A softer sequester?

With federal agencies implementing furloughs and other reductions as a result of the sequester in recent days, lawmakers in Congress are urging flexibilities and exemptions to soften the impact of sequestration on selective activities.

For example, Congress rushed to pass a bill to allow the Federal Aviation Administration to use other funding sources to reduce furloughs for air traffic controllers. The personnel cutbacks had caused flight delays.

Lawmakers also want the Defense Department to reduce planned furloughs.

While some observers welcomed the flexibilities, others described the selective exemptions as “earmarks” reflecting partisan politics and parochial interests.

More information: Politico article http://goo.gl/VdlNx

FY2014: IT cutbacks

While the Obama Administration is seeking an increase in overall information technology funding in fiscal 2014, IT development and modernization projects would lose some support.

Funding for such projects would drop about 9%, from $19.6 billion in fiscal 2012 to $17.9 billion in fiscal 2014, according to an analysis by Federal Times.

IT funds for maintaining legacy IT operations would increase by 4%, to $58.6 billion in fiscal 2014.

Overall, IT spending would rise by $2 billion to $82 billion in fiscal 2014.

More information: Federal Times article: http://goo.gl/2Rq1T

More personnel changes

The Veterans Affairs Department continues to experience major personnel changes, with Deputy Secretary Scott Gould the latest to announce his departure, effective May 17.

In recent weeks, the VA’s Roger Baker, chief information officer (CIO), and Peter Levin, chief technology officer, have left the agency as well.

At the Homeland Security Department, speculation is continuing over the leave taken by Richard Spires, CIO, being on elected leave for unspecified reasons since March 15.

While sources have been quoted in the press saying the leave reflects a dispute between Spires and Secretary Janet Napolitano over the CIO’s authority, other published reports dispute that.

Navy’s new FOIA portal

The Navy is planning to adopt a shared federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Web portal on Oct. 1, the agency announced.

The FOIAonline Web portal is a multi-agency shared service tool allowing requests for information, tracking of responses and accessing previous request.

Users of the Naval Sea Systems Command e-FOIA tool may use it until the end of September.

More information: Navy statement: http://goo.gl/i0rbx

GSA removes set-asides

Small business set-aside designations are being withdrawn from GSA Schedule 541, Advertising and Integrated Marketing Solutions (AIMS).

The change will affect contractors for Web-based marketing, conference and event planning, commercial photography, design, and other services, according to the Aronson Fed Point blog.

More information: http://goo.gl/mq4lD