Tech
From Nextgov.com: USDA reopens Networx competition in response to protest
Two losing vendors spur agency to restart the bidding process .
Tech
IT to get more attention in approval process for political appointees
GAO suggests nearly ninefold increase in technology questions for Obama nominees during confirmation hearings.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: NASA bans some removable storage devices
Prohibition is not as sweeping as the one instituted by the Defense Department earlier this month.
Oversight
FAA begins to roll out air traffic control system
Agency moves NextGen satellite-based system from testing to deployment, beginning at 11 Florida locations.
Oversight
Waxman may push committee's oversight role
New chairman of House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to increase emphasis on government accountability and pursue a transparency agenda.
Oversight
Vendors might have to vouch for product authenticity
Industry views rule to crack down on counterfeit equipment and software as too burdensome.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Defense bans use of removable storage devices
Ban could be the result of a virus from the nonclassified network moving to the Pentagon's classified system via a thumb drive.
Tech
From Nextgov.com: Google executive urges improvements to technology infrastructure
Investment in research and development is critical, CEO tells a Washington audience .
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Final E-Verify rule kinder to small businesses
Regulation that takes effect on Jan. 15 has a higher threshold for contracts subject to the employee vetting requirement .
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Obama must use better technology to open government
OMB Watch says new administration should rely on commercially available collaborative tools to back promise of transparency .
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Search for White House e-mails could span administrations
Nonprofits are optimistic that President-elect Obama's promises for transparency could mean greater cooperation in finding lost messages.
Tech
From Nextgov.com: Obama likely to put off IT investments, analysts say
Tight budgets and economic slowdown could delay new administration’s technology investments to support transparency and more communication with public.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: NSA's smart phone could become government issue
Award-winning device looks like commercial PDAs, but provides access to classified and unclassified networks, and operates on worldwide mobile networks.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: GAO issues list of IT challenges for Obama administration
New Web site highlights problems haunting the 2010 census and troubled IT management at VA .
Tech
From Nextgov.com: OMB backtracks on granting CIOs more authority
A final version of a memo gives agency heads, not chief information officers, primary responsibility for IT management.
Tech
IRS gets favorable progress report on information security
Auditors note there still is room for improvement in systems configuration and procedures to block unauthorized users.
Defense
Army portal tops 1 billion log-ins
Defense Department is building on service’s success to launch Web portal for entire department.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: Agencies make another dent in high-risk IT investments
To encourage further progress, OMB releases online financial analysis tool.
Oversight
From Nextgov.com: VA taps AT&T and Qwest for telecom services
Awards are part of an increase in activity on GSA's Networx contract, to which agencies have been slow to transition.
Oversight