Digital Government

ITAA: Feds' outsource lists light on IT jobs

An information technology industry association last month accused several agencies of failing to fully comply with a federal law that requires agencies to identify government jobs that could be contracted out to the private sector. The Information Technology Association of America, after analyzing

Digital Government

Army battles irrelevancy

Atlantic City, N.J. Although the Army's latest plan to build lighter, leaner and more mobile forces relies heavily on information technology, the effort has nothing to do with breaking free of hulking tanks or creating a more lethal force out of an already lethal Army. What the strategy really i

People

Pentagon labels computer morphing a war crime

A Defense Department study on how international law could be applied to the military's use of information operations (IO) and computer network attack concludes that though there are no show stoppers preventing the Department's use of such tactics in war, communicating false computer-generated images would be a war crime under certain circumstances.

People

Commerce's compliance with FAIR Act 'not credible'

Some organizations within the Commerce Department have been less than forthcoming in putting together their annual lists of IT-related jobs that could be contracted out to the private sector, according to the Information Technology Association of America.

Digital Government

ITAA challenges agencies on FAIR Act

A major industry association representing 11,000 information technology developers and suppliers has accused a slew of agencies of failing to comply fully with a federal law that requires agencies to identify government jobs that could be contracted out to the private sector.

Digital Government

Cyberattacks against DOD up 300 percent this year

The number of cyberattacks reported this year against the Defense Department's information networks has more than tripled compared with last year, according to the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency.

Digital Government

Hill threatens to cut IT funds

Congress may cut off funding for some of the Defense Department's missioncritical information systems after March 31 unless the Pentagon's chief information officer can prove the department is managing the systems in compliance with the 1996 ClingerCohen Act. That legislation was written to force

Digital Government

Federal IT czar position gets boost

A top federal chief information officer last week called on the government to create a federal IT czar, whose job would be to establish a common vision for information technology programs governmentwide. The idea has drawn cautious support from other federal CIOs. Roger Baker, the Commerce Departme

Digital Government

Commerce's CIO calls for federal IT czar

The Commerce Department's chief information officer today called for the creation of a federal chief information officer position to oversee, manage and provide a common vision for information technology programs governmentwide.

Digital Government

Clinton signs defense bill, vetoes Commerce, State and Justice bill

President Clinton on Monday signed into law the $268 billion fiscal 2000 defense appropriations bill, which provides $4.5 billion more than he requested, and vetoed the bill that would have funded the departments of Commerce, Justice and State.

Digital Government

Thousands of health devices not Y2K-ready

The General Accounting Office last week warned members of a congressional subcommittee that tens of thousands of biomedical devices remain at risk for failure because of Year 2000 problems, and manufacturers and health care providers lack detailed information on critical life-support systems currently in use.

Digital Government

Marines say virus incident not an attack

The computer virus that found its way onto the network at Marine Cor

Digital Government

CIA concerned about potential Y2K-induced nuclear accident

The CIA's national intelligence officer for science and technology on Thursday warned members of Congress that widespread Year 2000 failures are highly likely throughout Russia and Ukraine, increasing the risk of a meltdown at one of the many Sovietera nuclear plants still in existence.

Digital Government

Computer security at center of DOE problems, top officials say

The former director of the Energy Department's Office of Safeguards and Security today outlined for Congress years of cybersecurity problems at the nation's nuclear weapons laboratories, claiming officials were aware of ongoing espionage but failed to do anything about it.

Digital Government

China, Russia possibly stole IT missile data, GAO says

China and Russia may have stolen sensitive technical data, including information on missile guidance and control hardware and software, during 14 overseas launches of U.S. commercial communications satellites, according to a General Accounting Office report released today.

Digital Government

U-2 gains, Global Hawk slowed in DOD spending bill

The Senate last week passed a $268 billion Defense appropriations bill with sharply focused language and funding for key airborne surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence systems.

Digital Government

Practical knowledge

Information technology is profoundly changing the way the Air Force functions, from communicating to purchasing supplies and equipment. Robert Frye, executive director of the Air Force's Standard Systems Group, is there to put those changes into perspective. Frye has come a long way from his hometo

Digital Government

Commerical imagery prompts NIMA doubts

The launch last week of the world's highest resolution commercial imaging satellite offers the National Imagery and Mapping Agency an unprecedented opportunity to expand its coverage. But experts are split on whether it jeopardizes the future of the controversial agency. With the successful launch

Digital Government

DLA eyes seat management

The Defense Logistics Agency plans t o outsource desktops and a broad range of support services for at least 2,400 users at its headquarters, with the possibility of expanding the program to more than 41,000 agency users nationwide. That would make the deal the largest seat management effort in the

Digital Government

Experts say electromagnetic pulse devices threaten U.S.

Experts this month warned Congress that terrorists and foreign countries may have a new cyberweapon at their disposal to counter U.S. military might electromagnetic pulse devices. When 'detonated,' an EMP weapon produces a pulse of energy that creates a powerful electromagnetic field capable of