People

House wants to fine-tune DHS research strategy

Proposed legislation would push the department's science and technology directorate to more clearly define the costs and requirements of near-term projects and to put more emphasis on long-term planning.

People

GAO: FAA needs to hit acquisition performance goals

The ramifications of missing budget and schedule targets will become more severe as the agency makes the transition to its Next Generation Air Transportation system, according to a recent report.

Digital Government

Letter: Contractors can't solve management problems

Agency officials often hire contractors to compensate for internal management problems, but it rarely works, writes one longtime fed.

People

Letter: A little journalism 101 may be in order

A reader takes issue with a story that cites a GAO report without including the department's response.

Digital Government

Letter: Data security efforts must not hinder data sharing

A reader is concerned that efforts to crack down on peer-to-peer networking and data brokers could mean trouble for intergovernmental data sharing initiatives.

People

Gallagher moves to DHS to help implement HSPD-12

The former DOD official brings experience with secure identity card programs.

Acquisition

Use of brand names in solicitations still a problem

OMB reiterates for the second time in a month its prohibition on specifying vendors' products in solicitations.

People

GAO: Agencies need to improve COOP recordkeeping

Agencies aren't producing adequate documentation of continuity-of-operations exercises, the Government Accountability Office has found.

People

FCW Insider: E-government blogs worth reading

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Ideas

First Class Give-Away OK

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People

GSA awards 3 companies places on HR LOB schedule

Vendors under Schedule 738.X will compete with five agency shared services providers.

People

Senate wants Coast Guard to oversee Deepwater

The Senate passed a bill that would increase oversight of the $24 billion modernization initiative.

Acquisition

The Lectern: Jack Welch says, 'Death to bureaucracy'

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Digital Government

FCW Insider: Davis prepping an exit... and other items

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People

TIGTA: IRS wasted money in early HSPD-12 efforts

The lead for Treasury's implementation of the initiative spent $3.5 million on unnecessary hardware, software and services, according to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

Ideas

DHS Confirms Four Leaders

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People

Senate confirms four DHS nominees

The jobs include assistant secretary of ICE and assistant administrator of FEMA.

People

Customer satisfaction with e-gov falls

One reason for the decline might be greater expectations for Web 2.0 applications, said Errol Hau, a senior director at ForeSee Results, which conducted the survey.

People

Arbitrator orders ATF to let examiners telework

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives must extend telework to legal-instrument examiners under an arbitration panel ruling.

Modernization

Navy ready to launch ERP system

The service and BearingPoint complete the testing, data convergence and validation phases.