Author Archive
Oversight
Texas officials endorse enhanced driver's licenses
State's licenses will be designed to meet nationwide standards for credentials recently released by Homeland Security.
Defense
Official: Critics of driver's license standards are off base
DHS issued final regulations for states to implement the so-called REAL ID Act last week.
Defense
Experts urge assault against terrorists' Web efforts
Challenges include monitoring activities of suspects and exploiting online weaknesses of terrorist groups.
Defense
Identity security technologies called key to protecting homeland
Such technologies are critical to several initiatives, including one that requires U.S. air travelers to carry valid enhanced passports when traveling to and from Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico.
Tech
VA is slow to upgrade tech security, GAO says
Report finds agency isn’t moving fast enough to address the weaknesses exposed by an incident that compromised the personal information of roughly 26.5 million people.
Tech
Interior spending bill generous to tech programs
Environmental Protection Agency would be the biggest benefactor; it is slated to receive more than $770 million for science and technology efforts.
Tech
Homeland Security chief vows to move forward with ID law
Michael Chertoff acknowledges that states will find it challenging to implement requirements, especially absent more federal funding.
Defense
Coalition stands firm in support of national ID law
The Homeland Security Department estimated earlier this year that it will cost states as much as $23 billion to implement the law.
Defense
Commerce Department touts public safety grant program
Nearly $1 billion in grants is set aside for improving the ability of state and local public safety networks to communicate with each other across jurisdictions.
Defense
Immigration offices flooded with visa petitions for tech workers
California and Vermont service centers have already received requests for more than double the number of special visas available.
Defense
Defense panels to address technology issues
Leadership changes at the subcommittee level could have a big effect on technology-related policy.
Tech
Activist: DHS considering outsourcing work for ID law
Department chief ordered plan to hire a private sector data aggregator for license and ID card checks, privacy advocate claims.
News
Panelists spar over national, mandatory ID cards
Technology experts discuss the REAL ID Act, a 2005 law that requires states to modernize their ID systems by a 2008 deadline.
Tech
Panelists: Combating data theft is not complicated
More than 40 percent of recently reported data breaches were the result of stolen or lost equipment; hacker intrusions are much less frequent.
News
Democrats may give voting machines more scrutiny
House panel this past fall held a hearing to examine the security of paperless voting systems, but some lawmakers were frustrated that it was held so late in the session.
Tech
E-voting glitches give election watchers pause
More than a third of counties are administering elections this year on new equipment, according to a report released this fall.
Defense
Public-safety officials urged to embrace innovation
The federal government must show leadership by providing funding and spectrum licenses, report on emergency communications says.
Tech
Officials discuss policy, politics of health IT
Executive order encouraging health agencies to standardize IT systems is a major step, HHS secretary says.
Defense
Auditor blasts California's emergency management work
State homeland security official places some of the blame for failure to move quickly on the federal government.
Tech
Firms launch security card coalition
Group will focus on promoting contact-less smart cards instead of those that are embedded with radio-frequency identification chips.
