Federal Daily - July 21, 2009

Agencies Report 200% Increase in Cybersecurity Attacks

As federal agencies struggle to implement their information security programs, cybersecurity breaches have become increasingly common, with the government reporting a 200 percent hike in such incidents over the past three years, said a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. The number of incidents reported by federal agencies has risen dramatically, increasing from 5,503 incidents reported in Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 to 16,843 incidents in FY 2008, said the GAO report released on July 17. GAO concluded that the government’s cybersecurity infrastructure remains vulnerable because agencies still have not fully implemented their updated information security measures. For example, in May 2009, Department of Transportation Inspector General (IG) auditors were able to exploit vulnerabilities in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control systems, gaining unauthorized access to data stored on FAA computers, including program source code. In addition, the IG reported that it found a vulnerability on FAA Web applications that could allow attackers to execute malicious codes on FAA users’ computers. For FY 2008, almost all 24 major federal agencies had weaknesses in information security controls, the report said. “Persistent weaknesses in information security policies and practices continue to threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical [federal] information and information systems,” the report said. “Agencies have limited assurance that controls are in place and operating as intended to protect their information resources, thereby leaving them vulnerable to attack or compromise.” To see more, go to: www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-546.

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AFGE Applauds Bill that Would Promote Agency ‘In-Sourcing’

American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) President John Gage praised language in an appropriations measure that would require civilian agencies to inventory the services they contract out and review whether it makes sense to bring the work back in-house. The measure, part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Financial Services Appropriations Bill, was adopted last week by the entire House Appropriations Committee on a voice vote. The bill could come to the House floor for a vote before Congress takes off for the August summer recess. “This inventory requirement will allow agencies to identify contracts that include functions that should only be performed by federal employees or are being poorly performed, so that they can be reviewed for in-sourcing,” Gage said in a July 17 statement. “The foundation for a comprehensive and permanent in-sourcing policy is a reliable service contractor inventory.” Last year’s Defense Authorization Act required DoD to perform such an inventory, and the Army says it already has saved $50 million from the process, lawmakers pointed out. To see more, go to: www.afge.org/Index.cfm?Page=PressReleases&PressReleaseID=1022.

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VA Leaders Pledge Diversity at LULAC Convention

At a League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) convention, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) executives emphasized VA’s commitment to the hiring and advancement of veterans, including Latino and Latina veterans. At the convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, John U. Sepulveda, VA’s assistant secretary for Human Resources and Administration, and Steve L. Muro, acting under secretary for Memorial Affairs, promised LULAC attendees that VA would make a priority of ethnic inclusion and outreach to all veterans. “As a major health care and benefits provider, VA recognizes that, to deliver quality services, it must maintain a workforce that reflects the communities it serves,” said Sepulveda on July 17. “We strive to recruit, develop and retain a diverse, high-performing workforce through various initiatives.” For example, Sepulveda said VA has established a board to develop new training courses in equal opportunity, diversity and conflict management for employees and supervisors. To see more, go to: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1735.

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