FederalDaily - October 4, 2007
Report: FBI Makes Some Progress in Wake of Hanssen Case
The FBI has made “significant progress” in protecting itself against renegade agents,
but still remains vulnerable to espionage from within, said a new report from the Justice Department’s
(DOJ) Inspector General (IG) office. The report, released Oct. 1, looked at how well the agency implemented
security measures to track suspicious behavior involving its own employees. It was a follow-up to an
earlier report following the 2001 arrest of former FBI agent Robert P. Hanssen, who admitted spying
for Russia and the Soviet Union for over two decades. It credits the FBI for taking at least two critical
steps to crack down on internal spies—creating a new unit designed specifically to detect security
penetrations and installing senior operational posts in its counterespionage section. However, the
internal report found that the FBI had yet to put in place internal monitoring procedures and
other recommendations offered by the IG—and that the agency seemed less than enthusiastic about
many of the IG’s suggestions. “In several areas, the FBI’s record is mixed and it
has not implemented some critical recommendations,” the report said. “In addition, the
FBI has only recently decided to fully implement others, such as establishing a penetration unit.” To
see more, go to: www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/s0710/final.pdf.
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GSA Introduces New Public Web Blog
The General Services Administration (GSA) announced Oct. 2 it has launched a new general government
Web Blog to improve citizen access to official government information and services. GovGab.gov features
daily posts from a GSA team of five managers, each highlighting government information and services
of greatest use in Americans' daily lives. For example, on Wednesday, the home page featured blogged
suggestions on how to save money and links to the government’s Consumer Information Catalog Web
site, diet talk and a link to a Department of Health and Human Services Web page on the same subject,
and a declaration of one blogger’s favorite music and a link to the National Recording Registry
which preserves a goldmine of music and information about it. "Americans clearly love the
idea and practice of blogging," said GSA Administrator Lurita Doan. "The creation of GovGab
is another step forward in improving public access to government information and services. This blog
will be an invaluable resource in helping us keep citizens informed of the many opportunities and programs
offered by the U.S. government." To see more, go to: www.gsa.gov.
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Government Executives To Receive Honors
Two federal government executives— Postmaster General John Potter and MaryAnn Musumeci, a medical
center director for the Department of Veterans Affairs—will be honored Oct. 4 with the 2007 Roger
W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership. The award, in its 30th year, is presented by American University's
School of Public Affairs and recognizes public servants who have improved the effectiveness of their
organizations. It is named for Roger Jones, who served as chairman of the old Civil Service Commission
from 1959-1961and later at the State Department. Potter, postmaster general since 2001, is credited
with reducing post office operating costs and increasing productivity. Musumeci has been the director
of the Bronx/James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center for 13 years. She was honored with the
presidential rank award in 2001 and again last year. To see more, go to: www.american.edu/media.
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