Modernization
Obama launches new era in government technology
It's too early to judge accomplishment of the young Obama administration, but look at the daily dialogue and the high priority given to IT issues to find cause for both opportunity and challenge. Everyone is talking about cloud computing, visualization, mashups, social networking and virtualization of everything from servers to training programs and running government operations in the virtual world of Second Life.
Modernization
Obama creates public engagement office
A new office will use blog postings and other interactive tools so the public can participate in the administration's work.
People
FCW Insider: Are feds more cost-effective than contractors?
A recent remark by Obama triggered a lengthy debate among readers about the relative value of in-house and contract staffers.
Digital Government
Administration helps with estimating jobs created
The White House released a guide to help agencies measure the jobs created by the economic stimulus law.
Modernization
White House wants cloud computing
In the 2010 budget request, the administration calls for cloud computing to be a major part of technology modernization in the federal government.
People
White House seeks cuts to defense contractor workforce
The Obama administration wants to save $900 million by reducing defense contractor employees and get $2 billion by collecting delinquent taxes from federal contractors.
Acquisition
FCW Insider: The problem with publishing contractor performance data
Michael Lent, editor of Government Services Insider, questions the value of publishing contractor performance data publically available, given its dubious quality.
Cybersecurity
Expert: White House needs cybersecurity coordinator
An expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said the job of securing government networks is too big for one person to be its operational leader.
Cybersecurity
Industry group pushing for cybersecurity chief
Officials at TechAmerica, a technology industry association, say a cybersecurity chief would provide vendors with the clear guidance they need to develop products for government.
Modernization
Obama administration joins Facebook
The Obama administration's feeds on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are part of an effort to make information available through a variety of online media.
People
Obama scores high marks on transparency, watchdog group says
The Obama administration has fulfilled three out of the five 100-day transparency goals watchdog groups recommended last fall.
People
Economic stimulus IT forum draws more than 2,500 participants
Vendors and IT experts submitted and ranked ideas for using information technology to better track spending under the economic stimulus law.
People
Cyber leaders must coordinate to avoid conflicts
If the Obama administration has three separate offices guiding federal information technology, observers warn that they will need close coordination to avoid confusing overlap.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity report coming soon
The Obama administration expects to make public in the coming days the results of its 60-day cybersecurity review, according to the official who led that evaluation.
Modernization
Official: Collaboration is key to successful government
White House official Beth Noveck says the collaborative model used for open-source software should be adopted by the federal government.
People
Health IT group wants incentives for EHRs
A health IT organization wants the Obama administration to take an incremental approach in implementing the economic stimulus law concerning electronic health records.
People
New swine flu money could go for monitoring
The administration's request for $1.5 billion to deal with swine flu could fund disease monitoring and tracking.
People
Kundra wants data more available
Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra wants the government to make its data more available and services more accessible.
Digital Government
Obama names members of technology council
President Barack Obama announced a group of science and technology experts that will advise the administration on related policies.
Modernization