Delays Loom for Federal IT Modernization as Gov’t Shutdown Continues

The lack of funding due to the ongoing partial government shutdown is already affecting some federal programs, including the government-wide information technology modernization under the President’s Management Agenda, FedScoop reported Friday. 

Administration officials have expressed concern that without permanent funding some agencies may soon be forced to stop key IT programs. 

“PMA quarterly goals are funded through multiple vehicles, so some goals may be unaffected by the lapse while others may, in fact, be affected,” a senior administration official told FedScoop. “Ultimately, we hope Congress takes action quickly to end the current lapse in appropriations for affected programs.”

Some of the programs at risk include technology asset management, workforce recruitment, cloud email adoption and the Technology Modernization Fund that already awarded $68.5M to federal IT modernization projects in 2018. 

TMF supports projects at the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Labor, Housing and Urban Development as well as the General Services Administration.

However, Energy and Labor may continue some IT efforts as the agencies operate under separate appropriations and are not affected by the shutdown.