FEMA forms incident management teams

The Federal Emergency Management Agency expects to deploy four newly created Incident Management Assistance Teams by September 30 bringing expertise and communications equipment quickly to major disaster scenes.

No. 15: For BAE, persistence pays off

Absorbing a huge acquisition took a lot of attention at BAE Systems Inc. in 2006, catapulting the company into the top ranks of U.S. defense contractors.

Oversight pendulum swings wide

Debarments, conflicts of interest and the revolving door draw the most scrutiny from congressional leaders.

Crossing the T's and dotting the I's

Government contracting attorney Karen Manos has experienced the cycles of federal contracting firsthand, from booming defense spending in the 1980s to another upswing since the terrorist attacks of 2001.

Airline industry balks at US-VISIT fingerprint plan

The airline industry is opposed to DHS' plan to put airlines in charge of fingerprint checks for foreign passengers departing the U.S., the president of a major airline trade association said.

University of California consortium holds onto Lawrence-Livermore work

The Energy Department chose a University of California-led team to continue operating the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California for the next seven years.

GAO: Key elements missing from DHS architecture plan

DHS' most recent enterprise architecture shows improvements but is still missing key pieces and is only of limited usefulness, according to a new GAO report.

Real ID opposition turns up the heat

IT experts intensified the controversy over the Real ID Act this week with warnings that the huge database required may never be secure from ID theft and privacy invasions.

Committee: Real ID Act needs security overhaul

The Real ID Act of 2005 raises serious concerns about privacy, data security, cost, fairness and so-called mission creep that should be fully scrutinized before it is implemented, says an advisory committee to the Homeland Security Department.

Homeland security networks require coordination: GAO

DHS and DOJ have spent $893 million on information-sharing networks in the last two years but still do not have effective networks in place, GAO reported.

FCC seeks comments on Frontline spectrum plan

The FCC invited public comments this week on a proposal advanced by Frontline Wireless LLC to set aside a 22 MHz block of radio spectrum for a wireless broadband network for first responders.

Terrorists use net for recruiting

Terrorists are using the Internet to spread radical ideologies. Countering that movement will require sophisticated communications and online investigations, experts testified at a Senate hearing today.

Coalition attacks Real ID Act regulations

Civil liberties and consumer groups have started a campaign against the Real ID Act regulations issued by DHS, believing the new ID system will have negative impacts on civil rights.

McCarthy pushes for NICS improvements

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy is promoting her legislation to make improvements to a national database used to check potential gun buyers for criminal records or mental illness.

Thompson: Private sector may need to protect technology assets

To improve the nation's critical infrastructure protection, DHS and private companies may need to ensure secure operation of major IT systems, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said.

Senate moves to step up Deepwater oversight

The Coast Guard's $24 billion Deepwater modernization program would be overhauled with increased oversight and open competition under legislation approved Wednesday.

Error-prone databases disrupt Basic Pilot

Employer participation is rapidly increasing in DHS' Employment Eligibility Verification program even though the federal databases continue to be riddled with errors and have difficulty communicating with each other.

FEMA opens grant period

Police, fire and emergency response agencies can look to the FEMA for a share of $34 million in grants to buy security-related IT applications, video surveillance tools and interoperable communications equipment.

Real ID technologies: A two-way street

Washington and other states should be more involved in choosing technologies for meeting the Real ID Act of 2005 requirements, according to an industry group.

May I see your ID, please?

Many companies see great opportunities nationwide in the first-responder credentialingmarket.