Category «Government Documents»

Five Week Patriot Act Extension Signed By President

Follow-up to my December 22 posting, House Approves 5 Week Extension for Patriot Act, news from AP that Bush Signs Patriot Act Extension at Ranch. From the NJ Madison Eagle: Librarians sounding off on Patriot Act – ‘Chilling Effect’ ‘Ask For Subpoena’ – “As the House, the Senate and the White House wrangled last week …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Government Documents, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

Annual Energy Outlook 2006 (Early Release)

“The Annual Energy Outlook presents a midterm forecast and analysis of US energy supply, demand, and prices through 2030. The projections are based on results from the Energy Information Administration’s National Energy Modeling System. The AEO2006 Early Release includes the reference case. The full publication, to be released in early 2006, will include complete documentation …

Subjects: Government Documents

DOJ Launches Investigation Into Leak About Domestic Surveillance Program

As a result of the New York Times article published on December 15 of this year, as reported by CNN and AP: “The Justice Department has opened an investigation into the leak of classified information about President Bush’s secret domestic spying program.” Related references: White House spokesman Trent Duffy: “The leaking of classified information is …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Government Documents, Privacy

Pentagon Overseas Website PR Program Under Scrutiny

LA Times (reg. req’d), Pentagon Calls Its Pro-U.S. Websites Legal: “U.S. military websites that pay journalists to write articles and commentary supporting military activities in Europe and Africa do not violate U.S. law or Pentagon policies, a review by the Pentagon’s chief investigator has concluded. But a senior Defense Department official said this week that …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents, Internet

Compendium of Collective OIG’s Activities in Oversight of Hurricane Disaster Response and Recovery

President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE), Executive Council on Integrity and Efficiency Compendium of OIG Hurricane Oversight in the Gulf States, published 12/12/05 (18 pages, PDF). PCIE Bi-Weekly Interagency Homeland Security Roundtable Report on Hurricane Katrina Oversight, December 16, 2005. The report, and a separate Memorandum for the Record clarifying GSA’s role in providing …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents

Lack of Info Sharing Infrastructure Impedes Homeland Security

Press release: Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) released a report today showing that more than four years after 9/11 the federal government still does not have working systems for getting law enforcement officers the information they need to identify terrorists and to thwart their plans. The report, Beyond Connecting the Dots: A VITAL Framework for …

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Government Documents

DHS IG Audit Identifies Major Management Problems

Department of Homeland Security, office of Inspector General report: Major Management Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security, December 2005 (26 pages, PDF). AP reports: Weaknesses in FEMA’s response system during Hurricane Katrina were just one symptom of major management challenges at the Homeland Security Department, an internal report issued Wednesday concludes.” See also this …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents

NSA Website Uses Cookies Despite Prohibition

AP reports that the NSA website has continued to use cookies to track user access of the site, despite strict prohibitions against such practices: OMB Guidance for Implementing the Privacy Provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002, September 26, 2003 – Tracking technology prohibitions: agencies are prohibited from using persistent cookies or any other means …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Government Documents, Internet, Privacy

Report Details Significant DHS Security Failures

Press release: “A House Committee on Homeland Security investigative report prepared for Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Committee Democrats finds that the Department of Homeland Security has left 33 separate promises to strengthen aspects of homeland security unresolved ahead of the New Year.” Leaving the Nation at Risk: 33 Unfulfilled Promises From the …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents