People

Mythbuster: Federal workers not overpaid, senator asserts

News stories charging that federal employees are grossly overpaid are based on "a flawed reading of statistical data," according to Sen. Ted Kaufman.

Digital Government

Tax cheats take note: Federal jobs may require audits

Senator proposed legislation to make anyone with seriously delinquent tax debts ineligible for a federal job.

Modernization

Report says Congress needs lots of help with Web sites

Congress needs to work harder to develop best practices for lawmakers' Web sites, a report from the Brookings Institution says.

Modernization

Congressman charges White House with publishing 'propaganda' on Recovery.gov

Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is accusing the Obama administration of misusing federal Web sites to advance the president's political agenda.

People

Senate bill would 'cap and trade' to cut federal employees

A Senate measure would require agencies to cap the number of full-time employees and then begin reducing those numbers.

Digital Government

Funding cuts could signal concerns for cloud computing

The Senate Appropriations Committee recently voted to reduce fiscal 2011 spending on key Obama administration information technology initiatives, including e-government and cloud computing.

Digital Government

Senate moves to bolster cybersecurity oversight

The Senate today approved a bill that would levy new oversight requirements on major cybersecurity programs run by intelligence agencies.

People

Senate committee approves acquisition institute bill

The legislation would reorganize the Federal Acquisition Institute as it trains civilian agencies' contracting staff members.

People

House shaves funding for Veterans Affairs IT projects

House appropriators plan to decrease funds for the Veterans Affairs Department’s information technology projects because of sluggish spending and project delays.

People

An excerpt from the Telework Improvements Act of 2010

The following language is excerpted from H.R. 1722, sponsored by Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) and passed by the House on July 14, 2010.

Digital Government

Nearly all major federal agencies use social media, GAO says

Federal agencies have jumped into social media, but are still wrestling with numerous problems, a GAO official told a House subcommittee today.

Digital Government

Obama ready to sign improper payments legislation

The president is expected to sign legislation today meant to crack down on $110 billion a year in erroneous federal payments.

Digital Government

Officials put temptation in front of small businesses

When a company can certify itself as a particular type of business entitled to preferential treatment, it is a temptation that is hard to resist, according to one member of Congress.

Digital Government

Agencies may have to abandon bureaucratese

Agencies may have to change their writing style because a new writing coach -- the law -- may soon arrive, blogger Matthew Weigelt writes.

Digital Government

Does filtering adult Web sites work?

Does software to block adult content and other objectional material really work? In past years such programs have been knocked for blocking legitimate Web sites along with the nasty ones -- such as screening out breast-cancer information sites along with nubile young vixens.

People

House mulls increasing contractor oversight

The Federal Contracting Oversight and Reform Act seeks to repair an ineffective contracting system that award contracts to companies with histories of poor performance and misconduct.

People

More feds may telework, House says

Teleworkers of the world rejoice! House lawmakers have passed a bill to expand the number of federal employees eligible to telework.

People

House tightens reins around improper payments

House passes legislation requiring agency officials to review their programs every three years to find those that are susceptible to making improper payments, and levies penalties against agencies that fail to comply with accounting regulations.

Modernization

Congress gets its head into the cloud

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s interest in cloud computing reflects a new awareness in Congress of the technology’s potential benefits.

Digital Government

Senators seek Obama's advice, consent on cybersecurity legislation

The leaders of several Senate committees want President Barack Obama to weigh in on details of proposed cybersecurity legislation as they push to reconcile various measures.