Analysis: Government reorganization 'challenging terrain' for Obama

President Barack Obama has asked Congress for the power to merge federal agencies in an effort to make government more efficient and consumer friendly. Obama will call on Congress to give him a type of consolidation authority last held by a president when Ronald Reagan was in office. Analysts and former government insiders congratulate the president for the massive plan to streamline services. But they warn it will be tricky.

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Obama seeks power to merge agencies

A senior administration official says President Barack Obama will ask Congress for more power to streamline the government by merging agencies.

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Agencies demo one-stop FOIA portal

Federal employees who respond to Freedom of Information Act requests got their first look today at a new web portal designed to improve efficiency and transparency. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Commerce Department and the National Archives and Records Administration are basing the portal on Regulations.gov.

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2012 R&D budget winners and losers

An analysis by the American Association for the Advancement of Science found the 2012 budget for research and development will make investments into energy and environment research and cut R&D at the Defense Department and NASA.

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NOAA completes agency-wide move to the cloud

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has moved its 25,000 employees, contractors and associates to Google Apps for Government's cloud-based email service.

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Senate confirms Bryson to head Commerce Department

The Senate voted Thursday to approve President Barack Obama's nomination of former utility executive John Bryson to head the Commerce Department, easily overcoming conservatives' objections that his pro-environmental views made him unsuited for the job.

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DHS, Commerce seek voluntary cyber code of conduct

Alan Paller, director of research at the SANS Institute, explains how companies would get participate in the code.

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Census posts economic data online

Census Bureau officials Stephen Buckner and Mark Wallace joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Amy Morris to discuss the new searchable database and why the bureau decided to put the data online now.

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White House wants to open channels for small businesses

A new Web portal will bring information on all federal agency services for small firms into one place. At the 29th Annual Minority Enterprise Development Week conference, White House officials highlighted how they are holding agencies accountable for meeting governmentwide small business goals.

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Patent reform will also overhaul Patent Office workforce

Robert Stoll, the commissioner for patents at PTO joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Amy Morris to outline the new law and how it affects PTO.

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NIST releases latest cyber guide for agency networks

The Commerce Department has issued the latest word on how to spot cybersecurity weaknesses in federal computer systems: It's called the "Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments," and it's been published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

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Congress passes major overhaul of patent system

The Senate passed the America Invents Act Thursday, clearing the way for passage of the first significant overhaul of the U.S. Patent system in 50 years. The House passed its version of the bill in June and President Barack Obama has said he will sign the legislation.

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Irene another test of D.C.'s disaster prep

Already bruised by an earthquake that damaged two of its iconic structures, the nation's capital was watching and waiting Saturday for its first hurricane in more than a half-century, a storm that could test its ability to protect both national treasures and vulnerable residents.

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Agencies slowly moving to fixed-price contracts

A new report from OFPP finds agencies spent a billion dollars less on time-and-materials and labor hours type contracts in 2010. Still, OFPP found an overall increase in cost-reimbursement type contracts. Agencies have a goal to reduce by 10 percent these types of contracts, which the administration calls risky.

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Agencies must cut service contracting by 15 percent

OMB will tell agencies to focus on management support service contracts and reduce spending by $6 billion. OMB said contracting for management support services grew at a faster rate than other types of contracting. The initiative is part of the administration's Campaign to Cut Waste.

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NIST seeks new advisory board members

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is accepting nominations to their nine advisory boards.

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Commerce to buy IT more strategically

CIO Simon Szykman said the department has a goal of $50 million in savings through strategic sourcing and that commodity technology will play a big role in achieving that mark. He said the agency also is looking at expanding NOAA's IT services contract so the rest of the department can use it.

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Commerce asks for cybersecure business ideas

The Department of Commerce wants your ideas on the cybersecurity in an Internet-connected economy. Find out how you can comment on the department's report "Cybersecurity, Innovation and the Internet Economy".

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Interagency group to promote job creation

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Commerce recommends a new internet security plan

The Cybersecurity, Innovation and the Internet Economy report charges the Commerce Department with bringing together non-critical infrastructure businesses to improve the security of their computers and systems. This is the fourth cybersecurity strategy or proposal from the administration since April. Commerce will act as a convener to help create voluntary standards.

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