Lessons from the market trenches

Network administrators usually spend their time concerned with routers, PCs and servers. Operating a chainsaw? Cutting down trees? That's not part of the job description.

The news in brief

The new Defense Business Transformation Agency, established Oct. 7 by the Defense Department, will manage some of the agency's largest business programs.

The news in brief

The new Defense Business Transformation Agency, established Oct. 7 by the Defense Department, will manage some of the agency's largest business programs.

CHANNEL LEADERS: Top of their game

As the water within their Pensacola, Fla., building began to reach ankle depth ? thanks to 2004's Hurricane Ivan ? Computer Sciences Corp.'s employees working with the Navy put aside personal worries and focused on how to keep the operation running.

IG report: Visa violator enforcement systems lacking

The government's systems for identifying, locating and apprehending aliens who have violated the terms of their U.S. visits are inadequate to the task, according to Homeland Security Department Inspector General Richard Skinner.

House panel OKs budget authority for VA CIO

The House Veterans Affairs Committee approved legislation late yesterday to give the Veterans Affairs Department's CIO central authority over the IT budget, personnel and assets in an effort to improve the department's IT management.

DOJ appeals judge's order to pull Interior computer systems off Internet

A district court judge has directed the Interior Department to disconnect computer systems housing Indian trust data from the Internet, after computer specialists said they had been able to penetrate the systems without detection.

Chertoff outlines plans to strengthen FEMA

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff detailed his plan to Congress to boost logistics, communications, business process and procurement capabilities at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

DOD finds way to speed technology to warfighters

Defense Department officials are using the Rapid Equipping Force vehicle to get around traditional acquisition hurdles when an emergency acquisition is needed.

Bush signs $30 billion DHS spending bill

President George W. Bush has signed the fiscal 2006 Homeland Security Department appropriations bill, releasing funds for contractors that had been working "at risk" while awaiting the funding measure to become law.

Report: Real ID Act could generate major expenses for states

The Real ID Act could increase the cost of issuing a driver's license to $90, up from between $10 and $25 currently, according to a report issued today by Citizens Against Government Waste.

EU members to share justice information

European countries would exchange law enforcement information, such as DNA profiles and fingerprints, seamlessly across borders under a proposed framework decision released by the European Commission.

IRS prepares for IT competitive sourcing study

The IRS seeks industry capabilities that are available for a seat-management competitive sourcing study under the Office of Management and Budget's Circular A-76.

NIEM releases first draft of info-sharing specs

The National Information Exchange Model is an Extensible Markup Language-based schemata that could be used by agencies to share information.

Group seeks disclosure waiver for IT protection meetings

A presidential advisory committee's working group wants industry representatives advising the Homeland Security Department on protecting the nation's IT resources to be exempt from a law requiring public disclosure and public meetings.

Congressman offers own plan for DHS reorganization

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) has his own ideas about how to improve the operations of the Homeland Security Department, and he introduced legislation last week to do just that.

Xerox color copiers earn security clearance

Xerox Corp.'s WorkCentre Pro C2128, C2636 and C3545 devices, and CopyCentre C2128, C2636 and C3545 color copiers have been certified at Evaluation Assurance Level 2 by the National Information Assurance Partnership.

State CIOs get grant to promote information sharing

The national organization representing state chief information officers has received a $500,000 grant from the Justice Department to promote the concept of a common framework that would enable information sharing at all levels of government.

Market Share: Boatload of issues stall fiscal 2006 spending plans

Federal IT service stocks trailed off in the past month, following concerns that emergency funding for hurricanes Katrina and Rita would pressure federal IT budgets. Supreme Court hearings, Katrina investigations and other issues also have delayed fiscal 2006 spending bills.

'Drift into nothingness'

The federal government's effort to establish the national anti-terrorism Information-Sharing Environment is being slowed by complexity, limited resources and possibly a lack of clear goals.