Original Broadcast 3/9/25
The federal government has long grappled with IT modernization challenges, facing inefficiencies, legacy systems, and fragmented procurement processes. Despite efforts over multiple administrations, many agencies still operate with outdated systems that hinder mission success. On a recent episode of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, two seasoned federal IT leaders—David Powner, Former Director of IT Issues at the GAO, and Maria Roat, Former Deputy Federal CIO—explored the critical need for an enterprise-wide approach to IT modernization.
Historically, federal agencies have pursued IT modernization efforts in isolation, with each department determining its own software, hardware, and cloud strategies. This siloed approach results in inefficiencies, duplicated efforts, and unnecessary spending. Maria Roat emphasized that agencies must shift toward an enterprise-wide mindset, viewing the federal government as a single entity rather than individual agencies operating independently.
Powner agreed, noting that past government-wide IT initiatives, such as data center consolidation, have yielded success. He cited the early cloud adoption efforts and portfolio-based IT governance models as examples of where an enterprise-wide focus saved costs and improved efficiency.
With AI and automation advancing rapidly, many agencies are looking to AI-powered solutions to jumpstart their IT modernization efforts. However, Powner cautioned against over-reliance on AI as a silver bullet for solving modernization challenges.
“We’ve done a lot of research on AI tools for understanding legacy code at agencies like the VA and Social Security,” Powner said. “AI can help accelerate modernization, but it still requires human oversight, careful planning, and proper training to ensure long-term success.”
Both experts agreed that agencies must focus on establishing clear modernization roadmaps, ensuring data transparency, and setting measurable outcomes to track progress.
Despite clear benefits, shifting to an enterprise IT strategy is not without its challenges. Roat highlighted the difficulty of securing multi-year funding and sustaining leadership commitment across changing administrations.
“These IT modernization projects take years, sometimes decades,” Roat explained. “You need sustained congressional support, proper funding structures, and a long-term vision to make them successful.”
Both Roat and Powner pointed to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as a key player in driving enterprise-wide IT reforms. With proper oversight, incentives, and performance tracking, OMB can ensure agencies remain accountable for modernization efforts.
They also emphasized the importance of congressional involvement, suggesting that IT modernization should be a legislative priority with dedicated funding and clear oversight mechanisms.
The conversation underscored the importance of shifting away from agency-by-agency modernization efforts toward a holistic, enterprise-wide strategy. By fostering interagency collaboration, leveraging AI responsibly, and ensuring leadership continuity, the federal government can modernize more effectively and efficiently.