Digital Government

Technology speeds VA effort to cut claims backlog

A Veterans Benefits Administration official testified to a House committee that the agency is on the right track toward meetings its goal of eliminating the claims backlog.

Modernization

Virtual worlds emerge within agencies

Having cut their teeth in Second Life, agencies are increasingly building their own virtiual environments.

Modernization

Agile development gets low priority in federal IT

Serena Software surveyed 225 federal IT professionals to find out their top priorities.

Modernization

CBO, NASA and White House add to growing infographics trend

Sophisticated infographics are growing in popularity on the Web, and federal agencies are joining in.

Digital Government

DHS field agents to transition to mobile devices within 5 years

Homeland Security Department CIO Richard Spires outlined plans for upgrading law enforcement technologies and systems at the department.

Digital Government

Audit finds shortcomings in how FDA manages IT investments

The Food and Drug Administration has an IT investment budget of about $400 million a year that needs to be managed better, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

Digital Government

IRS cautioned not to give up legacy e-file system yet

The Internal Revenue Service is in the final phase of transitioning to its Modernized e-File system, but recent performance problems suggest it should not give up its legacy system yet, according to a new audit.

People

Clinton espouses tech tools for diplomacy in Brazil

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she is distributing guidance to U.S. embassies on using tech tools for diplomacy.

Cybersecurity

Cedric Sims leaving DHS

Cedric Sims, a management executive and systems engineer at the Homeland Security Department, announced plans to leave the agency for a new position in the private sector.

People

Tech companies push for more transparent federal data, common identifiers

Technology companies have formed a group to promote standardization and common identifiers in federal data.

Digital Government

Romney hints at eliminating HUD, cutting Education

Mitt Romney, the former Republican Massachusetts governor now running for president, gave some of his most detailed comments to date on his plans for federal agencies including Housing & Urban Development and the Education department.

Digital Government

3 tips for fed agencies to get the most out of Facebook Timeline

Facebook Timeline for Pages has been launched, and an HHS new media blogger is offering tips to federal agencies on how to make the best use of the new format.

Digital Government

New trends emerge in mobile devices, social media

LinkedIn is up, Facebook is falling and BlackBerry is hanging on in new report.

Digital Government

White House discloses administrative costs for innovation contests

A progress report on innovation challenges released by the White House indicates that some federal agencies are paying for contractor assistance in administering the challenges.

Digital Government

Digital information may strain GPO and library system, CRS says

For many years, the GPO has distributed government reports to regional libraries around the country, but increasing volumes of digital information are raising new concerns about the system.

Modernization

Transparency groups say THOMAS legislative website is outdated

The Library of Congress' THOMAS system for researching current legislation is behind the times, according to more than two dozen watchdog groups.

People

Open government plans 2.0 a mixed bag: News analysis

Dozens of federal agencies are releasing updated open government plans this week.

People

Government accountability: Keeping an eye on the big picture

As agencies update their open-gov plans, they are overlooking some of the most basic transparency tools.

Cybersecurity

FPS at crossroads with RAMP contract, IG says

The Federal Protective Service has to do some hurry-up analysis to make a decision about the future of its risk management tool, according to a new report.

Digital Government

Sen. Mitchell: US needs less partisanship, more compromise

Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell delivered a stirring call to politicians to put their country first, above partisanship, in his FOSE keynote speech.