Are federal CIOs on verge of more power?

The power of federal CIOs has been evolving ever since they were created by the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996. With the Obama administration seeking a more robust information technology, industry experts are saying it is looking like Congress and the administration will expand the power of the Chief Information Officers to meet the goal of transparency and have government do a better job of delivering by using information technology.

An example of giving more power to a federal agency can be found in some fiscal 2010 spending bills. For example, the 2010 Department of Veterans Affairs spending bill would require the VA's CIO to certify some IT projects in order for them to receive funding. The VA has been given a vote of confidence by Senate appropriators after CIO Roger Baker halted 45 IT projects that were behind schedule or over budget. Baker is now reviewing the projects to see if they should be discontinued.

Alan Chvotkin, executive vice president and counsel of the Professional Services Council, a trade group representing federal contractors, told nextgov.com that the Senate is sending a signal that the CIO has greater authority to handle IT outcomes.

Enhancing the power of the CIO will only help provide a far smoother operation at any of the agencies. And it may very well end the debate that has been going on for over a decade about how far a CIO can go in running a government IT operation.

Jennifer Kerber, vice president for federal and homeland security policy at TechAmerica, said the signs are there for a more centralized operation.

"The CIO is playing more of a role in discussions about investment," she told nextgov.com. "The CIOs are being elevated. And the agencies are really turning to their technology expertise more than they have in the past."

For more on the changing role of the CIO:
- see this nextgov.com article

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