Digital Government

Bill would help state auditors track money

A House committee chairman is writing legislation to provide federal funds to state auditors to help them oversee spending under the stimulus law.

Acquisition

McCaskill: IGs need greater authority

Inspectors general told a Senate panel that they must have more authority to access databases and investigate contractors.

Modernization

POGO releases latest version of Federal Contractor Misconduct Database

The largest 100 federal contractors have paid $26 billion in penalties related to admitted and alleged misconduct since 1995, according to a watchdog group.

Cybersecurity

GAO urges review of ship-tracking plans

The Government Accountability Office wants the Coast Guard to make sure its plans to improve ship tracking electronically for security will add value.

Modernization

Lawmakers lag in publishing schedules online

Only 10 members of Congress publish their schedules on their Web sites despite encouragement from transparency advocates.

Cybersecurity

Drapeau: Web 2.0 best practices already surface

Agencies are starting to learn smart ways to use emerging technologies for communicating with citizens and each other.

People

House chairmen want to stop performance pay

Senior Democrats urge OMB to review how to improve federal performance management following the freeze of DOD’s pay-for-performance system.

People

Senate confirms Berry as OPM chief

The former head of the National Zoo said he wants to make the federal government a model employer.

People

GAO names Health IT panel members

The HHS secretary and congressional leadership would name seven more members to a panel that will advise on policy for a nationwide health IT infrastructure.

People

Senate confirms Mills to head SBA

Karen Mills would help put SBA back on track to carry out its lending, technical assistance and entrepreneurship programs, a senator said.

People

Fed officials see uncertain future for NSPS

DOD must ensure fairness for employees who are covered by the pay and performance management system with safeguards and standard business rules, GAO said.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity bill would impose standards, certifications

Senate legislation would require a national cybersecurity adviser at the White House, new enforceable standards and certifications for cybersecurity professionals.

People

Bill would simplify federal hiring process

Sens. Akaka and Voinovich have introduced legislation to streamline federal hiring processes and make the government an employer of choice.

Cybersecurity

Bill would change Coast Guard acquisition

The Coast Guard would change some acquisition processes under new legislation.

People

Akaka offers federal training bill

Agencies’ performance depends on supervisors' leadership and management skills, senator said.

Modernization

VA will use existing technology for new GI bill benefits

An automated system to process veterans’ education benefits won’t become operational until late 2010, VA officials said.

Cybersecurity

Senator says his office computers were hacked

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) said his office's computers were recently multiple times. He and two other senators are crafting a cybersecurity bill.

People

Federal 100 winner: Sen. Tom Carper

Carper, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee’s federal financial management, government information, federal services and international security subcommittee, has focused on how taxpayers' money is spent, especially through agencies’ performance on their IT projects.

People

Federal 100 winner: Erik Hopkins

Hopkins, professional staff member responsible for information technology, cybersecurity and records management for Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), is driven to bring transparency into the management of agency information technology.

People

Federal 100 winner: Ellen Brown

Brown convinced House and Senate committees to revise acquisition reform proposals by drawing on her knowledge of the procurement system.