Digital Government

The Lectern: Pilgrimage season in Mecca

Blogger Steve Kelman reports on the results of a study related to social attitudes of people taking part in the Hajj.

People

Get a Life!: Open season extended

The Office of Personnel Management has extended the open season for health benefits until the end of January 2009. It didn't happen without some last-minute advocacy, writes blogger Judy Welles.

Ideas

Census and Handhelds Back in the News

None

Ideas

Improving Government Through Breathalyzers

Assuming that the soon-to-be Obama administration is serious about <a href="http://change.gov/page/content/americanmoment">entertaining new ideas</a> for creating an open approach to government, I thought a review of some ideas for improving government that other countries are contemplating might be worth considering here as well. </p><p> In the United Kingdom, for instance, the Tory Party is going <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article5168006.ece">to make</a> their MPs receive compulsory lessons in scientific literacy in order to strengthen evidence-based policy making. The Conservative Party is concerned about the lack of scientific expertise and understanding in both the House of Commons and in Whitehall.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: What your ethics officer needs to know about the Fed 100

Don't worry, the value of the Federal 100 award is not in the trophy.

Digital Government

Letter: Kudos to consolidating recruitment systems

A reader praises the Department of Homeland Security for consolidating more than 50 separate recruitment systems.

Modernization

DHS will use new privacy protection principles in research

The principles for implementing privacy protections will be used in all new DHS Science and Technology Directorate research projects, including those that involve data mining.

Cybersecurity

Group urges White House to lead on cybersecurity

The next president should deal with the growing cybersecurity threat by creating a new White House cybersecurity office and National Security Council directorate, commission says.

People

Experts: Changes will come fast for government IT

Executives say a new administration and new generation of workers will force government information technology to evolve quickly.

Acquisition

GSA bumps $50B Alliant awards to 2009

The agency has completed re-evaluations of Alliant Small Business bids and expects to announce awards in December.

Cybersecurity

Audit finds DHS weak in balance sheet reporting

The weaknesses cover financial reporting, general financial and application controls, and budget accounting, the audit states.

Cybersecurity

Letter: Article should have mentioned FFRDCs

A reader says the Homeland Security Institute will be replaced with the Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute.

People

Report: Administration has mixed record on clearances

The administration has made some gains in managing security clearances, but the process is still cumbersome, according to a new report by a House committee chairman.

Cybersecurity

Panel says White House should oversee cybersecurity efforts

Much of the responsibility for cybersecurity should be taken from OMB, which would focus on the budget, according to a report.