People

IG: DHS falls short on security

Despite improvements, DHS still falls short in protecting its critical IT systems and data, according to a new report from the department’s inspector general.

People

GAO: DHS relies too much on contractors

DHS is paying billions to professional service contractors to perform tasks that are similar to work usually reserved for government employees, officials said today.

People

Army seeks new contracting software

Two Army contractors are currently conducting a business case analysis to determine whether the service should move to a new system or keep the old one.

People

Real ID standards expected in two to three months, says DHS official

Stewart Baker, DHS assistant secretary for policy, said the requirements will be significantly different when they are issued in a few months.

People

Next up for strategic sourcing: IT services

The administration's strategic-sourcing initiative will now include help-desk support, seat management and related services, OFPP's Denett said.

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Denett: Proposed bills include "poison pills" for competitive sourcing

Provisions in several bills would make it difficult for federal employees and private companies to compete fairly for government work, said the administration's top procurement official.

People

HSPD-12 card opens door for digital signatures

Many agencies are putting all four PKI credentials on an interoperable identity smart card.

People

Study finds shortcomings in government management

A new study has revealed a disconnect between Americans' perception of how the government manages its programs and how federal managers rate their programs.

People

Get a Life!: Pay inequities in the military?

None

People

GAO: DOD needs CMO to guide business transformation

The department's idea of having a part-time chief management officer is not enough to get the job done, Comptroller General David Walker told senators.

People

DOD unveils new employee phone monitoring policy

The new rules, which update a 1981 policy, also spell out for the first time the ground rules for network attacks by DOD officials to test how secure the military’s defenses are.

People

Letter: Agency employment biased toward high-level employees

Lower-level positions are often contracted out, making it hard to compare industry pay and public-sector pay.

People

Letter: Consolidation of competing military offices should be welcomed

It would improve efficiency, reduce redundancy and rapidly bring university research and industrial products to the commanders and soldiers on the battlefield.

People

Letter: VA must stop being efficient with ineffective processes

Efficient data extraction, ensured data quality and an effective change management strategy are department's most significant challenges, a reader says.

People

Budget hurdles threaten 2010 census

The Census Bureau has already had to cut 11 dress rehearsals, and Senate appropriators want to withhold $10 million in 2008 if it doesn't report on steps it is taking to offer an online option.

People

Letter: GSA praises Power Player

Martha Dorris manages the programs that simplify citizens' access to official government information and services, an agency official says.

People

Commerce's CIO to leave

Barry West will step down Jan. 1, 2008.

People

Commerce's CIO to leave

Barry West's last day will be Jan. 1, 2008. He is the third high-ranking official to leave the agency in the past three months.

People

Letter: E-mail separation anxiety? Toss messages in a folder

Then purge the oldest items in the folder every three to four weeks, a reader suggests.