{"id":14659,"date":"2019-12-11T23:35:21","date_gmt":"2019-12-11T23:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/12\/11\/agencies-achieve-historic-results-on-new-modernization-scorecard\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:31:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:31:19","slug":"agencies-achieve-historic-results-on-new-modernization-scorecard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/it-networks\/2019\/12\/11\/agencies-achieve-historic-results-on-new-modernization-scorecard\/","title":{"rendered":"Agencies achieve historic results on new modernization scorecard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The latest 9.0 iteration of the modernization report card for federal agencies is its most positive one yet. For the first time ever, some agencies achieved solid “A” scores, with two agencies scored a perfect \u201cA+.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ninth version the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) scorecard, released Dec. 11, rates agencies in several modernization categories, including data center closure, cybersecurity and CIO support from leadership. Overall, nine agencies improved their scores, with 11 remaining stagnant and four receiving lower grades than FITARA 8.0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The FITARA scorecard grades the 24 agencies governed by the CFO Act. The average score is a C to C+ and trending up, a far cry from four years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an unprecedented achievement, the General Services Administration and the Department of Education received \u201cA+\u201d scores overall, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) received an \u201cA.\u201d Before Wednesday\u2019s release, the previous highest overall score was an \u201cA-.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federal CIO Suzette Kent said at the Advanced Technology Academic Research Center\u2019s IT Modernization Summit Dec. 11 that she was \u201cthrilled\u201d by the results and adding that the “A” grades are a \u201cfantastic thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we started in November 2015, there were F\u2019s and D\u2019s and only two B\u2019s,\u201d Kent said in her speech. “A scorecard is a point in time. Agencies are delivering results and improving in the modernization arena every single day. A scorecard is a nice place to take checkpoint and demonstrate what\u2019s been done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Speaking to reporters after the speech, she added, \u201cwhen I look at all the things that we have asked agencies to do … the ones who got \u2018A\u2019s\u2019 did every one of them,\u201d pointing to data center guidance, application rationalization, workforce investments, long-term planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Homeland Security saw the biggest improvement on FITARA 9.0, jumping from an overall \u201cD-\u201d to a \u201cB,\u201d helped by an “A” score in its data center optimization. DHS currently has an acting CIO after former CIO John Zangardi left to join Leidos, a major government contractor. Acting DHS CIO Elizabeth Cappello testified to the House Oversight Committee\u2019s subcommittee on government operations, along with NASA CIO Renee Wynn \u2014 whose agency scored a C+.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Departments of State and Labor, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Social Security Administration all fell. NRC and State scored the lowest, receiving D-.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several agency CIOs have seen improvements in their reporting structure since the last scorecard<\/a>. Under the law, agency CIOs must report to the agency head or deputy. On the last scorecard, 10 CIOs didn\u2019t report to the secretary or deputy secretary. Only five agencies \u2014 the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, Justice, State and the NRC \u2014 don\u2019t comply with that requirement. None of their overall scores improved. Three agencies have \u201cacceptable\u201d CIO reporting models, according to the Government Accountability Office\u2019s director of IT management issues Carol Harris, while 16 have the proper structure in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., praised the leadership of the two CIOs, pointing to their sharp improvements after the two agencies tied for the worst grade on the scorecard in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoth DHS and NASA scorecards reflect increased grades given their agencies\u2019 commitments to give the CIO direct reporting access to the head of the agency,\u201d Connolly said in his opening statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the last FITARA hearing, Connolly and ranking member Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., expressed great concern after being alerted by the GAO that NASA was moving backward by eliminating its CIO\u2019s direct reporting relationship to the administrator. NASA later reversed course and kept the position the same. Wynn said that keeping the position as is \u201chelps me when I\u2019m reporting significant cybersecurity events to be able to get easy access to the administrator.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe number of reported cyber incidents against NASA continues to increase because we have greater visibility into our network,\u201d Wynn said in her opening statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\t