Cybersecurity

Battle lines drawn about government's role in protecting cyberspace

Should government be involved or hands-off in protecting critical infrastructure? The battle begins.

Digital Government

House passes $690B defense authorization bill

The House passes a bill with nearly $700 billion for defense in fiscal 2012.

Digital Government

Government learns social media has a double edge

The public knows where to find your Facebook page and they're increasingly ready to use it to let you know what they think. Are you listening?

People

Include contractors in federal workforce debates, lawmakers urged

A House hearing held to examine the size of the federal workforce raised the question of whether to include the number of contract employees as part of the debate.

Digital Government

Federal workers remain 'political football'

Political rhetoric consumes the debate over the size of the federal workforce.

Digital Government

Administration questions military role in cyberspace

The Obama administration objects to legislation that would authorize clandestine operations in cyberspace.

Digital Government

White House proposal includes Internet kill switch, senators warn

Proposed cybersecurity legislation’s reliance on the 77-year-old Telecommunications Act could give the president broad powers over the Internet during an emergency.

Cybersecurity

Cyber plan gives DHS the keys

Proposed legislation from the White House would put the Homeland Security Department in charge of federal agencies' cybersecurity.

Modernization

Bill would require warrants for access to cloud e-mail, cell phone location data

Sen. Patrick Leahy has introduced legislation that would update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986.

Cybersecurity

DHS rules in White House cyber plan

An administration proposal would give security authority over federal systems to DHS and establish a national breach notification requirement, but provides little authority over privately owned critical infrastructure.

Digital Government

Pay to play

Congress is asking feds to share the nation's pain through a pay freeze. But what about contractor salaries?

Acquisition

House hearing heats up over contractor disclosure order

Members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee put an administration official in the hot seat over a proposed draft order on disclosing federal contractor political contribution.

People

Panel could cut defense budget further

The House Appropriations Committee has proposed spending caps for its 12 subcommittees to trim billions of dollars from the fiscal 2012 budget.

Cybersecurity

Obama cybersecurity plan ready for Congress

Cybersecurity legislation being proposed by the Obama administration favors public/private cooperation over regulation and gives DHS oversight of FISMA.

Digital Government

Vince Lombardi and federal management

Sen. Tom Carper recalls a saying by a legendary sports figure to illustrate the importance of setting clear goals.

Digital Government

Debt limit fight could bring back shutdown specter

House Speaker John Boehner says he wants to see trillions of dollars in spending cuts as part of the legislation to increase the country's debt limit.

People

House bill would stop most federal hiring

The Federal Hiring Freeze Act is introduced by Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.).

People

New bill would increase oversight of IT projects

Last month, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) introduced legislation that would require agency CIOs and the Office of Management and Budget to conduct systematic reviews of IT projects experiencing performance problems.

Digital Government

White House official to testify about preserving Facebook, Twitter records

Rep. Darrell Issa intends to probe the transparency of the White House's social media records at a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

People

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.