People

VA expects to save $16B by going open source for health records

VA CIO Roger Baker said choosing open source to modernize VA's digital health records system will help the department avoid spending $16 billion on a commercial solution.

Digital Government

DOT spends $2B for high-speed rail tracks, cars and signals

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced high-speed rail spending in the Northeast, the Midwest and California that totals $2 billion.

Modernization

NASA starts first federal network on SlideShare

NASA is the first federal agency to explore the possibilities of an aggregate network on the SlideShare platform.

Cybersecurity

DHS reduces improper payments, acting CFO says

Homeland Security Department Acting CFO Peggy Sherry has outlined recent developments in the balance sheet, improper payments and system modernization at the department.

Modernization

NTIA's spectrum management approach flawed, GAO says

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is falling short on managing federal and national radio spectrum needs, the Government Accountability Office says.

Acquisition

House hearing heats up over contractor disclosure order

Members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee put an administration official in the hot seat over a proposed draft order on disclosing federal contractor political contribution.

Cybersecurity

ODNI report says office did no data mining in 2010

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has filed its latest required report on data mining.

People

Deputy CTO promotes innovation paths that can be replicated

U.S. Deputy CTO Chris Vein joined the White House in March to advance agencies using innovative technologies and processes.

Modernization

SSA's CIO Baitman tells of lessons learned from video contest

Social Security Administration CIO Frank Baitman described four lessons learned from SSA's experience with a video contest that drew a small number of submissions.

People

GSA hires heavy hitter for innovative technologies post

The General Services Administration has hired a power player to lead its Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies.

Cybersecurity

FCC, FEMA to start mobile phone emergency alert system

The Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency said they are partnering with several companies to offer priority message emergency warnings through mobile phones.

Digital Government

Kathy Conrad joins GSA Office of Citizen Services

Kathy Conrad of Jefferson Consulting is joining GSA's executive team to help federal agencies adopt new technologies.

Modernization

Some agencies charged more than others for Grants.gov use, GAO says

The Grants.gov program charges higher fees to some federal agencies than others for the same services, a new report says.

Cybersecurity

Disaster response agencies need to go mobile, FEMA administrator says

The administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said disaster response agencies should take advantage of the widespread use of mobile phones to improve their disaster communications with the public.

Cybersecurity

DHS acquisition oversight has holes, IG report says

DHS' inspector general found that some component agencies are making acquisitions more complex and costly than necessary.

People

VA CIO describes cloud, Blue Button and EHR programs

A Veterans Affairs Department official outlined some of the department's major IT programs at an industry event.

People

Rosetta Stone for corporate IDs would simplify accountability

ORGPedia aims to ease the exchange of data between existing systems used to track political contributions.

Modernization

GSA preps system for pre-RFP government-industry collaboration

The online platform would allow for crowdsourcing of ideas on how to better structure procurement.

People

What CIOs are most worried about

TechAmerica and Grant Thornton culled information from 46 CIOs at 35 federal departments, agencies, programs and congressional oversight groups.

Digital Government

Clinton starts global maternal health program via mobile devices

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced a new program to deliver health care information to mothers and pregnant women around the world via cell phones.