Year 2000 Computing Challenge:

Readiness of Key State-Administered Federal Programs

T-AIMD-00-9, Oct 6, 1999

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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the year 2000 readiness of state-administered federal programs, focusing on: (1) the reported year 2000 readiness of 10 key state-administered federal human services programs; and (2) federal activities to assess states' readiness for these 10 programs.

GAO noted that: (1) much work remains at the state level to ensure that major services are not disrupted; (2) at particular risk are several states with systems that are not yet year 2000 compliant; (3) in addition, federal agency reviews of business continuity and contingency plans for state-administered federal programs indicate that many are inadequate; (4) federal agencies are working with their state partners to obtain readiness information and evaluate and provide assistance in key activities such as business continuity and contingency planning; (5) nevertheless, some state completion dates are so close to the turn of the century that the risk of disruption to their programs is substantially increased, especially if schedule delays or unexpected problems arise; and (6) this is especially troublesome considering the amount of work remaining in developing effective business continuity and contingency plans.