Digital Government

18F seeks to streamline ATO process

Innovation group 18F has launched an interagency project aimed at reducing the time and red tape in the security compliance process for commercial products.

Digital Government

Thompson dishes on Census concerns, needs for catch-up

Recently retired Census Director John Thompson raised concerns about the status and swelling cost of the decennial count and urged Congress to adequately fund the final preparations.

Digital Government

The future of FOIA

Technology alone has not made FOIA operations more efficient and transparent, so a committee led by the National Archives is working with agencies to improve the process.

Digital Government

Bill to expedite security clearances clears committee

The SECRET Act, which would require more reporting transparency from the National Background Investigations Bureau, is ready for the House floor.

People

USPS knocked for widespread Hatch Act violation

Watchdogs found that violations of federal law during the 2016 presidential campaign were the result of institutional practices that must be corrected.

People

NAPA report calls for overhaul of civil service system

Calling the government's human capital system "fundamentally broken," a new report calls for a federated system that focuses on staffing agencies to help them achieve their missions.

Digital Government

GPO rethinks its business model

Congress' printer wants permission to re-evaluate statutory duties as it embraces digital delivery.

Digital Government

Census' $2B+ IT toolkit starts to take shape

With preparations for a dress rehearsal set to begin in August, the Census Bureau is rounding out the contracted services for its 2020 count.

People

Teleworking success a mixed bag at SSA

Employee productivity in the Social Security Administration's teleworking pilot program varied significantly by office and job function.

Modernization

Will MGT pass before recess?

As the Senate grapples with lingering challenges, an IT modernization bill that sailed through the House of Representative and enjoys White House support still awaits committee markup.

People

Workforce antidiscrimination bill sails through House

The House of Representatives passed by voice vote a bill that would codify stronger anti-discrimination protections for federal employees.

Digital Government

Census pares down critical dress rehearsal

The Census Bureau’s decisions to pare down operations and tests of IT systems to manage its finances in advance of the decennial count have extended to the critical 2018 dress rehearsal.

People

To innovate, Trump tech office must prioritize users

Many administrations have tried to make government more efficient and innovative, but success requires flexibility and focus on the customer.

Digital Government

Is Congress transparent enough?

Legislative data is public and online, but transparency advocates are looking to make more-granular aspects of the lawmaking process easier to track and understand.

People

Ethics chief resigns amid concerns over Trump

The head of the office responsible for managing executive branch ethics policies announced his resignation almost six months before his term's scheduled end.

People

Lawmakers press on Census finances and leadership

Lawmakers from the House have raised concerns about the uncertainty of financial estimates of the costs of the 2020 census, while senators are urging President Trump to swiftly name a permanent director.

Digital Government

Career official assumes Census leadership as key tests loom

Two career officials will serve as Census director and deputy director as the bureau faces multiple test and challenges in the run-up to the 2020 enumeration.

Digital Government

Can tech geeks crack the codes of Congress?

A new challenge will call for ideas that use 21st century technology to reimagine legislative data.

Cybersecurity

Eshoo pushes for cyber hygiene standards

California Democrat Anna Eshoo is reintroducing a bill to establish voluntary standards that would help prevent cyber infections on U.S. networks, computer systems and mobile devices.

People

HHS taps former Louisiana health official for CTO post

The new HHS CTO was the head of Louisiana's department of health and has previous HHS experience.