Friday Afternoon Federal Newscast

Patrick W. Dunne, the Under Secretary for Benefits for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), has announced his resignation for early next year. Dunne, who attained the rank of rear admiral while in the U.S. Navy, has been with VA since 2006. As Under Secretary for Benefits since October 2008, Admiral Dunne has directed the administration of VA's disability compensation, pension, education, home loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and life insurance programs through a nationwide network of 57 regional offices, other special processing centers, and Veterans Benefits Administration headquarters. (VA Press Release)

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said any new U.S. forces President Barack Obama sends to Afghanistan could move into the country swiftly, despite logistical hassles that force almost all major deliveries of troops and supplies to go by air. Gates and Vice Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the coming troop infusion is a bigger logistical challenge than the Iraq "surge," which added forces at the rate of roughly one brigade a month.

The Pentagon said Thursday it will scour its procedures for identifying volatile soldiers hidden in the ranks following the Fort Hood shooting rampage and lapses that might allow others to slip through bureaucratic cracks. A 45-day emergency investigation will examine personnel, medical, mental health, discharge and other policies in all corners of the vast Defense Department. It will also look at ways to improve security and emergency response at Defense Department facilities.

The Army says there will be an outside review of how body armor for its soldiers is tested. The Government Accountability Office said last month that the Army made mistakes in testing a new body armor design. The Army had said that the criticism was overblown. It also said that no U.S. troops have been killed in combat as a result of any problems with the armor. Nonetheless, Army Secretary John McHugh announced Friday that the National Research Council will do an independent assessment of the Army's body armor testing.

Other News Links

Auditor and lawmakers are skeptical of stimulus data (NextGov)

GAO finds extensive fraud in disabled veteran-owned small biz program (GovExec)

GAO finds fault with stimulus jobs data but touts transparency (Washington Post)

OpenCongress.org

White House Open Government Intiative blog post by deputy CTO Beth Noveck: Open Government Laboratories of Democracy

Beth Noveck on Federal News Radio

Digital Democracy Public Notice, FCC

Recovery.gov's Success (Sunlight Labs)

European e-Government Award Finalists, 2009

A very diplomatic blog: British ambassadors worldwide tell (nearly) all on the web (The Guardian)

One Year, Thousands of GovTwits - GovTwit directory turns 1 year old today

GovFresh.com named GovTwit directory founder Lunceford a Gov 2.0 Hero

What Does Innovative Social Engagement Look Like For Businesses and Governments? (Mark Drapeau)

On the Lighter Side

Be a Martian! (NASA)

Eww/Neat

Museum: Galileo's fingers, tooth are found