News

From Nextgov.com: Union, GSA at odds over personal use of social networking sites

The National Federation of Federal Employees says agency managers have ended talks over new rules for how workers can use sites such as YouTube and Facebook.

News

From Nextgov.com: Minerals Management Service's replacement still has no website

Open government advocates worry the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement’s lack of an online presence is an indication of poor management.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: NASA announces contests to unearth technological advances

Winners will receive millions of dollars in prize money for developing innovations in satellite launch technology, energy storage and robotics.

Management

Health IT Checkup

Defense and Veterans Affairs lead the way in making a nationwide health information network a reality.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: Health and Human Services’ IT rules open up market to newcomers

Older products long ago opted to comply with stricter standards, giving later entrants that can focus on simpler requirements the advantage, consultants say.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: Labor launches online career path for mapping tech jobs

Department develops the model for geospatial technology competency to promote government jobs.

Defense

From Nextgov.com: Navy awards contract to transition to expanded network

HP Enterprise Services will provide work to move IT services from NMCI to the Next Generation Enterprise Network, which will serve 700,000 sailors, Marines and civilians.

News

From Nextgov.com: U.S. nuke agency announces new cyber, physical security controls

Officials at the National Nuclear Security Administration say the policies should balance efficiency and safety.

News

From Nextgov.com: White House considers clearer instructions for spending reports

Move comes in the wake of a GAO analysis that found the public finds stimulus-tracking website Recovery.gov hard to understand.

Oversight

GSA unveils overhaul of USA.gov, featuring mobile apps

Government’s home page also has upgraded search engine, links to key federal services.

Managing Technology

Health IT Checkup

Defense and Veterans Affairs lead the way in making a nationwide health information network a reality.

News

From Nextgov.com: Privacy advocates give limited approval for new White House Web 2.0 policies

Civil libertarians are pleased the guidelines provide an expansive definition of personally identifiable information, but want stronger and clearer language that would protect citizens’ identities and data.

Oversight

White House to move slowly on inherently governmental IT jobs

But Congress could pass language that contractors worry could foster arbitrary insourcing rather than support strategic cost-analysis.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: OMB launches website to publicly hold agencies accountable for improper payments

Error rates and amounts publicized on site ; Internet users encouraged to report fraud, waste or abuse.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: Data.gov’s next big thing: Mashing up federal stats with maps

With new tools, anyone will be able to diagram official statistics from across the federal government to discover interesting correlations or suspicious trends .

Features

Now You See It

From transparency to the cloud, CIOs weigh the costs and consequences of sharing more data .

News

From Nextgov.com: Senate funds system to speed processing of mine safety violations

Electronic filing would help stop mining companies' tactic of evading responsibility for problems by contesting federal penalties, an appeals process that averages nearly two years.

Oversight

Chief of the Year: Information

Roger Baker, chief information officer, Veterans Affairs Department.

News

From Nextgov.com: Actor Kevin Costner promotes oil clean up tech on Hill

His company, Ocean Therapy Solutions, has partnered with BP to deploy the machine, but funding and regulatory obstacles have prevented Costner from supplying the device to government, he says.

Oversight

GAO calls for better efficiency measurements, but IT could help

Watchdog finds the Office of Management and Budget has issued inconsistent and limited guidance on measuring performance.