June 17, 2025
Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.
Former Federal Chief Information Officer, Suzette Kent, discusses the future of technology modernization in government,
Kent sees continued conversation around the TMF as a strong signal of progress. The fact that the current administration is discussing reauthorization, and that Congress is considering it, tells her that the fund has delivered real value. “Positive outcomes were generated,” she says, noting that TMF’s model—offering multi-year funding and quick access to resources—has been critical for rapid modernization initiatives. She adds that while some tweaks may be needed, the attention the TMF receives is a recognition of its success.
However, Kent points out that agencies already have another powerful tool at their disposal: working capital funds. She urges agency leaders to ask themselves whether such a fund exists within their organization—and if not, why? According to Kent, the original Modernizing Government Technology Act gave agencies the authority to establish these internal funds, which can support many of the same goals as the TMF. In her experience, it’s often not the CIOs holding back these efforts, but rather a lack of alignment among CFOs, legal teams, and top leadership.
As TMF faces a proposed zero-dollar allocation in the Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 budget, Kent highlights language in the budget justification that opens the door to repurposing unobligated balances from across government. While this raises concerns among agencies about losing money they haven’t used, Kent says it also serves as a “forcing function.” It makes agencies seriously evaluate their funding strategies and ask whether they have the right infrastructure in place to modernize on their own terms.
A recurring theme in Kent’s commentary is accountability. She strongly supports the TMF payback model, explaining that it doesn’t just ensure repayment—it drives agencies to clearly define return on investment (ROI) and align executive stakeholders around project goals. Whether it’s legacy IT modernization or the adoption of new technologies, Kent believes agencies must be laser-focused on what they expect to achieve, when they’ll achieve it, and how.
Cybersecurity is a special case, she notes, where returns are sometimes harder to quantify because the value lies in prevention. Still, Kent encourages agencies to treat these investments with the same discipline. She also reminds listeners/readers that other federal mechanisms exist to support urgent cyber needs.
Looking ahead, Kent advises close attention to agency-specific budget plans for 2026 and to what modernization projects actually get implemented by the end of 2025. For her, the critical questions remain the same: What are agencies planning to modernize? What do they need? And what’s their timeline?
With TMF at a crossroads, Kent’s message is clear—success hinges not just on funding, but on leadership, strategy, and a willingness to act boldly.