Federal Chief Information Officers:

Critical Actions Needed to Address Shortcomings and Challenges in Implementing Responsibilities

GAO-18-93: Published: Aug 2, 2018. Publicly Released: Aug 2, 2018.

Additional Materials:

Contact:

Carol C. Harris
(202) 512-4456
harriscc@gao.gov

 

David A. Powner
(202) 512-9286
pownerd@gao.gov

 

Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov

What GAO Found

None of the 24 agencies have policies that fully addressed the role of their Chief Information Officers (CIO) consistent with federal laws and guidance. In addition, the majority of the agencies did not fully address the role of their CIOs for any of the six key areas that GAO identified (see figure 1).

Figure 1: Extent to Which 24 Agencies' Policies Addressed the Role of Their Chief Information Officers, Presented from Most Addressed to Least Addressed Area

Figure 1: Extent to Which 24 Agencies' Policies Addressed the Role of Their Chief Information Officers, Presented from Most Addressed to Least Addressed Area

Among other things, officials from most agencies stated that their CIOs are implementing the responsibilities even when not required in policy. Nevertheless, the 24 selected CIOs acknowledged in their responses to GAO's survey that they were not always very effective in implementing the six information technology (IT) management areas (see figure 2). Until agencies fully address the role of CIOs in their policies, agencies will be limited in addressing longstanding IT management challenges.

Figure 2: Extent to Which Chief Information Officers Reported Effective Implementation of Six Responsibility Areas, Presented from Most Effective to Least Effective Area

Shortcomings in agencies' policies are partially attributable to two weaknesses in the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) guidance. First, the guidance does not comprehensively address all CIO responsibilities, such as those relating to assessing the extent to which personnel meet IT management knowledge and skill requirements and ensuring that personnel are held accountable for complying with the information security program. Correspondingly, the majority of the agencies' policies did not fully address nearly all of the responsibilities not included in OMB guidance. Second, OMB guidance does not ensure that CIOs have a significant role in (1) IT planning, programming, and budgeting decisions and (2) execution decisions and the management, governance, and oversight processes related to IT. In the absence of comprehensive guidance, CIOs will not be positioned to effectively acquire, maintain, and secure their IT systems.

In GAO's survey, the 24 agency CIOs identified a number of factors that enabled and challenged their ability to effectively manage IT. In particular, five factors were identified by at least half of the 24 CIOs as major enablers and three factors were identified by at least half of the CIOs as major challenges. (see figure 3). Further, GAO noted that agencies continue to lack consistent leadership in the CIO position.

Figure 3: Factors Commonly Identified as Enabling and Challenging Chief Information Officers (CIO) to Effectively Manage Information Technology (IT), Presented from Most Enabling to Least Enabling Factor

Although OMB has issued guidance aimed at addressing the three factors that were identified by at least half of the CIOs as major challenges, the guidance does not fully address those challenges. In particular, with respect to the challenges relating to IT personnel, OMB's guidance does not address key CIO responsibilities, as previously noted. Further, regarding the financial resources challenge, OMB recently required agencies to provide data on CIO authority over IT spending; however, OMB's guidance does not provide a complete definition of the authority. In the absence of this guidance from OMB, agencies have created varying definitions of CIO authority. Until OMB updates its guidance to include a complete definition of the authority that CIOs are to have over IT spending, it will be difficult for OMB to identify any deficiencies in this area and help agencies to make any needed improvements.

Why GAO Did This Study

Agencies plan to spend more than $96 billion on IT in fiscal year 2018; however, they continue to face longstanding challenges in doing so. Congress established the CIO position to serve as an agency focal point for IT to address these challenges.

Recognizing the importance of the CIO position to successful IT management, GAO was asked to conduct a government-wide review of CIO responsibilities. GAO's objectives were to determine (1) the extent to which agencies have addressed the role of the CIO in accordance with federal laws and guidance, and (2) major factors that have enabled and challenged agency CIOs in fulfilling their responsibilities to carry out federal laws and guidance. To do so, GAO reviewed laws and OMB guidance to identify key IT management responsibilities of federal agency CIOs and then compared them to policies of the 24 Chief Financial Officers Act agencies. GAO also administered a survey to 24 CIOs and interviewed current CIOs, as well as OMB officials.

What GAO Recommends

GAO is making three recommendations to OMB and one recommendation to each of the 24 federal agencies to improve the effectiveness of CIOs' implementation of their responsibilities for each of the six IT management areas. (See the next page for additional information on these recommendations).

GAO is making the following three recommendations to OMB:
 
1.  Issue guidance that addresses theresponsibilities that are notincluded in existing OMBguidance--in particular thoserelating to IT workforce.
 
2.  Update existing guidance toclearly explain how agencies areto address the role of CIOs tocomply with the statutory requirements for CIOs to have a significant role in (1) budgeting decisions and (2) the management, governance, and oversight processes related to IT.
 
3.  Define the authority that CIOs areto have when agencies report onCIO authority over IT spending.
 
GAO is also making a recommendation to each of the 24 federal agencies to address weaknesses related to the six key areas of CIO responsibility.
 
Fourteen agencies agreed with GAO's recommendations, and five agencies had no comments on the recommendations.
 
In addition, five agencies (including OMB) partially agreed with GAO's recommendations and one agency disagreed. In particular, five of these agencies did not agree with select assessments of select CIO responsibilities. GAO subsequently updated two assessments but believes the other assessments and related recommendations are warranted, as discussed in the report. The remaining agency--OMB--partially agreed with GAO's recommendation to issue guidance for responsibilities that are not included in existing OMB guidance. GAO continues to believe that this recommendation is warranted, as discussed in the report.
 
Moreover, after GAO provided the draft report to OMB for comment, the President signed an executive order that, among other things, clarified the role that CIOs are to have in the management, governance, and oversight processes related to IT. The executive order is responsive to GAO's related recommendation. GAO will continue to monitor agencies' implementation of the executive order.

For more information, contact David A. Powner at (202) 512-9286 or pownerd@gao.gov or Carol C. Harris at (202) 512-4456 or harriscc@gao.gov.

Recommendations for Executive Action

  1. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Director of the Office of Management and Budget should issue guidance that addresses the 12 CIO responsibilities discussed in this report that are not included in existing OMB guidance--in particular those relating to IT workforce matters. (Recommendation 1)

    Agency Affected: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget

  2. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Director of the Office of Management and Budget should update existing guidance to clearly explain how agencies are to address the role of CIOs to comply with the statutory requirements for CIOs to have a significant role in (1) budgeting decisions and (2) the management, governance, and oversight processes related to IT. (Recommendation 2)

    Agency Affected: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget

  3. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Director of the Office of Management and Budget should define the authority that CIOs are to have when agencies report on CIO authority over IT spending. (Recommendation 3)

    Agency Affected: Executive Office of the President: Office of Management and Budget

  4. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the six areas we identified. (Recommendation 4)

    Agency Affected: Department of Agriculture

  5. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Commerce should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 5)

    Agency Affected: Department of Commerce

  6. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 6)

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense

  7. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Education should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 7)

    Agency Affected: Department of Education

  8. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Energy should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 8)

    Agency Affected: Department of Energy

  9. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Health and Human Services should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the six areas we identified. (Recommendation 9)

    Agency Affected: Department of Health and Human Services

  10. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Homeland Security should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 10)

    Agency Affected: Department of Homeland Security

  11. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the six areas we identified. (Recommendation 11)

    Agency Affected: Department of Housing and Urban Development

  12. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of the Interior should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 12)

    Agency Affected: Department of the Interior

  13. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Attorney General should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 13)

    Agency Affected: Department of Justice

  14. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Labor should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the six areas we identified. (Recommendation 14)

    Agency Affected: Department of Labor

  15. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of State should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the six areas we identified. (Recommendation 15)

    Agency Affected: Department of State

  16. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Transportation should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 16)

    Agency Affected: Department of Transportation

  17. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of the Treasury should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the six areas we identified. (Recommendation 17)

    Agency Affected: Department of the Treasury

  18. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should ensure that the department's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the four areas we identified. (Recommendation 18)

    Agency Affected: Department of Veterans Affairs

  19. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency should ensure that the agency's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the six areas we identified. (Recommendation 19)

    Agency Affected: Environmental Protection Agency

  20. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Administrator of the General Services Administration should ensure that the agency's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 20)

    Agency Affected: General Services Administration

  21. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration should ensure that the agency's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the six areas we identified. (Recommendation 21)

    Agency Affected: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  22. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Director of the National Science Foundation should ensure that the agency's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 22)

    Agency Affected: National Science Foundation

  23. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should ensure that the agency's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 23)

    Agency Affected: Nuclear Regulatory Commission

  24. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Director of the Office of Personnel Management should ensure that the agency's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 24)

    Agency Affected: Office of Personnel Management

  25. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Administrator of the Small Business Administration should ensure that the agency's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 25)

    Agency Affected: Small Business Administration

  26. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration should ensure that the agency's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the five areas we identified. (Recommendation 26)

    Agency Affected: Social Security Administration

  27. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: The Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development should ensure that the agency's IT management policies address the role of the CIO for key responsibilities in the six areas we identified. (Recommendation 27)

    Agency Affected: United States Agency for International Development

 

Explore the full database of GAO's Open Recommendations »

Dec 13, 2018

Dec 12, 2018

Dec 11, 2018

Nov 13, 2018

Sep 27, 2018

Jun 13, 2018

May 24, 2018

May 23, 2018

May 22, 2018

Looking for more? Browse all our products here