Digital Government

Shutdown clock ticks toward April 8 deadline

Still far from a compromise on the federal budget, the White House and Democratic lawmakers are assembling a proposal for an additional $20 billion in spending cuts in addition to the $10 billion that Congress has already enacted. But Republicans are seeking to cut $60 billion.

People

Federal CIO Kundra cites progress on IT reform plan

The Interior Department has elevated the role of its CIO and other agencies are likely to follow in coming months, Federal CIO Vivek Kundra said.

People

DOJ, agencies get mixed reviews on FOIA

Two separate reports have contrasting views of progress on transparency in federal agencies based on their responsiveness to Freedom of Information Act requests.

Digital Government

NTIA's Daniel Weitzner expected to be named US Deputy CTO for Internet policy

The White House is expected to announce the appointment of Commerce Department official Daniel Weitzner as the deputy CTO for Internet policy.

People

Transparency advances slowed by data problems, groups say

White House and federal agency efforts to improve transparency are being hampered by data and reporting problems, according to testimony at a House hearing today.

Digital Government

Congress tries again to prevent government shutdown

House Republicans today introduced a second short-term funding extension to prevent a government shutdown while lawmakers continue to negotiate a plan to keep the government operating this fiscal year.

Digital Government

Recharging the CIO

As the Obama administration looks for more from CIOs, experts discuss the authorities and skills CIOs must have to be successful.

Digital Government

Federal shutdown once again threatens

The Senate has rejected two separate spending proposals. Now the clock is ticking again toward a possible government shutdown.

Modernization

White House wants agency for education IT

President Barack Obama is calling for creating a research agency to advance digital tutoring, educational games and other learning and teaching IT.

People

Furlough survival guide for managers

If federal employees have to take furloughs, managers will have to cope with absences. Here are some tips from the experts to guide you through it.

People

OPM updates unscheduled telework option

The Office of Personnel Management is revising its dismissal and closure procedures for the Washington, D.C., area after January’s snowstorm commute that left some people stranded on the road for up to 13 hours.

Modernization

Kundra suggests feds get $2,000 subsidy for mobile devices

Federal employees typically carry both agency-issued and personal smart phones and it might make sense to leverage their personal devices, Federal CIO Vivek Kundra says.

Digital Government

White House wants 'disruptive' shift in IT strategy, Kundra says

Federal CIO Vivek Kundra pushes for a major change in federal IT strategy away from asset ownership and toward buying IT services.

People

New federal deputy CTO chosen

Former San Francisco CIO named U.S. Deputy CTO for Government Innovation in Executive Office of the President.

Modernization

Agencies must determine computer security teams in face of potential federal shutdown

The number of essential IT staff members needed during a government shutdown would be much larger than in the monthlong furlough of 1995. Then, the focus was not on guarding the nation's systems against a cyberattack.

People

Valuable lessons to consider before reorganizing the federal government

The government’s experience in setting up the Homeland Security Department provides a cautionary tale for the Obama administration as it starts to reorganize the government, experts say.

Digital Government

House amendment would sack Obama's czars

An amendment rolled into a 2011 spending bill would eliminate President Barack Obama's so-called "czars" in nine offices.

Cybersecurity

Lieberman: No kill switch in new bill

A wide-ranging cybersecurity bill introduced by Sen. Joe Lieberman would revamp FISMA and establish executive oversight of critical infrastructure security but would specifically forbid shutting down the Internet.

Modernization

Cloud efforts to get 25 percent of IT spending

Federal CIO Vivek Kundra's Federal Cloud Computing Strategy calls for 25 percent of federal IT spending to go to the cloud, with data center consolidation helping to pay for it.

People

More feds teleworking, OPM reports

More than 10 percent of eligible federal employees now telework, according to the Office of Personnel Management’s annual Status of Telework Report.