People

VA initiative aims to improve communications with veterans

The Veterans Affairs Department is taking a number of steps to maKe it easier for veterans to interact with the agency by phone or via the Internet.

People

CDC awards grants for public health performance management systems

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants to boost the performance management capabilities of public health agencies with new funding.

People

New tool adds geospatial capabilities to federal data website

The White House's Data.gov website that features multiple datasets for download now has a new capability to show the data geospatially.

People

Justice kills case management project; Interior tries plan B for data tool

Federal CIO Vivek Kundra announced two more actions as a result of the ongoing White House review of 26 high-priority IT projects.

Modernization

National Archives puts 3,000 historic documents online

The National Archives and Records Administration debuts an online repository of historic documents, such as George Washington's handwritten draft of the U.S. Constitution.

Modernization

FBI resuscitates Sentinel case management system

The FBI has reshaped its Sentinel case management system so that much of the remainder of its development is performed by FBI employees.

Acquisition

$1B in stimulus money at VA poorly tracked, IG says

The inspector general is taking the Veterans Health Administration to task for gaps in its oversight of contractors receiving economic stimulus law funding.

Digital Government

Roger Baker razzes reporters on lost BlackBerrys

The CIO of Veterans Affairs has been doing a lot of explaining about lost and stolen BlackBerrys at the agency.

Cybersecurity

VA gets visibility with cybersecurity tool

A VA IT official said a new tool that provides an overview of all computers and IT devices on the department's central network should be operating soon.

People

Panel recommends national disaster database for DOD

A panel created by Congress recommends creating a central federal/defense data depository to track disaster response efforts and nearly 40 other measures to improve how the Defense Department supports civilian authorities for disaster responses.

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

E-voting system failures lead to call for public clearinghouse

A new report calls for creating a national public searchable database of electronic voting systems' defects and vulnerabilities.

People

White House takes whack at financial management money pits

White House officials have finished the first round of changes to troubled financial system modernization projects across the government after freezing spending on 20 such projects in July.

Modernization

California, Boston win awards for best government websites

Portals run by the state of California and the city of Boston were tops among municipal Web sites in a recent "Best of the Web" competition.

People

White House set to monitor federal performance goals online

President Barack Obama addressed about 8,000 federal managers in the Senior Executive Service today to gain their support for six performance improvement strategies.

Digital Government

HHS distributes $20M to rural hospitals for health IT

The Health and Human Services Department has announced $20 million in additional economic stimulus law grants to help rural hospitals install electronic health record systems.

Modernization

Lights, camera, action: Agencies to launch Video.gov

White House announces plans for a federal website that will offer access to videos from multiple federal agencies.

Modernization

Indian Health Service launches online best practices database

The Indian Health Service wants the public to add content to its new online inventory of best practices and services.

People

VA mailed it in on FLITE contract, IG says

The Veterans Affairs Department's FLITE financial system modernization got behind schedule partially because VA personnel missed conference calls with the contractor, according to a new report.

Digital Government

Army seeks smart 'bots in virtual world

The Army Research Lab wants the best ideas for its Federal Virtual Worlds Challenge.