Digital Government

Members of Congress not afraid to go off-topic on Twitter

If you are following a member of Congress on Twitter, don't be surprised if the conversation turns to recipes and sports.

Digital Government

OMB: Consolidation power 'crucial' to leaner government

OMB official argues for the importance of giving the president the authority to merge and reorganize agencies.

People

GOP budget plan gets thumbs-up from House panel

Plan includes extending federal pay freeze, reducing workforce.

Digital Government

Bill would limit contractor salaries

Two members of the Senate last week introduced bipartisan legislation that would limit contractor salaries paid by federal tax dollars to $400,000 -- the same as the president's salary.

Modernization

Can cybersecurity profit from corporate self-interest?

The telecom industry’s insistence that all regulation is bad for security does a disservice to those who rely on critical infrastructure.

People

Rep. Gerry Connolly's agenda

As it turns out, federal employees do have someone in their corner. Rep. Gerry Connolly intends to fight to keep IT management and workforce issues from being compromised by hasty, ill-conceived policies and legislation.

Cybersecurity

Republicans offer hands-off approach to cybersecurity

Senate Republicans' cybersecurity bill puts the onus on industry, diverges from earlier bipartisan bill.

Acquisition

Bill would stifle contractors' responses to past-performance reviews

Proposed legislation would forbid companies from challenging assessments or even correcting errors, critics say.

Cybersecurity

Audit: Agencies still wasting billions with overlapping programs

GAO highlighted similar problems last year, and continues to find new examples.

Acquisition

Bill could turn contractors into lobbyists

If the Senate's STOCK Act becomes law, the rules under which agencies talk to contractors could be in for some significant changes.

Digital Government

Obama presses for agency consolidation

The president is asking Congress to grant him the authority to consolidate government agencies in an effort to streamline the executive branch.

People

Issa: Obama’s reform plan mere 'platitudes'

For the government to trim its costs and size, the administration needs to take a more strategic approach and give agencies some autonomy in deciding what's best for them, according to an expert.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity bill displeases Republicans

Sen. Joe Lieberman and his bipartisan co-sponsors say it's not SOPA or PIPA and doesn’t have a kill-switch provision, but Republicans committee leaders say it still overreaches.

Digital Government

Whoa, what a week!

Trying to boil down readers’ reactions to the recent spate of legislation calling for pay freeze extensions and cutbacks on federal retirement benefits might be best expressed by a quote frequently uttered by Popeye the Sailor (right before he blew his top) …

Digital Government

AIA hires former House Appropriations staffer as VP

The association's new vice president of acquisition policy brings extensive legislative procurement experience.

Acquisition

Veteran small-business bill would mandate use of fraud-prevention site

Under new legislation, agencies would have to search the Veterans Affairs Department’s VetBiz database before awarding a contract

People

Lawmaker targets step increases

A new bill would bar step increases for the remainder of 2012.

Modernization

Issa touts crowdsourced provisions in anti-piracy bill

Lawmaker pleased with response in an effort to craft a better bill against copyright infringement.

Cybersecurity

Intelligence director urges Congress to act on cyber threat

National Intelligence Director James Clapper cited threats posed by Iran, China and Russia as dangers Congress must address.

People

House votes to extend pay freeze

A House vote moves a one-year pay-freeze extension closer to reality.