The Chief Information Officer’s Council is taking a three-pronged approach to helping agencies transition to newer technology. The council’s Innovation Committee wants agencies to share tools and ideas for saving money on IT. Margie Graves is the deputy chief information officer at the Homeland Security Department and committee co-chairwoman. As part of our special report, A New Era in Technology, Graves tells Federal News Radio Executive Editor Jason Miller about the Innovation Committee’s priorities.

The Commerce Department has saved more than $200 million in administrative spending because of a unique collaboration. The chief financial officer and the chief information officer have teamed up to find costly inefficiencies and make advances in areas like IT and cybersecurity. Simon Szykman is the Commerce Department’s chief information officer. He joined Tom and Emily as part of our special report, A New Era in Technology.

The Merit Systems Protection Board has more going on than processing furlough appeals. The board is updating the strategic plan that would guide its work for the next five years. DeeAnn Batten is the Board’s performance improvement officer. She explains what’s new in this plan.

Agencies have three years to move to a dynamic approach to securing computer networks. A new memo from the Office of Management and Budget details a series of deadlines. The first is in February. Federal News Radio Executive Editor Jason Miller has details on the cybersecurity mandate.

A group that’s pushing agencies to get rid of government jargon and communicate with the public in plain language has released its second annual report card. As Federal News Radio’s Jared Serbu reports, plain language advocates are applauding progress at some agencies but citing setbacks at others and warning against a lack of governmentwide leadership.