GSA Looking to Improve IT and HR Functions

The General Services Administration has decided to take serious action on adding more individuals to oversee the technology and human resources functions for the agency. The acting administrator for GSA, Dan Tangherlini, is planning to provide information to the Governmental Affairs Committee in which he shows that there is room for better performance and more efficiency of these functions after having reviewed the agency for several months. Tangherlini has a few ideas planned, one of which include consolidating three chief information officers into just one while turning the functions of human resources into the chief people officers. The new reforms are part of what has come about after the agency was reviewed. Tangherlini has said, “We have proposed to change the current decentralized structure and improved CIO accountability and oversight.” He also said, “Importantly, centralization of the CFO and the CIO were both crucial reforms that were recommended by the IG.”

Tangherlini has recently made an announcement on centralizing all CFO functions, which will take place at the office headquarters and will be led by CFO Gary Grippo. The headquarters will need to take on the responsibility of knowing how much to spend and setting up specific decisions when it comes to setting up a budget. They will also need to figure out how the GSA spends the money that it has and where that money will be spent. In his testimony, Tangherlini says, “Consolidation of hiring responsibilities will increase visibility into hiring decisions and increase efficiencies by eliminating current redundancy within the various organizations within GSA.” He also says, “We have also focused on the current implementation of the telework policy, and the strength of the business cases to support virtual employees. I have strengthened our telework policy to ensure the program’s cost-effectiveness and to make certain that there is a strong business case for employees who work from home full time.” He has also made it clear that he plans to notify the congress of the changes that are expected to come.

The changes that are set to be put in place are just some of the many different changes that have come into place amid a scandal in which the GSA Administrator, Martha Johnson, ended up resigning while the PBS Commissioner, Bob Peck, was fired. Stephen Leeds, the senior advisors, also ended up being fired for his part in the scandal as well. The general idea for the GSA will now be about increasing its ability to save, performing as efficiently as possible, staying consistent, and ensuring that there are clear lines made when it comes to who is in authority.