FederalDaily - April 16, 2007
Lawmaker: Agencies Get A “C-Minus” In Information Security
The ranking member of the House Government Oversight and Reform Committee, Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va.,
gave the federal government a report card with a grade of C-minus in the critical task of safekeeping
of information on government computer systems. “This grade indicates slow but steady improvement
from past years,” said Davis, who had stung agencies with grades of D-plus, D-plus and D, respectively,
over the last three years. “Obviously, challenges remain,” Davis said. “While there
are some excellent signs of progress in this year's report, and that's encouraging, I remain concerned
that large agencies like DOD and DHS are still lagging in compliance.” The lawmaker said that
the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) improved
the most from 2005 to 2006—with DOJ leaping from a D to an A-minus and HUD from D-plus to A-plus.
The Department of Education fell the farthest, from a C-minus to an F. For more: http://tomdavis.house.gov/cgi-data/news/files/327.shtml
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Report: VA Performance Reports Among Most Accurate, Clear
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may have experienced problems in information security and
other areas in recent years, but it has been judged by an independent research center to provide some
of the most accurate and open disclosures of its progress and problems in its annual reports among
federal agencies. Since 2000, the Mercatus Center of George Mason University has evaluated annual performance
and accountability reports issued by all federal agencies. For eight years running, the VA has been
ranked in the top tier among agencies in terms of the level and clarity of its disclosures. “The
findings of this prestigious research center show that we’re among the best in the federal sector
at providing meaningful information to the American public about our operations and performance,” said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. This year, the VA tied for second best overall score government-wide,
with 51 points out of a possible 60. Notably, the VA tied for the top score in the transparency category—an
example of the Department’s commitment to provide information that is useful and easy to understand.
VA published its own latest performance and accountability report in November 2006, documenting the
agency’s progress. The Department’s report can be found on the Internet at: www.va.gov/budget/report,
while information about the Mercatus Center report can be found at: www.mercatus.org.
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Eleven Federal Corrections Officers Indicted
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, N.Y., announced April 12 the arrest and indictment of
11 current and former federal corrections officers on various charges, including using excessive force
and making false statements. All of those indicted allegedly played roles in the beating of inmates
at the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, in November
2002 and the subsequent cover-up of those events, as well as participation in further lawbreaking in
years since. The eleven allegedly violated the civil rights of two former MDC inmates with the use
of physical violence and excessive force, and with false statements about these incidents. Capt. Salvatore
Lopresti is the highest-ranking officer among those charged. Three other accused officers were lieutenants
with supervisory authority over numerous personnel at the prison. “We will vigorously protect
the constitutional right of individuals to be free from the use of unjustified and excessive force
by officers whose duty it is to uphold the law,” stated United States Attorney Roslynn R. Mauskopf. “Those
who attempt to subvert justice and avoid punishment through deceit and obstruction will be held accountable
for their crimes.” For more go to: www.usdoj.gov/usao/nye/pr/2007/2007Apr12.htm
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