POLITICO Tech
This Biden official wants to root out waste. She says DOGE is doing it all wrong.
Feb 27, 2025
Ann Lewis, former director of Technology Transformation Services under President Biden, shares her insights on government technology waste. She discusses the pitfalls of ineffective management in reform efforts and the potential for bipartisan solutions. Lewis critiques recent budget cuts and highlights a failed call center project as a prime example of inefficiency. She advocates for aligning government procurement with private-sector practices and emphasizes the need for a cultural shift in viewing technology as an ongoing investment for effective governance.
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Quick takeaways
- Ann Lewis highlights the critical misalignment between government procurement decisions and technological expertise, resulting in significant financial waste on projects.
- Recent personnel cuts in government technology offices threaten to diminish essential skills necessary for effective tech strategies and reforms.
Deep dives
Concerns About Government Technology Waste
Wasting government resources on technology projects is a significant issue highlighted in discussions about inefficiencies within governmental systems. One striking example underscored involves a call center that required modernization during the pandemic, which was mismanaged to the extent that it resulted in a $400 million contract for a solution that should have cost around $4 million. The misalignment between non-technical workers' procurement decisions and actual technology industry standards exacerbates financial waste. This situation illustrates the pervasive problem where lack of technical expertise leads to misguided investments, emphasizing the need for better-informed decision-making in technology spending within government.
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