OMB Looks to Cut IT Projects

A look at the week of August 23, 2010, in public advocacy for the IT channel

The Office of Management and Budget is looking to scale back $30 billion in high-priority IT projects.  Some small businesses are hoping for passage of a bill that would increase lending and create tax breaks.  In a sign that the economy is improving, many IT professionals are thinking about moving to new companies.  Meanwhile, the Pentagon issued a public warning concerning the Chinese military’s efforts to run clandestine cyber attacks on American companies and government agencies.  

OMB Flags 26 Big Budget IT Projects – The Obama administration is looking to save money by scaling back 26 high-priority IT projects costing $30 billion, The Hill reported early this week.  Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra unveiled a list of 26 mission-critical projects that will be scrutinized by the administration in an attempt to reduce their size and scope.  

Small Business Casts Hopeful Eye on Lending Bill – Small-business legislation pending in the Senate would aid some profitable firms with tax breaks, but opinions are mixed on the extent to which it would help get credit flowing again, according to The Wall Street Journal.  While Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hopes to pass the bill in September, most Senate Republicans have opposed the legislation, asserting that it amounts to another federal bailout.

IT Workers Considering Jumping Ship – The latest IT Employee Confidence Index found many technology professionals are thinking about moving to other companies as the economy improves.  According to Computerworld, a recent poll by Harris Interactive found that 61 percent of IT workers earning $35,000-$50,000 a year said they are “likely” to start looking for a new job over the next 12 months.

Pentagon Issues Warning On China Cyber Attacks – For the first time, the U.S. has issued a public warning about the Chinese military's use of civilian computer experts in clandestine cyber attacks aimed at American companies and government agencies.  According to The Associated Press, this warning illuminates an issue the U.S. has been struggling with: “How does the U.S. deal with cyber espionage emanating from China and almost certainly directed by the government — despite the fact that U.S. officials don't have or can't show proof of those ties?”