Digital Government

GAO says IRS performance varies on website, other areas

The Government Accountability made recommendations on how to improve the IRS' performance in several areas that include the service's website.

Digital Government

Dodaro is new comptroller general

Gene Dodaro was sworn in Dec. 30 as the comptroller general of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office.

People

HHS doesn't have plan for IT pandemic surveillance, GAO says

A 2006 law requires the Health and Human Services Department to produce a strategic plan for monitoring public health electronically in near-real time, but the department hasn't done so, according to GAO.

Cybersecurity

DHS left gaps in Quadrennial Review, says GAO

The Homeland Security Department completed its first Quadrennial Review earlier this year without fully addressing what Congress asked for, according to a GAO audit.

People

VA, GAO fight over system development process

The Veterans Affairs Department and Government Accountability Office are fighting over an IT development process omission that could have broader implications.

Digital Government

Senate committee approves Dodaro as GAO head

Nominee Dodaro has worked at the Government Accountability Office for 37 years and would lead GAO as comptroller general.

Digital Government

Senate confirms Lew as OMB director

The Senate confirms Jacob Lew as director of the Office of Management and Budget after his nomination had been held up.

People

GAO gets latest report on performance

The Government Accountability Office had 15 performance goals to meet. How did it do in comptroller's report?

Digital Government

GAO debuts new online report technology

GAO is piloting a new online E-Report to accompany its familiar PDF products with the release of a study on slippages in NOAA's next-generation weather satellite program.

Cybersecurity

Intell fusion centers need to set performance goals, GAO says

The intelligence fusion centers created for sharing intelligence information need to be evaluated on their performance, the GAO says.

People

Dodaro picked to be comptroller

President Barack Obama selected Gene Dodaro to be the U.S. comptroller general Sept. 22.

People

OMB's new approach for IT financial system projects may be risky, GAO says

While the White House celebrates $760 million in savings from its new strategy for agency upgrades to financial systems, the GAO has published a report cautioning about risks.

Digital Government

Progress is slow on harmonizing government cybersecurity policies

A task force created to bring security policies and practices for national security and non-national security systems into line with each other as produced an initial set of common standards, but much work remains before the full benefit of the process is realized, according to the GAO.

Cybersecurity

DOD, DHS earn failing grades in foreign language

The Defense and Homeland Security departments don't have enough specialists who are fluent in Middle Eastern and Asian foreign languages. Can technology help bridge the gap?

Digital Government

GAO bows to CIA decision to waive conflicts of interest

GAO’s ruling is evidence that it won’t second-guess agency officials' decisions to waive organizational conflicts of interest.

Digital Government

State, local education agencies flunk stimulus law transparency tests

GAO found only 9 percent of the spending descriptions fully met the law's transparency criteria, such as for clear and complete information.

Acquisition

Despite more competition, single-bid contracts stay steady

Noncompetitive contracts declined from fiscal 2005 to fiscal 2009, but contracts receiving only one bid remained steady, GAO says.

Cybersecurity

Government, industry fall short in sharing cyber threat data

Government and industry need to do a better job of sharing information about cybersecurity threats to U.S. critical infrastructure, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Modernization

The rush is on to approve applications for broadband funds

The Agriculture and Commerce departments are rushing to review and approve $4.2 billion in stimulus law funding for broadband by Sept. 30, a report says.

Modernization

GAO's Web site goes mobile

The Government Accountability Office has started a new mobile version of its Web site to make its work more available on BlackBerrys and iPhones.