Government Executive February 2003 Vol.35, No.2

Budget blues, personnel problems, data deficiencies, organizational obstacles and multiple missions. Efforts to shore up America's infrastructure against another terrorist attack have largely ignored a critical and highly vulnerable sector of the economy: the chemical industry. The government's fight against one cyber villain changed its response to online attacks. The Treasury Department's Earl Wright treats people like they really are his organization's most important asset. Intergovernmental Personnel Act assignments were designed for career development, but some are used to sideline employees. start departments Geographic data maps the way to better disaster response. Small wonders have potential for the National Nanotechnology Initiative. Ridiculed as years behind in security, agencies are on the cutting edge. Defense struggles to get system online. Getting the word out on procurement. The debate over homeland security exposed personnel woes. INS cleans up its financial mess and gives managers access to real-time data. - start COLUMNS =