People

Plain language in federal regulation comes closer

Federal regulations are notoriously hard to understand, but this week a government agency took yet another step in simplifying complex language.

Modernization

CIO.gov outage fixed with 'hardware maintenance'

The website that hosts federal IT strategy suffered an outage.

People

Dot-gov Web sprawl a challenge to untangle

Reform efforts have reduced the number of government websites, but the trickiest challenges lie ahead.

Digital Government

Government systems inadequate to show spending patterns, advisory board says

A federal advisory board makes recommendations for better integration of federal spending data collection and display systems.

Digital Government

SBA's Joe Jordan heads to OMB as special assistant

Top official's departure spins off new procurement role at OMB.

People

OMB orders cut in management services contracts

OMB has a goal of reducing spending on management support service contracts by 15 percent by the end of fiscal 2012.

Modernization

DOD says data center closures ahead of schedule despite tardy reporting

DOD has missed two deadlines to report data center consolidation progress, but an official says the department has surpassed target figures.

Acquisition

OMB: Agencies must crack down on contractors

Agencies have not used suspension and debarment authorities effectively, Lew says

People

Administration says improper payments have decreased

The government lowered its overall improper payment error rate to 4.7 percent, down from 5.42 percent in 2009.

People

GAO: OMB's definition of IT investments is too broad

The Office of Management and Budget should be more detailed in its guidance to federal agencies in identifying IT investments to avoid understated numbers, according to a watchdog report.

Cybersecurity

Fed CIO discourages agency web credentials

Federal Chief Information Officer Steven VanRoekel is urging department and agency CIOs to begin accepting third-party identity credentialing for federal websites.

Modernization

VanRoekel quickens pace on data center closures

Federal CIO changes the definition of data center, accelerates closure schedule.

People

3 top priorities for E-Government Fund

David McClure, associate administrator at GSA's Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies, listed the administration's top priorities for support from the shrinking E-Government Fund.

People

OMB head: Federal workers could face more sacrifices

Feds: Think you've suffered enough? Jacob Lew says you could be in for more pain.

People

Status check: 25-point IT plan making a difference

Three federal agency IT leaders offer a snapshot of how the government's 25-point IT management plan is changing their operations.

Acquisition

Lawmakers push OMB to update executive pay cap

Three members of Congress complained that OFPP is late in setting the cap for 2011, pointing out that since 2004 updates came only as late as May.

Acquisition

Obama wants small businesses paid in 15 days

The faster payments will give small businesses more confidence in cash flow, officials say.

Digital Government

The evolution of the CIO: Chief geek or strategist?

A recent OMB memo stresses agency CIOs moving away from policy making. But does everyone agree with this change?

People

How VA missed $213M in overpayments

The Veterans Affairs Department did an incomplete job of tallying its overpayments in 2010 because it did not fully follow White House guidance, according to VA's Office of Inspector General.

Digital Government

White House memo puts COOs on the hot seat

Chief operating officers are expected to take the lead on cutting wasteful spending and enhancing performance.