@newsletter

Ten Years After 9/11: Three Eyewitness Perspectives On DHS’s Creation

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About This Program:
In this mini-documentary exclusive for Breaking Gov, award-winning journalist Dan Verton brings us back to the day that changed the world and traces the evolution of the homeland security mission through the eyes of three men who were present at its creation.

This is the story of the birth and evolution of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as told by the nation’s first secretary of Homeland Security, the deputy for counterterrorism on the National Security Council, and the CIA’s deputy director of intelligence, who would go on to become the first Staff Director for the House Select Committee on Homeland Security. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 7, 2011 at 12:01 PM

Chart of the Day: Government Gaining Headway In Social Media Use

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Last week’s 5.8 magnitude earthquake along the east coast and the subsequent battering by Hurricane Irene unleashed not only a heavy dose of nature’s fury, but also a torrent of social media messaging.

And perhaps more than ever before, the federal government played a prominent role in the dialogue. While figures for this past week’s activity are still being gathered, a snapshot of social media use by federal agencies in mid-August, assembled by Breaking Gov, shows its no longer just the White House that is gaining a growing social media following. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 30, 2011 at 1:00 PM

Ex DHS Secretary Says Border Can Be Secured Despite Budget Crunch

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The nation’s first Secretary of Homeland Security says the border can be secured using commercially available technologies, and that the Department of Homeland Security’s failed multibillion-dollar contract with Boeing Co. to build an electronic border fence ran counter to the legislation that created the DHS in the first place.

Tom Ridge, who served in that role under President George W. Bush, recently praised the Department of Homeland Security for putting an end in January to Boeing Co.’s multibillion-dollar contract for the Secure Border Initiative (SBInet). After nearly five years and $1 billion in taxpayer funding, the deal netted a mere 28-mile prototype and a 53-mile permanent segment of electronic sensors in Arizona. According to Ridge, the effort failed in large part because it did not leverage commercially available technology. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 26, 2011 at 7:01 AM

Agencies Must Prepare For 10% Cuts in 2013 Fiscal Year Budget

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Federal agency and department leaders should plan for a 5 percent reduction in discretionary spending in fiscal year 2013, and prepare for more cuts –at least 10 percent–according to a White House Office of Management and Budget memo. At the same time, OMB urged agencies to look for opportunities to enhance economic growth.

Unless agencies have been given explicit direction to the contrary by OMB, overall agency funding requests for fiscal year 2013 should be “at least 5 percent below your 2011 enacted discretionary appropriation,” OMB Director Jacob Lew wrote in an Aug. 17 memo to federal agency and department heads. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 18, 2011 at 11:02 AM

The Best And Worst Federal Workplaces For Innovation

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While many government leaders might give lip service to the merits of creativity and innovation in the public sector, few actually put the idea into practice, according to a recent survey and ranking of innovation in federal workplaces.

Beyond that, the survey might actually offer some motivation. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 17, 2011 at 1:01 PM

Reading Between The Lines: DoD’s Cyber Operation Strategy

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COMMENTARY:

The Department of Defense Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace has attracted its share of attention and criticism since it was released last month. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 11, 2011 at 7:30 AM

Biggest Debt Deal Losers: Public Servants And The American People

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In the wake of last week’s eleventh hour debt deal, government workers have been left wondering what will become of their jobs in this new age of austerity. While the agreement forged between Congress and the White House does not include specific cuts, many suspect that retirement and health benefits will be slashed in addition to pay and hiring freezes. In an already struggling economy, government employees are going to have to serve more people with fewer and fewer resources.

In a bad situation, we often advise people to “make lemons into lemonade.” Tighter budgets mean cutting out the fat and thinking of creative ways to solve problems. We literally can’t afford the red tape anymore, especially without a source of revenue in the debt agreement. Can public servants find a silver lining by using budget cuts to streamline the government operations? Keep reading →

 /  Published August 8, 2011 at 4:36 PM

Cartwright’s Classified iPad: Symbol Of Retiring Vice Chair’s Independent Thinking

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Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright has a long history of commandeering technology before it was ready for the military.

So few were surprised, including Deputy Secretary of Defense Bill Lynn, when Cartwright–better known in defense circles as Hoss Cartwright–was soon brandishing a specially-secured iPad capable of accessing classified military information otherwise off limits to iPad devices. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 5, 2011 at 3:00 PM

U.S. Debt Showdown Masks Troubles Ahead For State Governments

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Although a few states have taken some important steps towards reining in their financial obligations, in most of the country it continues to be business as usual, with shortfalls being met through a combination of one-time measures, borrowing, and clever accounting.

The point at which this inaction becomes unsustainable is rapidly approaching, however, and those governors and lawmakers who need a wake-up call might well use the deadline for raising the Federal debt ceiling as their alarm. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 1, 2011 at 5:01 PM

Vint Cerf: Essential Ingredients for Innovating in Government

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Internet co-creator Vint Cerf argues that discontent, the ability to fail, and the environment where managers can say “yes” are among the key ingredients for leaders to foster innovation in government.

Let me start by making an observation: Progress doesn’t happen unless somebody is discontented. Keep reading →

 /  Published July 14, 2011 at 7:05 AM
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