Posts Tagged: TSA

The FBI Wants to Read Tattoos, Widespread Industrial Control Software Vulnerability, and More

Here is today’s federal cybersecurity and information technology news: The Transportation Security Administration has failed to comply with a year-old U.S. Court of Appeals order to hold public hearings to decide on body scanner rules and regulations. More here. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking technology that can spot criminals and terrorists by recognizingRead… Read more »

Potentially Fatal Software Flaws in Medical Devices, DARPA’s Gigapixel Camera, and More

Here is today’s federal cybersecurity and information technology news: The Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories has found widespread software flaws in medical devices which could cause patient harm or death. More here. The Transportation Security Administration is looking for software to monitor employee online activity including emails and keystrokes forRead… Read more »

Daily Dose: Should Airport Screening Continue to be Privatized?

Orlando Sanford International Airport has received preliminary approval to use private security screeners to screen passengers and personal property. It may now be one of the airports operating under the Screening Partnership Program, of which there are currently 16. TSA Tentatively Okay’s Private Screeners in Orlando Many Republicans are in support of the privatization ofRead… Read more »

Daily Dose: House Hearing Criticizes Size and Scope of the TSA

The Transportation Security Administration has been a hot-bed of House GOP criticism for months, most recently noted by the House Homeland Security transportation subcommittee hearing titled “TSA’s Efforts to Fix Its Poor Customer Service Reputation and Become a Leaner, Smarter Agency.” The title was objected to by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.), who claimed thatRead… Read more »

Government Agency Mobile Applications Leave Room for Improvement

The White Horse Digital Futures Group’s exclusive report provides feedback for 30 citizen-focused government mobile applications, plus mobile development guidelines helpful for public or private organizations. “The number of smartphone users in the U.S. is approaching the 100 million user mark. Government bears a responsibility to ensure… (they) use available resources effectively and produce betterRead… Read more »

“A Reason to Put Your Shoes On In The Morning” – An Air Force Pilot’s Thoughts on Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day! What does everyone have planned for this weekend? As I take this time off for Memorial Day, I’ll be thinking of the service men and women who gave their lives for our freedom and safety. But I’m also happy to work with a number of men and women at HP who haveRead… Read more »

TSA Supervisor to Staffer: Speak English

Last month, President Obama signed into law a bill that tells Uncle Sam to speak and write plainly. The bill echoed Obama’s executive order in May instructing agencies to write job announcements in clear language. Unfortunately, one smart-ass TSAer at BWI airport didn’t get the memos. Happily, her supervisor did. The New York Times reports:Read… Read more »

Is the State Department Wiki Leaks the Beginning of a Nightmare For Open Government?

After three days of consuming the best of cuisine during Thanksgiving holiday, I have once again experienced my usual holiday epiphany to become inspired. It is usually around this time of year, that I personally and professionally aspire to take my goal setting to the next level. Honestly speaking, I am excited about expanded hopesRead… Read more »

GovLoop on HuffPo: 5 Tips for TSA from Fellow Govies

GovLoop’s latest Huffington Post column is live. Here’s an excerpt: Earlier this week, we posed the following challenge to members of GovLoop, a group of nearly 40,000 people who work in and around government: Help TSA Out of This Mess! Share Your Ideas to Improve Travel Right Now! As you might suspect with all theRead… Read more »

The TSA Blog and 1984

Are government bloggers citizen advocates or are they PR staff required to parrot the agency line? I’ve been thinking about that in reference to the growing controversy about “naked scanners” and groping by agents of the TSA. Despite the countless stories by those who have been groped at TSA checkpoints, “Blogger Bob” of http://blog.tsa.gov insistsRead… Read more »