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IT reform effort expected to meet most deadlines

The Obama administration is reporting significant advances in implementing its 25-point IT reform plan released last December, but changes that require congressional consent appear to be lagging.

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Obama orders agencies to improve customer service

President Barack Obama tells agencies to develop customer service plans with at least one major technology initiative for each agency.

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Federal managers: Room for improvement?

The consensus among readers is that federal managers often don't get the job done. But what can be done about it?

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Acquisition officials share tips on communication, transparency

Federal acquisition professionals shared tips for improving communications between program managers and contracting officials at the Federal IT Acquisition Summit.

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OMB tells agencies to cancel print subscriptions to Federal Register

Agencies have been told to stop subscribing to the print edition of the government's journal, the Federal Register.

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SSA trust fund reimbursement may be at risk due to outdated systems, audit says

Grant Thornton LLP recently completed an audit of the Social Security Administration's system to determine the administrative expenses to be reimbursed from the four trust funds it oversees.

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Federal employees: Patriots, hangers-on or something in between?

Readers respond to a question about their motivation.

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Senator worried about cutting transparency programs

Sen. Tom Carper is worried that Congress' budget reduction to open-government programs such as Data.gov and the Federal IT Dashboard may hurt efforts to curb improper payments and wasteful spending.

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Why do you work for the government?

If you're in a job where you could be earning more in the private sector, why do you continue to work for the government?

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Will students pay for news online?

Steve Kelman learns about attitudes to the New York Times' pay model through conversations with students.

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DOE announces $130M from its Advanced Research Projects Agency

Breakthroughs in biofuels, rare earth alternatives and solar power electronics are just some of the areas DOE will focus on.

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OPM releases new time-to-hire reporting requirements

Federal agencies will soon be required to submit reports every quarter showing how long it takes them to hire new personnel, according to recent guidance from the Office of Personnel Management.

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Tips for teleworkers: How to write better e-mail messages

Some federal managers write bad e-mail messages, says the Corporate Executive Board. Here are tips for doing it better.

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In defense of federal employees (Washington Redskins, beware!)

FCW blogger John Klossner does his part to restore the self-esteem of feds who have been the target of so many congressional attacks.

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OPM has pilot program for online platform for job applicants

The new Assess online platform may eliminate the old "knowledge, skills, abilities" method of sizing up candidates.

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Green benefits of telework aren't just for Earth Day

Telecommuting is said to have many benefits for the environment.

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Buzz Factor: FCW's most-read stories

With the fiscal 2011 budget settled, the 2012 budget now takes center stage.

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Is pay for performance doomed to fail?

Pay for performance may be coming back, even though past efforts have failed. Do you think it stands a chance in the federal government?

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Why outsourcing IT expertise could be a big mistake

As tempting as it sounds, federal agencies cannot afford – literally – to rely on contractors for technology innovation, at least according to one contractor.

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Agencies update progress on transparency plans

Federal agencies are publishing charts, graphics and progress reports on their open government efforts.