Cybersecurity

Inside the IBM/Amazon protest

GAO's ruling in the protest of the CIA cloud services contract sheds light on how the agency conducted the procurement.

People

HUD falters at project management

GAO uncovers deficiencies in two key modernization programs.

Cybersecurity

GAO: Agencies underuse TechStat for IT programs

The accountability review intended to help evaluate programs at risk of failure is seeing inconsistent use.

Acquisition

A big win for Big Blue

GAO has upheld IBM's protest of the cloud-services contract that the CIA had awarded to Amazon.

People

DOD still lacks proper workforce plan

A new audit reveals that Defense officials have not followed requirements for workforce planning, identification of critical functions.

People

DOD official defends department against GAO criticisms

Is GAO is overlooking important factors in its critique of DOD's IT modernization efforts? Yes, says Elizabeth McGrath, DOD deputy chief management officer.

Acquisition

Snapshot: Federal spending on services

A quick look at where federal dollars go in services.

Cybersecurity

Is supply-chain risk overstated?

Software is at greater risk of cyber-attack than hardware, but foreign-made gear is still raising concerns.

Digital Government

DOD business systems under fire -- again

A GAO report, echoing longstanding criticisms, diagnoses the causes of DOD's sputtering modernization progress.

Acquisition

GAO urges agencies to learn from private-sector purchasing

Big businesses know how to save money when negotiating contracts. A new report suggests that the government could emulate some commercial practices to good effect.

People

USDA research efforts need management improvements: GAO

Oversight agency critiques collaborative planning and other aspects of Agriculture's research programs.

Digital Government

GAO raps DOD satellite operations

The Defense Department needs to modernize the ground stations and control networks that operate the nation's defense satellites.

Digital Government

GAO dashboard tracks action on recommendations

As annual report on overlap and duplication is released, new Action Tracker monitors agency response to GAO suggestions.

Digital Government

Could feds run afoul of vague 'political intelligence' guidelines?

Though federal employees are often the source of valuable information on rulemaking and other government actions, the definitions and disclosure guidelines remain unclear.

Acquisition

DOD competes fewer contracts

GAO finds more than 30 percent of Pentagon spending went to non-competitive awards in fiscal 2012.

Digital Government

GAO could get more muscle with new bill

Legislation would clarify and expand investigative powers.

Digital Government

GAO finds IRS still struggling with IT security

Review concludes that progress was made in 2012, but serious problems remain unaddressed.

Digital Government

GAO details the high cost of continuing resolutions

It may be hard for Congress to agree on a budget, but not doing so leads to reduced effectiveness and added expenses.

People

GAO finds Census Bureau vulnerable to cyberattack

A litany of IT shortcomings will put the Census Bureau at the mercy of hackers and other nefarious activity until the agency implements a comprehensive information security program, auditors find.

People

High risk longevity: A graphic look

Who has been on the GAO High-Risk List the longest? Take a look.