Digital Government

Committee members seek info on DHS use of satellites

House Homeland Security Committee members told Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in a letter that they will prevent a new office that coordinates the use of space satellites from opening unless their concerns are addressed.

Digital Government

Army must develop process to wage war in cyberspace

Director of electronic warfare calls for a more proactive program to combat enemy information campaigns.

People

Bush will appoint new DHS CIO

The president plans to appoint Richard Mangogna to agency's top IT slot.

People

NIH bars sensitive data from Mac laptops

The agency restated its policy mandating full-disk encryption for laptop PCs, which is still in beta testing for Macs.

Digital Government

Marines on SOA mission

Marine Corps seeks industry's guidance on service-oriented architecture.

People

OFPP: Data on advisory contracts lost in the shuffle

Officials can't find information on advisory and assistance contracts because agencies don't keep track of services contracts.

People

Senators: DHS needs flexibility in choosing personnel chief

Sens. Akaka and Voinovich have introduced a bill that would allow DHS' secretary to appoint a career chief human capital officer.

People

Letter: GAO lost objectivity under Walker

A reader says Comptroller General David Walker has completed GAO’s transformation into a management consultant to Congress, undermining and often abdicating its role as an independent auditor in the process.

Digital Government

Klossner: Accidents happen?

None

People

Letter: Agency practices keep employees from advancing

A reader says the practice of “stepping” keeps qualified employees from using outside experience to move up to the executive level in government.

Acquisition

Letter: Vendor turmoil is not unique to U.S.

A reader points out that Canada is dealing with its own contracting issues.

People

Letter: Lifting IBM’s suspension was the right move

One reader has worked with or competed against IBM for 30-plus years, and he believes the company is rigorous about following the rules.

People

Letter: IBM sales figure is misleading

A reader says the company’s sales to the government exceed $1.5 billion when you consider indirect sales through other contractors.

People

Letter: Is IBM off the hook?

A reader says the government’s reversal of its ban on IBM shows a failure to adjudicate.

Modernization

FOSE: Abuzz about info strategies

Here are some highlights from the FOSE Exposition and Conference that brought federal officials and company executives together for three days of networking and education.

People

IBM is back, but what happened?

EPA pulls the computer giant out of limbo after the parties quickly reach an agreement.

People

Census counts on paper for 2010

House lawmakers grill Commerce officials about rising costs and reversion to paper.

Cybersecurity

IRS failed to adequately protect its networks, IG reports

Security lapses with routers and switches left taxpayer information open to possible access.

Digital Government

Hill to shine spotlight on federal IT this week

House panels to probe Census Bureau's handheld computers, high-tech federal ID cards and sale of sensitive military technologies on the Internet.