Tech

Business data breaches found to be more costly than thought

This year's major breach at the Veterans Affairs Department cost $7 million just to send letters to the affected veterans.

Defense

Agency explores new tool to connect intelligence dots

Document for prospective contractors offers blunt assessment of flaws in efforts to profile terrorists, including inability to move beyond “guilt by association” models.

Tech

Agency will test community reviews of patents

Initiative follows recent industry and congressional attention to backlog of patent applications and overburdened examiners.

Tech

State Department seeks advice on border cards

Agency issued a draft rule earlier this week, saying it is considering radio-frequency identification that can be read by machines from 30 feet.

Management

OMB official discusses possibility of reinvesting IT savings

Official also says agencies are on target to meet deadline next week for new high-tech ID cards.

Tech

Staffing plans for IT upgrade at FBI called inadequate

Program management office is almost fully staffed, but relies heavily on contractors and lacks plans to fill future gaps, GAO says.

Tech

Agency FOIA administration found to be improving

But several agencies have yet to properly address how they will reduce backlogs of requests, Justice report states.

Tech

Report: Agency loss of personal information widespread

Some agencies have failed to track data breaches or notify the affected individuals, House committee finds.

Tech

GSA finalizes merger of contracting organizations

Amount of authority the consolidated acquisition office will have over regional offices is not settled.

Tech

SBA unveils revamped site for regulatory information

Site could eventually include features so businesses can customize it.

Management

Army Corps competition for IT work strains staff

Some information management offices have lost more than a third of their employees since public-private contest began.

Tech

Working group to study online procurement

Group will review agencies that use "creative" buying services, and issue a best practices guide.

Tech

Advocacy group puts federal spending search tool online

Launch of FedSpending.org provides new insight into contract and grant spending, raises questions on focus of upcoming government site.

Tech

GSA launches governmentwide property sales site

Web site will consolidate agencies’ efforts to unload unwanted assets.

Tech

GSA probe of regional contracting shops finds few problems

Agency continues to differ with the Defense Department on interpretations of law on spending contract funds.

Tech

Agency launches anti-drug ads on video-sharing site

Potential for reducing drug use remains unclear; online ads run risk of prompting parodies.

Tech

DHS pulls back $5 million from communications project

Disaster management systems are being consolidated to save money, department spokesman says.

Tech

Unmanned aerial vehicles get funding boost

Cost and safety concerns linger.

Management

Latest attempt to cut Defense Travel System fails

Final version of authorization bill orders independent study of system.

Tech

Movement in federal IT jobs increasing, panelists say

The “golden handcuffs” perception of federal work is fading, fostering more back and forth between the civil service and the private sector.