Jason Miller covers civilian agencies in the federal government with a focus on technology and acquisition. He is also an executive editor at Federal News Radio. Jason's reports can be heard Monday - Friday on the Federal Drive and In Depth.

Cyber attacks against FederalNewsRadio.com, WTOP.com part of growing trend

The company says both sites have been scrubbed of malware and vulnerabilities have been closed. The "drive-by" attack that affected the sites is a growing type of cyber hack that looks for holes in popular websites. FederalNewsRadio.com and WTOP.com are available again to users of all Internet browsers.

Comment

Inside the Reporter's Notebook: The CIO shuffle continues; the last E-gov benefits report?

News and buzz in the acquisition and IT communities that you may have missed this week.

Comment

Open data order, policy ushers in new norm

President Barack Obama issued an Executive Order and OMB released a new policy requiring agencies to make data machine-readable and use open standards. Agencies must develop an inventory of information and make it publicly available. Good government groups praised the changes but had some concerns around the administration's decision to apply the policy only to structured data.

1

White House mandates open data, releases new tools

President Barack Obama issued a new policy and signed an Executive Order requiring data to be open, machine-readable and safeguarded.

1

Do Not Pay list lacks data as implementation nears

Senate lawmakers are promising to change the laws to let agencies have easier access to the Death Master File and other key databases. Starting June 1, agencies must check the Do Not Pay list before issuing any money.

Comment

DHS putting post-FISMA approach to cyber through a trial run

Three Department of Homeland Security components are testing how ongoing authorizations work. The Office of Management and Budget is drafting a memo to require agencies to change from approving the cybersecurity of systems every three years to a more regular oversight schedule.

Comment

EPA, HUD search for ways to keep mid-career feds

Mid-career employees are a scarcity in government. While agencies are awash with employees at the early career stage and those with 20-plus years of federal service, there aren't enough in the middle stages, and that has federal managers worried. Agencies like EPA and HUD are taking matters into their own hands. Both are launching new efforts aimed at keeping mid-career feds from leaving government for the private sector.

5

DHS seeks vendor to update agencywide identity management system

The Homeland Security Department released a draft performance work statement to vendors. The draft PWS details DHS' needs to use HSPD-12 cards for computer network and building access.

Comment

OMB's Metzenbaum leaves behind an invigorated performance culture

Shelley Metzenbaum's last day was Friday after four years at OMB as the associate director for personnel and performance. She said agencies understand now, more than ever, that setting goals and measuring their performance against them makes a big difference in how they meet their missions.

Comment

OPM, OMB outline plans for major rewrite of HR policies

A new memo from Acting OPM Director Elaine Kaplan details two main objectives and four focus areas for change. OPM and OMB want to eliminate 12 HR reports and consolidate four others.

Comment

Zients out as OMB deputy director for management

Jeff Zients, the deputy director for mangagement and chief performance officer at the Office of Management and Budget, has left the agency.

Comment

New security standard to boost agency trust, use of mobile devices

On the one-year anniversary of the Digital Government Strategy, the CIO Council and DHS are expected to issue a security baseline and reference architecture for mobile computing. The goal of the document is not to give agencies new requirements but to focus on those security standards that are mobile-centric.

Comment

LEED green building standard clears first hurdle for governmentwide use

The Green Building Advisory Committee recommends GSA establish the LEED certification as the governmentwide standard for all federal buildings. GSA will work with Energy and DoD to come up with the final decision.

1

Bill would ax FEHBP in favor of Affordable Care Act plan

Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) introduced legislation to require federal employees, the president, vice president and members of Congress to use insurance under the Affordable Care Act instead of the current federal program.

28

SBA relying on shared services to improve cyber posture

Chase Garwood, the SBA acting CIO, said the agency is working with DHS and Justice to improve the security of its internal and external customer-facing systems.

Comment

IRS tones its systems to better handle the tax season

Two contracts with Unisys that could be worth more than $800 million help the tax agency innovate and become more efficient. The IRS is using the first-of-its-kind in the federal market storage-as-a-service approach to increasing and decreasing the amount of storage it needs based on how busy it is during the year.

Comment

Inside the Reporter's Notebook: Communication breakdown over FITARA? Lawmaker wants answers from DHS

News and buzz in the acquisition and IT communities that you may have missed this week.

Comment

VA Deputy Secretary Scott Gould leaving

After four years as the second in charge, Scott Gould has decided to leave VA. His last day on the job will be May 17.

Comment

SESers honored for distinguished service, saving $94B in 2012

Each year, the Presidential Distinguished Rank Awards honor members of the Senior Executive Service for their accomplishments. But this year, one very important group of federal employees was left out. Carol Bonosaro, president of the Senior Executives Association, said she's frustrated that this year's event included no winners from the intelligence community because the White House has yet to approve their nominations. An ODNI official said intelligence community winners will be announced soon.

10

Cureton continues to take risks in post-federal career

Linda Cureton recently retired as the NASA CIO. In an exit interview, she offered lessons learned over her 34-year federal career.
April 25, 2013

1