Exclusive research sets out how the next US administration can lead on digital service delivery
A new Global Government Forum report has set out the steps that the next US administration should take to drive digital transformation across the federal government.
In a timely report published as the transition from president Biden to the incoming Trump administration begins, Global Government Forum experts Kevin Cunnington and Andrew Besford interviewed 13 members of the US federal government’s CIO Council. The report provides a blueprint for the United States to reclaim global leadership on digital government.
Read in full | From Lagging to Leading: The Opportunity for a Breakthrough in U.S. Government Digital Service Delivery
The report provides an overview of where the US federal government has made progress on digital transformation – and the barriers to making further progress.
The senior figures interviewed for the report, including current federal CIO Clare Martorana, highlighted that clear progress has been made in government, in areas such as addressing urgent cybersecurity needs, and in successfully deploying funding through the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF).
However, the CIOs identified disparities where, despite agreed priorities across the government, agencies are progressing at different rates – particularly in areas such as legacy technology modernisation and skills development.
Interviews with the leaders also highlighted areas of transformation where progress needs to be prioritised and owned. These include improving compliance and reducing duplication of effort across agencies. Some CIOs also said that their agencies lack a vision for technology modernisation.
Based on these discussions, the report recommends how the next federal government can accelerate digital transformation.
The recommendations cover how to build upon the success of the Technology Modernization Fund; steps to increase the Federal CIO’s authority to drive digital modernisation; actions to transform the technology workforce to get the federal government working differently; proposals to support new CIOs and create a CIO talent pipeline; and measures to pare down the accumulated legislation that holds back transformation.
The report concludes that addressing these issues could set the US on a path to becoming the unrivalled global leader in modern government service delivery, and Cunnington and Besford (pictured) said “this is the moment to realise that vision”.
“To meet these expectations, the US government must deliver a seamless, simple and secure experience that meets the needs of the American people whenever they interact with public services, reflecting the world-class digital experience championed by the US private sector as a global technology leader,” they said.
“There is consensus around the aim. However, during our programme of interviews with members of the CIO Council, representing the largest US federal departments, we identified the common themes which are preventing agencies from making enough progress towards this vision. Through this report we aim to prompt a meaningful discussion on how to unlock some of these challenges so that the US federal government can establish itself as the global leader.”
The findings of the report will be discussed at Global Government Forum’s Government Service Delivery conference taking place at the Walter E Washington Convention Center in Washington DC on May 13 – 14, 2025. The Government Service Delivery event programme unites global digital government leaders to explore tech-driven innovation for delivering high-quality public services for customers. Find out more and register to attend here.
The report’s recommendations
Specific recommendations in the report include renewing the Technology Modernization Fund to support service delivery at scale, ensuring its purpose is clearly understood and revising it to incentivise collaboration.
The report also calls for CIOs to be empowered with greater discretion in spending decisions.
It recommends bolstering federal technology leadership through establishing a dedicated role within the Executive Office of the President – a high-ranking individual tasked with setting a bold vision for digital modernisation across the federal government, while also modernising the technology workforce. This would mean both developing a new framework for careers and pay for digital civil servants, as well as supporting new CIOs in the federal government and creating a CIO talent pipeline. The report also urges the new administration to look to pare down the accumulated legislation that holds back transformation.
The authors say that their recommendations build upon the progress that has been made but also set the US on a path to becoming the unrivalled global leader in modern government service delivery.
“The new administration should swiftly engage in detailed work to develop these recommendations to seize the opportunity to make meaningful progress during its tenure,” they said.
Read in full | From Lagging to Leading: The Opportunity for a Breakthrough in U.S. Government Digital Service Delivery
Who Global Government Forum spoke to for the report
We extend our sincere thanks to all the interviewees who took part in the report:
| Name | Job Title | Organisation |
| Tony Arcadi | CIO | Department of the Treasury |
| Darren Ash | CIO | Department of the Interior |
| Guy Cavallo | CIO | Office of Personnel Management |
| Ann Dunkin | CIO | Department of Energy |
| Brian Epley | CIO | Department of Commerce |
| Marcela Escobar-Alava | CIO | Social Security Administration |
| Eric Hysen | CIO | Department of Homeland Security |
| Clare Martorana | Federal CIO | Office of Management and Budget |
| Cordell Schachter | CIO | Department of Transportation |
| Jeff Seaton | CIO | National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) |
| David Shive | CIO | General Services Administration |
| Gary Washington | CIO | Department of Agriculture |
| Jennifer Wendel | Acting CIO | Department of Health and Human Services |
About Richard Johnstone
Richard Johnstone is the executive editor of Global Government Forum, where he helps to produce editorial analysis and insight for the title’s audience of public servants around the world. Before joining GGF, he spent nearly five years at UK-based title Civil Service World, latterly as acting editor, and has worked in public policy journalism throughout his career.
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