Author Archive

Michael Martinez

Oversight

Texas officials endorse enhanced driver's licenses

State's licenses will be designed to meet nationwide standards for credentials recently released by Homeland Security.

Defense

Official: Critics of driver's license standards are off base

DHS issued final regulations for states to implement the so-called REAL ID Act last week.

Defense

Experts urge assault against terrorists' Web efforts

Challenges include monitoring activities of suspects and exploiting online weaknesses of terrorist groups.

Defense

Identity security technologies called key to protecting homeland

Such technologies are critical to several initiatives, including one that requires U.S. air travelers to carry valid enhanced passports when traveling to and from Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico.

Tech

VA is slow to upgrade tech security, GAO says

Report finds agency isn’t moving fast enough to address the weaknesses exposed by an incident that compromised the personal information of roughly 26.5 million people.

Tech

Interior spending bill generous to tech programs

Environmental Protection Agency would be the biggest benefactor; it is slated to receive more than $770 million for science and technology efforts.

Tech

Homeland Security chief vows to move forward with ID law

Michael Chertoff acknowledges that states will find it challenging to implement requirements, especially absent more federal funding.

Defense

Coalition stands firm in support of national ID law

The Homeland Security Department estimated earlier this year that it will cost states as much as $23 billion to implement the law.

Defense

Commerce Department touts public safety grant program

Nearly $1 billion in grants is set aside for improving the ability of state and local public safety networks to communicate with each other across jurisdictions.

Defense

Immigration offices flooded with visa petitions for tech workers

California and Vermont service centers have already received requests for more than double the number of special visas available.

Defense

Defense panels to address technology issues

Leadership changes at the subcommittee level could have a big effect on technology-related policy.

Tech

Activist: DHS considering outsourcing work for ID law

Department chief ordered plan to hire a private sector data aggregator for license and ID card checks, privacy advocate claims.

News

Panelists spar over national, mandatory ID cards

Technology experts discuss the REAL ID Act, a 2005 law that requires states to modernize their ID systems by a 2008 deadline.

Tech

Panelists: Combating data theft is not complicated

More than 40 percent of recently reported data breaches were the result of stolen or lost equipment; hacker intrusions are much less frequent.

News

Democrats may give voting machines more scrutiny

House panel this past fall held a hearing to examine the security of paperless voting systems, but some lawmakers were frustrated that it was held so late in the session.

Tech

E-voting glitches give election watchers pause

More than a third of counties are administering elections this year on new equipment, according to a report released this fall.

Defense

Public-safety officials urged to embrace innovation

The federal government must show leadership by providing funding and spectrum licenses, report on emergency communications says.

Tech

Officials discuss policy, politics of health IT

Executive order encouraging health agencies to standardize IT systems is a major step, HHS secretary says.

Defense

Auditor blasts California's emergency management work

State homeland security official places some of the blame for failure to move quickly on the federal government.

Tech

Firms launch security card coalition

Group will focus on promoting contact-less smart cards instead of those that are embedded with radio-frequency identification chips.