Forman said his new strategy will also include how his office will deal with the massive budget cuts proposed by Congress. the $397.4 billion omnibus spending bill before Congress includes just $5 million for the E-Gov Act. The proposed appropriation cuts by almost 90 percent the original $45 million slated for the program approved amid much fanfare last November.
The E-Gov Act seeks to make government online services and information more helpful to constituents. As administrator of the new agency, Forman will implement e-government initiatives and oversee agencies' compliance with relevant statutes. The bill also creates an E-Government Fund that will invest in inter-agency projects with government-wide application.
The new legislation also:
- Authorizes funding for improvement of the federal Internet portal, Firstgov.gov, so that on-line government information and services are organized "according to citizen needs, not agency jurisdiction.";
- Requires regulatory agencies to conduct administrative rule-makings on the Internet, and federal courts to post court information and judicial opinions on their Web sites;
- Allows agencies, scientists, policy makers and the public to have access over the Internet to non-sensitive information about where federal funds for scientific research are spent;
- Improves recruitment and training for federal information technology professionals; and
- Establishes "significant new privacy protections" for personally identifiable information maintained by the government.
