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GAO Calls for Urgent Action to Address IT Acquisition and Management Challenges

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 23, 2025) The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) today issued a report updating its IT acquisitions and operations high-risk area. In this update, GAO identified major challenges to federal IT acquisitions and management, as well as critical actions the government needs to take to implement effective and cost-efficient mission-critical IT systems and operations.

“The federal government is not fully reaping the benefits of modern technology to reduce costs and better serve the American people. As federal IT needs intensify and technologies evolve and become more complex, federal agencies must address the longstanding IT acquisition and management challenges GAO has identified since this area was designated high risk in 2015,” said Gene L. Dodaro, U.S. Comptroller General and head of the GAO. “This update pinpoints nine critical actions that require urgent attention to save money and ensure agencies are using fully capable IT systems throughout the government to reduce security vulnerabilities and provide modern service to the public.”

Each year, the federal government invests more than $100 billion on IT, which agencies rely on to carry out operations and fulfill their missions. A large majority of these investments are to support the operation and maintenance of existing IT systems—such as those that support tax filings, census survey information, and veterans’ health records. These investments also support system development and acquisition activities, including software upgrades, replacement of legacy IT, and the adoption of new technologies. GAO has reported that federal IT investments too frequently fail or run over budget and over schedule, while contributing little to mission-related outcomes.

The update discusses three major IT acquisition and management challenges, including:

  • strengthening oversight and management of IT portfolios,
  • implementing mature IT acquisition and development practices, and
  • building federal IT capacity and capabilities.

GAO has made more than 1,800 recommendations to the Office of Management and Budget and federal agencies since 2010 aimed at improving their management of IT. Nevertheless, many agencies continue to face challenges effectively acquiring IT and managing IT projects, in part because 463 of these recommendations have not been implemented.

To develop this update, GAO reviewed its prior audit work and prioritized reports that were government-wide and had open recommendations, among other things. Based on the results of this work, GAO is renaming this high-risk area, Improving IT Acquisitions and Management.

The 2025 IT Acquisitions High Risk update is available on GAO’s website. For more information, contact Jessica Baxter at 202-512-4800 or media@gao.gov. 

 

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