USA Today is running a couple of opinion pieces, one (apparently staff-written) questioning how well the US government is doing with information security, and calling for more accountability. The report card recently issued by Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, doesn’t look so good. The opinion piece concludes that while the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is trying to lock things down through stricter process, things are going to get worse.

Meanwhile, a rebuttal from Clay Johnson, deputy director for management of the OMB, says the government is “significantly strengthening the protection of citizens’ personal data” by asking the agencies to police themselves, and running a consumer awareness campaign.

Last month, the Identity Theft Task Force issued a Strategic Plan. You can read the plan and supplemental materials on the Task Force web site.