Lawmakers Urge Appropriators Boost Tech Modernization Fund
Bill Clark | Roll Call
Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Steve Daines (R-MT) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) urged their colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee this week to allocate an additional $300 million to the federal line of credit to enhance information technology (IT) and cybersecurity.
Established under the Modernizing Government Technology Act of 2017, the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) facilitates effective service and efficient use of taxpayer dollars while introducing an additional layer of accountability.
Upon launch, the TMF was subject to strict payback requirements to allow it to self-perpetuate. However, after the American Rescue Plan Act added $1 billion to the fund in response to the COVID-19, the TMF relaxed rules for certain projects related to cybersecurity and pandemic response. With this funding increase, TMF has made larger investments in Login.gov and integrated technology systems at the U.S.-Mexico border. However, the steady increase in projects without respite has exhausted funding which could prevent the program from meeting demands if Congress does not replenish the program.
As confirmed by the Senators, the Biden Administration reported that the TMF will allocate the majority of funds by the end of this fiscal year.
Senators Warner, Daines, and Tillis further noted that outdated government IT systems present problems for Americans trying to access government services—a concern that took on additional importance during the pandemic. Moreover, additional TMF funding will allow for an improvement in the public's ability to interact with the government and address "urgent" security concerns.
The $300 million bonus request is the same amount the General Services Administration (GSA) requested Congress allocate in late March and the number the U.S. Chamber of Commerce submitted to both Senate and House Appropriations committees earlier this month.
