Federal Government Information Technology Policy: Selected Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Jan. 5, 1999 |
| Report Number |
98-845 |
| Authors |
Glenn J. McLoughlin, Science, Technology, and Medicine Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Federal government information technology (IT) is an important part of the federal mission to
serve
Americans. Federal government IT policy can improve how services and information are provided
to citizens, increase the timeliness and quality of federal agencies' responses, and save federal tax
dollars by improving government efficiency. Protection and security of individuals' privacy, as well
as making appropriate federal data more transparent and available for its citizens, are the ultimate
goals of federal agency IT policies.
But there are some questions and concerns regarding federal IT policy as well. Are the
programs that support federal policy appropriately funded and administered? Is enough being done
to safeguard and protect citizens from both immediate and long-term threats? What is the proper
federal role for enhancing all forms of IT applications and development? Federal policymakers
grapple with these questions and others as they consider establishing, reviewing, and sometimes
revising the federal government's IT policy.
Among the many federal IT policy issues now before congressional policymakers, the following
are likely to continue to receive attention. They are: the size and scope of federal government IT
spending, the year 2000 computer problem, federal encryption policies, information infrastructure
and national security, implementation of both the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA)
and the Clinger-Cohen Act, the role of the federal government with regard to medical records and
privacy, electronic commerce, domain names, and the federal role in the growth and the future of the
Internet. This report provides a brief summary of each issue, and lists more detailed CRS reports
after each section.
