Digital Government

FCW Insider: The First Family's digital tether

There's no double standard in the White House when it comes to BlackBerry addiction.

People

Obama expected to name Kundra OMB e-gov and technology head

The D.C. chief technology officer would essentially be the federal government’s chief information officer.

People

CRS: Chief technology officer would face fights

A federal CTO likely would have turf battles with other agencies, a new report says.

People

FCW Insider: Stealth comments revisited

Several readers take the FCW Insider to task for taking Obama's team to task over not publishing comments they receive through WhiteHouse.gov.

People

Killefer withdraws as first federal performance officer

Management executive Nancy Killefer cited tax problems as she withdrew from consideration.

Digital Government

Get a Life: Mixed benefit signals

Activity at the White House and on Capitol Hill is mixed on federal jobs and benefits, writes blogger Judy Welles.

People

FCW Insider: White House posts bill for public review, stealth comments

The Obama administration has followed through on its promise, technically speaking, to post legislation online for review and comment before the president signs it.

Modernization

Importer data rule goes into effect

A last-minute Bush administration rule requiring importers to file more data on shipments went into effect on schedule on Jan 25.

People

FCW Insider: E-democracy in the news

While the Obama appoints a director of citizen participant, the European Commission tests the use of electronic petitions.

People

New Defense database should be public, watchdog says

The White House should make public a new Defense database on "revolving door" officials leaving to work for contractors, urges the Project on Government Oversight watchdog group.

People

IT execs confer with Obama

President Barack Obama met with technology executives to build support for IT initiatives in the economic stimulus legislation.

Cybersecurity

E-Verify rule governing contractor employees postponed

Federal have officials agreed to postpone enforcing the E-Verify program for federal contractors until May 21 so it can be reviewed by the Obama administration, a business group said. The program was set to start Feb. 20.

Modernization

Bills duel over billions for broadband or health IT

The Senate Appropriations Committee's version of the economic stimulus package would spend $9 billion for broadband networks and $5 billion for health IT; the House panel's version has $6 billion for broadband and $20 billion for health IT.

Modernization

Groups urge broadband provisions in package

Public safety organizations urge Congress to include provisions for first responder communications programs in the economic stimulus package.

People

FCW Insider: A note on the White House almost-blog

Perhaps the Obama administration should have held off on running a White House blog until they were ready to do it in earnest.

Modernization

Obama smartphone conforms to military standards

President Obama will have to give up his BlackBerry and switch to a maximum-security smartphone.

People

FCW Insider: Dark ages = good security?

A Washington Post reader has offered an interesting but slightly disturbing perspective on the state of technology at the White House.

People

Obama announces site to track economic stimulus funds

The president said he hopes the transparency of the stimulus plan through Recovery.gov will reduce unnecessary spending and the skepticism of many to the plan's size.

Cybersecurity

Stimulus bill primes the pump

Federal information technology contractors could see a flurry of activity this year if Congress approves the roughly $32 billion in IT investments included the Obama administration’s economic stimulus bill (S.1).

People

Chief techie: All bark and no bite?

Julius Genachowski might not have realized the turmoil his recent employment decision would cause, but in turning down President Barack Obama’s offer to make him chief technology officer, Genachowski reopened a discussion that had seemed settled.