Modernization

Stimulus spenders race to the finish line

States and feds rush to meet a reporting deadline — and there is no shortage of obstacles to providing data to the public.

Cybersecurity

Performance survey gives low grades to Interior, FEMA, Forest Service

Managers at the Interior Department, FEMA and the U.S. Forest Service got low rankings for using performance management data, according to the GAO.

Modernization

Telework speeds security-clearance process

At-home investigators at the Office of Personnel Management helped to reduce the security clearance backlog, John Berry, OPM director, said today.

Cybersecurity

DHS considers new structure for EAGLE II

The Homeland Security Department is considering getting rid of all functional categories and allowing broad competition for the possible EAGLE II-Unrestricted acquisition vehicle.

Modernization

Net-neutrality rules would be good for federal Web sites: analysts

Consumer advocates say the FCC's proposed "net neutrality" rules would help government Web sites continue to get traffic.

Modernization

VA could repeat mistakes in IT program, IG says

The VA's program to develop a financial and logistics system has the same problems as a previous effort, according to a new report from the department's inspector general's office.

Digital Government

Health data breach notification rule starts Sept. 23

A new Health and Human Services Department rule that requires health care organizations to notify patients when their data is disclosed without authorization goes into effect Sept. 23.

Cybersecurity

TSA needs privacy IT tools, IG says

The TSA has made progress in implementing privacy protections, but still needs to beef up its monitoring and enforcement with automated tools, DHS Inspector General Richard Skinner says.

People

FCC's social-media efforts draw fire

FCC has introduced new social-media tools while existing systems languish, a critic says.

Digital Government

Electronic health records open patient privacy questions

An HHS advisory committee that will set rules for privacy of patients' health records considers consent rules.

Digital Government

Boeing gets one-year extension on SBInet contract

U.S. Customs and Border Protection exercised its option to extend its SBInet border surveillance contract with Boeing Co. for a year.

Modernization

Lawmakers hit DHS on electronic border surveillance system

Lawmakers scolded Homeland Security Department officials for the latest round of delays on the SBInet electronic border surveillance project.

Modernization

Do contractor ID numbers taint transparency?

Advocacy groups are reviving long-standing questions about the suitability of corporate ownership of a critical government database.

Digital Government

Health IT panel approves intermediaries for data

Health and Human Services Department's Health IT Standards Committee has adopted a framework for the flow of patient data to be collected and aggregated to measure the quality of care.

Cybersecurity

IG faults DHS for breaking rules on some noncompetitive contracts

DHS' Inspector General finds 70 examples where officials didn't follow federal acquisition rules in awarding noncompetitive contracts.

Modernization

IRS fails to plug all security gaps, IG says

The IRS has installed effective security controls on its laptop computers, but still has problems with reporting breaches and in backup data storage, a new report says.

Cybersecurity

DHS struggles to manage billions in IT investments, GAO finds

Despite some progress, DHS still has problems with managing major IT investments, the GAO finds.

Cybersecurity

Immigration agency to outsource disaster recovery plans

The Office of the CIO for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is looking for a contractor that can take over disaster recovery planning and management.

Modernization

IT upgrades, increased public interaction coming for Citizenship and Immigration Services

Alejandro Mayorkas, the new director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said he wants the agency to be more engaged with the public and also to move into the electronic age.

Digital Government

FCC launches social media projects, but critic raps transparency shortcomings

The FCC starts Web programs to invite public comments on a plan, but a critic says the commission should first fix its official electronic comments system.