Bipartisan legislation reintroduced by U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) would accelerate the federal government’s transition to cloud-based computing, reducing wasteful spending and boosting security.
Under the Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act, savings realized by federal agencies from streamlining IT systems, replacing legacy products and transitioning to cloud-based technology would be funneled into a working capital fund that could be used to support further modernization efforts for up to three years.
“The federal government spends $80 billion each year on IT systems and 80 percent of which is spent maintaining outdated, legacy systems,” Hurd, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Information Technology, said. “Our government needs to be able to introduce cutting edge technology into their networks to improve operational efficiency and decrease operational cost. The MGT Act does just that.”
The MGT Act aims to abandon the “use it or lose it” approach to government spending on IT while helping agencies better address emerging cyber threats and boost efficiency with more modern technology.
“We’ve been fighting to get this bill signed into law because the American people deserve better from their government,” Hurd said. “A move towards modern technologies can keep our information and digital infrastructure secure from cyberattacks, while saving billions of taxpayer dollars. This legislation is an innovative solution and another step forward in strengthening our digital infrastructure.”
Speaking in support of the bill, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said technology has rapidly improved the lives of Americans — but government IT systems are stuck in the past.
The benefits delivery network at the Veterans Administration, which tracks claims filed by veterans for benefits, eligibility and dates of death is more than 50 years old, McCarthy said.
“This example is just a fraction of the systemic problem,” he added. “Eighty percent of the government’s $80 billion IT budget is spent on managing legacy systems rather than upgrading to state-of-the-art technology. Will Hurd’s legislation restructures the government’s flawed approach to IT and could set off a new era of constituent-first government service.”
McCarthy said he would schedule the bill for floor consideration as soon as it advances from the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), who is reintroducing a Senate version of the bill, said Americans have come to understand the importance of cybersecurity first hand in the 10 months since the bill was first introduced.
“Meanwhile, federal government data and critical infrastructure are currently compromised by outdated IT systems incapable of supporting best practices to help safeguard sensitive information,” Moran said. “Bringing the government’s aging IT systems into the 21st century would not only shore up our cybersecurity, but also save billions of taxpayer dollars through reductions in wasteful spending for years to come. The IT investment reforms included in this legislation are an important step toward a more efficient, effective and secure government.”
Steve Harris, the senior vice president and general manager at Dell EMC Federal, said ensuring that the government has the most up-to-date technology is a top priority for Dell.
“As the world continues to change at an unprecedented pace, the federal government must have modern IT systems that can adapt to better serve their constituents,” Harris said. “We look forward to working Rep. Hurd and the 115th Congress to ensure passage of this critical piece of legislation.”